Senior Veterinary Surgeon (Clinical Leadership & OOH) | Bridgend, South Wales

An outstanding opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Veterinary Surgeon to join a long-established, independent, vet-owned RCVS Accredited Small Animal Hospital in the Bridgend area of South Wales.

This is far more than a traditional GP role. You’ll combine high-quality first opinion medicine and surgery with emergency and critical care, mentoring and clinical leadership, helping to support and develop less experienced Veterinary Surgeons within a genuinely collaborative hospital environment.

Whether you’re looking for a Senior First On-Call position or a Senior Back-Up role, you’ll be joining an independent practice where clinical freedom, teamwork and exceptional patient care take priority over corporate targets. With Advanced Practitioner-led clinical leadership, a dedicated in-house out-of-hours service and outstanding facilities, this is an exciting opportunity to further your career within one of South Wales’ most respected independent veterinary hospitals.

Key Highlights

• Salary £40,000 to £65,000 depending on experience and role.
• Independent, vet-owned RCVS Accredited Small Animal Hospital.
• Choice of Senior First On-Call or Senior Back-Up role.
• Flexible 4 or 5-day working week.
• Dedicated 24/7 in-house out-of-hours service.
• Protected lunch breaks and scheduled administration time.
• Advanced Practitioner-led clinical team.
• Strong mentoring and leadership opportunities.
• Varied first opinion, surgical and emergency caseload.
• Excellent CPD and certificate support.
• Modern purpose-built veterinary hospital.

The Practice

Established for more than 50 years, this highly respected independent veterinary hospital has built an outstanding reputation for providing exceptional patient care across South Wales. Proudly vet-owned and led, the practice remains committed to delivering the highest clinical standards while maintaining the supportive, collaborative culture that independent practice is renowned for.

The hospital is owned and led by two RCVS Advanced Practitioners with expertise in Small Animal Surgery and Feline Medicine. Their hands-on clinical leadership creates an environment where collaboration, knowledge sharing and continuous professional development are part of everyday practice.

You’ll become part of a large multidisciplinary team of Veterinary Surgeons, Registered Veterinary Nurses, Student Veterinary Nurses, Animal Care Assistants, Receptionists and Practice Support colleagues who work closely together to deliver outstanding care. The hospital places genuine emphasis on teamwork, mentoring and professional development, making it an excellent environment for experienced clinicians who enjoy supporting others.

As an RCVS Accredited Veterinary Hospital, VetGDP Approved Practice and Veterinary Nurse Training Practice, education is central to the practice ethos. Senior Veterinary Surgeons play an important role in mentoring graduates, supporting developing colleagues and helping maintain the exceptionally high clinical standards throughout the hospital.

Facilities & Equipment

The purpose-built hospital offers excellent facilities including:

• RCVS Accredited Small Animal Hospital.
• Dedicated 24-hour in-house emergency and critical care service.
• Multiple operating theatres.
• Digital radiography.
• Digital dental radiography.
• Doppler ultrasound.
• Flexible and rigid endoscopy.
• Comprehensive IDEXX in-house laboratory including Sedivue.
• Dedicated dental suite.
• Separate canine, feline, exotic and isolation wards.
• Six consulting rooms, including a dedicated bereavement room.
• Staff and client parking.
• On-site accommodation for on-call clinicians.
• Additional branch surgeries supporting a varied first opinion caseload.

The Location

Located in the Bridgend area of South Wales, the hospital enjoys excellent transport links via the M4, providing convenient access to Cardiff, Swansea and the surrounding region. The area offers an excellent lifestyle, with beautiful coastline, countryside and the Brecon Beacons National Park all within easy reach, making it an ideal location for those seeking an excellent work-life balance.

The Role

This senior clinical position has been designed for an experienced Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys combining high-quality first opinion medicine and surgery with emergency care, mentoring and clinical leadership.

Working across consulting, surgery, inpatient management and emergency cases, you’ll play an important role in supporting less experienced Veterinary Surgeons through day-to-day mentoring, case discussion and practical clinical teaching. The hospital actively encourages senior clinicians to help develop colleagues while continuing to expand their own clinical interests.

Consulting days include protected administration time together with one-hour lunch breaks, allowing sufficient time for case management, client communication and clinical decision-making. There is also flexibility to develop particular areas of clinical interest while maintaining a varied and rewarding first opinion caseload.

Applicants can choose between two senior career pathways depending on their preferred level of out-of-hours responsibility.

Rota & Out-of-Hours

Senior First On-Call Role

• Five-day working week.
• Seven consecutive nights on-call followed by seven recovery days.
• Two weekend morning inpatient shifts within an 11-week rota.
• Applicants should live within approximately 15 minutes of the hospital or utilise the on-site accommodation.

Senior Back-Up Role

• Four-day working week.
• Eight-hour shifts.
• 1 in 4 weekend morning inpatient rota.
• 1 in 4 second on-call rota.
• Telephone support from home with attendance when required.
• Applicants should live within approximately 30 minutes of the hospital.

The hospital operates its own dedicated out-of-hours service, ensuring excellent continuity of care for emergency patients and hospitalised inpatients. An RVN and Student Veterinary Nurse are on-site 24 hours a day, with senior clinical support always available for more complex cases.

What We’re Looking For

This opportunity would suit an experienced Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys clinical responsibility, mentoring colleagues and delivering exceptional patient care.

You’ll be confident managing a varied medical and surgical caseload, comfortable dealing with emergency presentations and keen to support recent graduates and developing Veterinary Surgeons through coaching, teaching and collaborative clinical decision-making.

Most importantly, you’ll enjoy working within an independent practice where teamwork, clinical excellence and continuous learning are genuinely valued.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary £40,000 to £65,000 depending on experience and role.
• Flexible 4 or 5-day working week.
• 33 days annual leave.
• Opportunity to purchase an additional five days holiday.
• Five days CPD leave.
• £1,500 CPD allowance.
• Enhanced certificate funding for Advanced Practitioner development.
• Paid RCVS membership.
• Paid VDS membership.
• One additional professional membership.
• Protected lunch breaks.
• Scheduled administration time.
• Genuine clinical freedom.
• Advanced Practitioner mentoring and support.
• Modern purpose-built hospital.
• Excellent long-term career progression within a successful independent practice.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an exceptional opportunity to join one of South Wales’ most established independent veterinary hospitals, where experienced clinicians are trusted to make decisions, encouraged to continue developing professionally and supported to help shape the next generation of Veterinary Surgeons.

If you’re looking for a senior position offering genuine clinical variety, leadership opportunities and the chance to work within an experienced, supportive and highly respected independent team, this role offers an outstanding next step in your veterinary career.