Companion Animal Practicing Veterinarian/Senior Practicing Veterinarian

Job Title: Companion Animal Practicing Veterinarian/Senior

Practicing Veterinarian

Department: School of Veterinary Science

Location: Manawatū campus, Palmerston North

Closing Date: 27 October 2026

Tāwharau Ora, the School of Veterinary Sciences at Massey University, Palmerston North, invites applications for a Practicing Veterinarian or Senior Practicing Veterinarian in Community Practice to join the Small Animal Hospital of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This is a full-time, permanent opportunity

Ko wai mātou | About us

Our AVMA accredited veterinary programme is world renowned, providing quality, research-led education. The Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) is a state-of-the-art facility, offering New Zealand’s most comprehensive veterinary expertise. We are open to the public, offering routine small animal services, specialist diagnostic procedures and treatments, and a 24/7 Pet Emergency Centre. The veterinary facilities have undergone a major refurbishment, which will ensure Massey remains at the forefront of international veterinary scientific research and teaching, and helps meet the growing demand for qualified veterinarians.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role

The Community Practice is our primary care service that hosts a mandatory multi-week rotation in wellness, general, and preventive care. This includes small animal medicine, surgery, dentistry, and shelter medicine with the goal of immersing final year veterinary students in a high-quality general practice environment. The majority of the caseload is canine and feline, but interest in small mammals is encouraged. The successful candidate must possess a strong commitment to excellence in patient care, service to clients, and clinical teaching, as well as strong leadership and communications skills. This is a clinical role with an emphasis on clinical instruction and patient care in the hospital. Time not assigned to clinical instruction and patient care on clinical rotations will be devoted to classroom / laboratory teaching, scholarship, and service.

Mōu | About you

Do you have:

• A Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) or equivalent and are you registered (or able to be registered) as a veterinarian in NZ? Your veterinary degree must be from an AVMA-accredited school or one recognised by the New Zealand Veterinary Council to enable full registration in New Zealand as a veterinarian. To check your eligibility? See here.
• 3+ years of experience in small animal clinical practice?
• The drive to upskill and grow or rediscover your passion for helping animals and their owners?
• Experience and empathy towards the cultural, emotional and physical state of our clients and patients alike?
• A positive attitude and a passion for teamwork, critical care, and client relations?
• A genuine interest in undergraduate and postgraduate clinical instruction?
• Eligibility to work in NZ?

Ko ngā hua o te tūranga? | What’s in it for you?

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.

Our staff have access to:

• CPD and formal training pathways for educators such as AFHEA/FHEA accreditation.
• “Train-the-trainer” programs.
• Internal/external teaching development opportunities.
• Support in building research portfolios with mentoring, grant-writing support, and collaborative project opportunities.
• Additional benefits of being a Massey staff member including 5 days additional leave through university holidays (this is on top of your standard 4 weeks annual leave!!!), discounts at leading local retailers, reduced membership fees at the Massey Recreation Centre and Gym, access to EAP and much more! Check them all out here: https://www.massey.ac.nz/about/jobs-at-massey/benefits-atmassey/ opportunities for continuing professional development for the successful
• Excellent candidate (e.g. further formal university education or study towards clinical qualifications).

New staff are assigned an experienced staff mentor, and the service has an excellent record in helping clinicalstaffsuccessfully earn promotion and tenure.

To find out more about the VTH here.

The salary grade for this role is Practicing/Senior Practicing Veterinarian, with a salary ranging from $92,063-152,717 (NZD). Further discussions can be had, where necessary, to meet competitive conditions, qualifications and experience. Relocation support for international candidates is provided.

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, or water skiing at Lake Taupō.

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!

Enquiries may be directed to Thomas Odom; t.odom@massey.ac.nz. Applications should be made online at Massey University - Jobs List - Current Vacancies at Massey University (nga.net.nz)

Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and appointments may be made prior to the