Veterinary Surgeon – Maternity Cover

About the Role

You’ll be joining a highly collaborative Brighton hospital where no two days are quite the same. This 12-month temporary role (covering maternity) offers a refreshing three-day working week at 22.5 hours, with a manageable rota: between 1:6 and 1:7 weekends and late shifts, plus intermittent telehealth shifts with home-working flexibility. With weekend uplift payments and genuine 24-hour stand-down periods built in, this is work-life balance that actually works.

The hospital is well-equipped with separate dog and cat kennels, in-house radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, piped gases and comprehensive orthopaedic equipment. You’ll see a wide range of medical and surgical cases across a diverse caseload, developing your skills while making a tangible difference to pets and owners who genuinely need support.

Brighton’s teams have varied clinical interests and thrive on shared learning and case discussion—a place where knowledge sharing is encouraged and collaboration isn’t just a buzzword.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver compassionate, evidence-based clinical care across small animal medical and surgical cases
• Make pragmatic, welfare-focused treatment decisions that balance best practice with each owner’s individual circumstances
• Build trust with clients through excellent communication, clearly explaining realistic treatment options and plans
• Contribute actively to team discussions and case reviews, sharing knowledge with colleagues
• Support PDSA’s mission to provide vital veterinary care for pets of people in financial hardship
• Work flexibly across scheduled day shifts, weekend rota shifts, late evening clinics (until 10pm), and occasional telehealth consultations
• Champion continuous improvement of hospital services alongside the existing team

Requirements

• Qualified Veterinary Surgeon with full RCVS registration
• Strong clinical confidence and ability to handle a diverse caseload independently
• Adaptability and resilience in a busy, varied environment
• Excellent communication skills with clients and colleagues
• Evidence-based approach to clinical decision-making
• Team player mindset with genuine enthusiasm for collaborative, supportive working
• Willingness to work weekend and late-shift rotas as per the agreed schedule

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £47,069–£61,862 per annum (including allowances)
• Flexible working: Part-time, three-day week (22.5 hours) with work-from-home telehealth options
• CPD support: 5 days’ CPD annually plus £1,000 allowance; RCVS fees paid in full; extensive internal CPD programmes and discounts for BSAVA Congress and London Vet Show
• Holiday: 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, with option to buy or sell an additional five days
• Special days: Three paid special days annually—Volunteering Day, Celebration Day, and Wellbeing Day
• Pension: Generous scheme with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%
• Life assurance: Four times annual salary
• Wellbeing: 24/7 AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme and private medical cover included
• Family support: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
• Staff perks: 10% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance, access to staff veterinary services, retail/holiday/lifestyle discounts through Fetch benefits platform

About the Practice

PDSA is the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals, a UK-wide charity with over a century of history providing vital veterinary care for the pets of people in financial hardship. The organisation is on an ambitious expansion journey to reach more communities and support more families and their beloved pets. Brighton is one of PDSA’s modern, well-equipped Pet Hospitals, known as a highly collaborative environment where varied clinical interests and shared learning are valued.

PDSA is committed to embedding diversity and inclusion, offering family-friendly and flexible employment policies to support team members from all backgrounds. The organisation places genuine emphasis on work-life balance, meaningful purpose, and creating a workplace where people feel proud and connected to their work.