Department: School of Veterinary Science 

Location: Manawatū Campus, Palmerston North 

Closing date:3 May 2026

Massey Vets - New Zealand’s Only Veterinary Teaching Hospital!

The School of Veterinary Sciences at Massey University invites applications for a full-time faculty 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. Depending on qualifications and experience, the position is open from the Lecturer to full Professor level.

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.

The role responsibilities include:

• Operating as a consultant surgeon and managing the referral small animal caseload of the veterinary teaching hospital
• Clinical, didactic, and laboratory teaching of small animal surgery to professional students, interns, and residents
• Participation in continuing education at local and national levels
• Providing mentorship to residents; and contributing to the clinical or basic science research program

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 tam, 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 and 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 AVMA accredited 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

Experienced candidates with ANZCVS Membership in Small Animal Surgery and advanced clinical training will be considered. Demonstrated aptitude/experience in teaching, particularly clinical instruction, is preferred.

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.

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/

New staff are assigned an experienced staff mentor, and the Department has an excellent record in helping clinical staff successfully earn promotion and tenure.  To find out more about the VTH here.

The current base pay range is $142,607NZD - $166,584NZD for Associate Professor and $166,389NZD and up for Professor. 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 world-renowned wine-growing country in the sunny Hawkes Bay, snow skiing on Mt Ruapehu (two and a half hours), or water skiing at Lake Taupō (three 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

Applications close Sunday, 3 May 2026.