Locum Veterinarian in Small Animal Referral Surgery, Turitea
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Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University

Locum Veterinarian in Small Animal Referral Surgery

  • Posted 1mo ago
  • On Site
  • Casual

Massey University, Turitea

Job Description

Job Title: Locum Veterinarian in Small Animal Referral Surgery

Department: School of Veterinary Science

Location: Manawatū Campus, Palmerston North

Job status: Open

Job type: Casual


Massey Vets – New Zealand’s Only Veterinary Teaching Hospital! The School of Veterinary Sciences at Massey University invites applications for a locum position in small animal surgery. The ideal candidate would be a board-certified surgeon with experience in soft tissue, orthopaedic and neurosurgery. We would consider a board eligible surgeon or an individual with subspecialty skills in soft tissue or orthopaedic surgery. Flexible dates throughout 2026—please contact us with your availability.


About the Role

The successful candidate is expected to engage in the departmental mission by participating in the teaching, service, and scholarship programs of the College.


Responsibilities include:

  • operating as a consultant surgeon and managing the referral small animal
  • caseload of the veterinary teaching hospital
  • clinical teaching of small animal surgery to professional students, interns, and residents.
  • providing mentorship to interns and residents
  • You would work alongside a NZ registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and be
  • supported by a rotating intern, two surgical coordinators/nurses and a theatre team.
  • We are blessed with a highly talented anaesthesia and critical care team, including two
  • boarded anaesthesiologists and three boarded ECC clinicians. The ICU is staffed 24/7 with ECC faculty and interns to provide optimal post-operative care and triage emergency
  • surgical cases.


Current equipment available at the MUVTH for use in surgery includes:

  • Fully digital endoscopic tower with Karl Storz 5mm laparoscopy and
  • thoracoscopy.
  • Arthroscopic shaver and 2.3/2.4/2.7/4.0 rigid scopes. Philips fluoroscopic C-arm and radiographic DR systems.
  • In-house 16 slice computed tomography and out-sourced magnetic resonance imaging at a local medical facility.
  • Ligasure vessel-sealing devices.
  • Synthes plating systems, locking and conventional, Kyon TPLO/TTA/PGR/PAUL.
  • CRF, ImexESF, and Biomedrix CFX total hip replacement system.


Two in-house radiologists (non-specialist) provide a full ultrasound service and interpret

our CT and digital radiography, run contrast studies and myelography. Our non-specialist

internal medicine service provides endoscopy and management of medical cases. We

have an Idexx in-house laboratory, on-site clinical and anatomical pathology laboratories,

oncology suite, and radio-active iodine program.


The hospital has a rehabilitation facility with underwater treadmill, a dedicated exercise

room, and many management modalities including laser, shockwave, and e-stim. Our

rehabilitation service has established relationships with the local and national working

dog community, assisting with NZ Police and MPI/Border Security animals along with

search & rescue dogs.


About You

We would love to hear from you if you:

  • Have a veterinary professional degree, e.g., BVSc, DVM, VMD etc. from an AVMAaccredited school or one recognised by the New Zealand Veterinary Council to enable full registration in New Zealand as a veterinarian.
  • Have advanced training and clinical competence in small animal soft tissue and/or orthopaedic surgery.
  • Have specialist qualifications in Small Animal Internal Medicine, i.e. Australian
  • Fellowship (FANZCVS), or Diplomat of the American or European Colleges (DACVS or ECVS)
  • Or have eligibility to sit FANZCVS, DACVS or ECVS examinations following completion of an approved residency


What We Offer

The Massey University VTH boasts a collegial environment committed to mentoring new

staff to be successful in their academic career. We are committed to developing

educators as well as clinicians.


Living in the Manawatū

The Massey University VTH sits on the Turitea campus of Massey University, located in

Palmerston North. Palmerton North sits in the heart of the Manawatu region of the

North Island, New Zealand.


If you are not familiar with Palmerston North, it is a family-friendly, eminently bikeable,

compact city of approximately 88,000 people and is centrally located on the North Island

of New Zealand https://manawatunz.co.nz/live/


We are a welcoming, friendly, multi-cultural city, with excellent parks and schools and

easy access to outdoor activities such as hiking, road and mountain biking, outstanding

golf courses and surfing. The city has a lively café culture, abundant restaurants, a diverse

range of community groups, and hosts large local and national level cultural events.

During your downtime, less than a two-hour drive away from Palmerston North you can

be immersed in the vibrant culture of our capital city Wellington, touring our worldrenowned wine-growing country in the sunny Hawkes Bay, snow skiing on Mt Ruapehu (2.5 hours), or water skiing at Lake Taupō (3 hours).


We welcome applicants from all career stages, and candidates returning to academia

from clinical practice are encouraged to apply. Flexible start dates are negotiable.


If you are ready for a change and are looking for a position that can provide you with

professional and intellectual opportunities as well as an appealing lifestyle, apply now!


Further enquiries should be directed to: Dr. Thomas Odom at t.odom@massey.ac.nz or

Dr Jane Langton Burnell at J.LangtonBurnell@massey.ac.nz.

Desired Soft Skills

  • Coordination
  • Communication
  • Time Management

Culture

  • 🌈 Rainbow Tick
  • 🧠 Neurodiverse
  • 💰 Wage Equality
  • 🏃 Women Leadership
  • 🤝 Unionisation
  • 🌐 INZ Accredited Employer
View All

Job Schedule

  • Monday to Friday
  • Shift Work

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