About the Role
Bridge Veterinary Centre is seeking an experienced veterinary surgeon to join their established small animal practice in Blackwood. Your days will blend consultations and surgery, supported by a genuinely collaborative team including certificate holders and three clinical directors. This full-time position offers a rare gem in veterinary employment: a structured 4-day week (36 hours, typically 8:30am–7pm Monday–Friday) with Saturday mornings on a 1:7 rota and no overnight on-call duties—work-life balance isn't just a buzzword here, it's built into how they operate. Part-time arrangements are also welcomed.
Based in Blackwood with easy access to Cardiff, Bristol, Newport, and the Brecon Beacons National Park, you'll work at a practice established over 40 years with a loyal client base and two South Wales branches. The team invests in both people and premises, creating an environment where case discussion and professional development are encouraged as standard.
Key Responsibilities
- Perform routine consultations and surgical procedures across small animal medicine
- Collaborate with three clinical directors (including a Medicine certificate holder and orthopaedics specialist) and multiple experienced veterinary surgeons on clinical cases
- Contribute to a supportive team culture that actively encourages case discussion and peer learning
- Support certificate-level development if you wish to pursue advanced qualifications
- Participate in a Saturday morning rota (1 in 7) with no out-of-hours night shifts
Requirements
- Qualified veterinary surgeon with experience in small animal practice
- Strong clinical knowledge across medicine and surgery
- Willingness to work collaboratively and engage in case discussion
- Professional registration and current RCVS licence
- Interest in further professional development (desirable but not essential)
Benefits
- Work-Life Balance: 6.6 weeks annual leave with increasing allowance by length of service; your birthday off as paid leave (date of your choice)
- Salary & Relocation: Up to £75,000 DOE; welcome bonus up to £5,000; relocation allowance up to £5,000
- Professional Development: £1,250 CPD allowance plus 40 hours paid CPD time pro-rata; certificate support; learning via IVC Evidensia Academy; access to Vetlexicon; research funding available; £1,000 annual Care Fund per vet
- Wellbeing: Private medical insurance; enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, surrogacy pay); Cycle to Work scheme; employee wellbeing initiatives; non-accidental injury support
- Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
- Pension & Perks: 5% employee / 3% employer pension; Pawsome Benefits (reward gateway with discounts across 100s retailers); discounted staff pet care
About the Practice
Bridge Veterinary Centre is an ISFM Silver Cat Friendly clinic, RCVS Practice Standards Scheme-accredited, and a veterinary nurse training centre serving South Wales for over 40 years. Part of IVC Evidensia, the practice operates two branches and is led by three clinical directors alongside a team of multiple veterinary surgeons, six registered veterinary nurses, and dedicated support staff.
The Blackwood facility includes dedicated cat waiting and kennelling areas, four consultation rooms, two operating theatres, laboratory, x-ray room, isolation ward, and comprehensive equipment: digital and dental x-ray, endoscopes, ultrasound scanners, lasers, and well-equipped surgical theatres. The practice prioritises investment in premises, processes, and people as core to its success.
