OOH Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

Join PDSA Leicester as an Out of Hours Veterinary Surgeon in a role that redefines what OOH work can be. You'll work a structured rota of three consecutive night shifts (Friday to Sunday), then four nights (Monday to Thursday) three weeks later, giving you genuine extended time off between blocks. Shifts run 7:45pm to 8:15am, and you'll focus exclusively on emergency cases with no routine booked appointments.

This is emergency and critical care work that respects your wellbeing. You'll see a wide range of clinical challenges across both charitable and private practice clients, supported by a strong, experienced team with clear protocols, regular built-in breaks, and the equipment you need to work safely. Your role includes emergency consultations, surgical procedures, preventive surgeries, laboratory queries, and admin tasks.

If you're passionate about emergency medicine, enjoy mentoring veterinary students, and want to stay and develop with a service that's genuinely growing, this role offers meaningful clinical work with a pragmatic, welfare-focused approach that puts the pet's needs first.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess and manage emergency consultations, applying strong clinical judgment and calm decision-making under pressure
• Perform emergency and surgical procedures across a varied caseload
• Conduct preventive and routine surgical work as part of the emergency remit
• Handle laboratory result queries and provide clinical guidance
• Complete administrative tasks as required
• Support and mentor veterinary students working alongside you on shifts, helping them develop emergency care skills in a real-world setting
• Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team on case discussion and shared learning

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon registered with the RCVS
• Strong clinical confidence with a particular interest in emergency and critical care
• Good clinical judgment and calm, welfare-focused approach to decision-making
• Ability to work effectively as part of a collaborative team
• Motivated to support and develop emerging veterinary talent

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £63,560 to £76,146 per annum (including allowances, pro rata for 16.705 hours per week)
• Part-time permanent contract with structured rota and guaranteed extended time off
• 5 days CPD allowance plus £1,000 per year for professional development
• Full RCVS fees covered so you're never out of pocket
• Extensive internal CPD programmes, plus discounts for BSAVA Congress and London Vet Show
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, with option to buy or sell up to 5 additional days
• Three paid special days annually: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day, Wellbeing Day
• Generous pension with PDSA contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%
• Life assurance worth four times annual salary
• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme with 24/7 wellbeing support and private medical cover
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• 10% discount on PDSA Pet Insurance and access to staff veterinary services
• Retail, holiday and lifestyle discounts via Fetch benefits platform
• Flexible working options to support individual circumstances

About the Practice

PDSA is a leading veterinary charity supporting the pets of people in financial hardship. With over a century of experience, PDSA continues to expand its reach and impact across the UK. PDSA Leicester is a highly collaborative and well-equipped hospital with separate dog and cat kennelling facilities, in-house radiography, ultrasound, endoscopy, piped gases, and extensive orthopaedic equipment.

The team is experienced and multidisciplinary, with varied clinical interests and a genuine commitment to case discussion, shared learning, and supporting each other. The organisation is undergoing significant growth and is actively reshaping to become more future-focused, with a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, diversity, inclusion, and a pragmatic, quality-driven approach to patient care.