Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

You’ll be joining a well-established, forward-thinking small animal practice group spanning three sites across Cardigan, Crymych, and Lampeter in Wales. This is a fully flexible role with no out-of-hours or on-call commitments—a genuine rarity that gives you back your weekends and evenings. The practice is RCVS GP-accredited and known for creating a genuinely healthy work-life balance alongside excellent clinical standards.

The caseload is broad and interesting, offering real opportunities to develop your skills across routine medicine and surgery while pursuing your own clinical interests. Whether you’re drawn to orthopaedics, ultrasound, dentistry, or keyhole work, the team actively encourages individual clinical development. You’ll work across a dual-site rota with scope for progression as your experience grows.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-standard patient and client care across a varied small animal caseload
• Work collaboratively within a clinical team of 9 veterinary surgeons, including colleagues with specialist expertise in orthopaedics, ultrasound, dentistry, and minimally invasive surgery
• Contribute to a positive clinical culture by sharing knowledge with colleagues and supporting the ongoing development of the wider team
• Continue developing your own clinical skills and pursue areas of professional interest with full support
• Utilise the practice’s well-equipped facilities including digital x-ray, dental x-ray, ultrasound, and in-house laboratory

Requirements

• Veterinary degree and RCVS registration (or eligibility to register)
• Experience working in clinical practice with growing confidence in routine medical and surgical cases
• Strong communication skills and ability to build effective relationships with clients and colleagues
• Professionalism, reliability, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Benefits

• Salary: Up to £70,000 FTE depending on experience
• Leave: 6.6 weeks annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, plus additional holiday for your birthday
• CPD & Development: £1,250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave, certificate support, and access to IVC Evidensia Academy training
• Professional Support: Access to mentors, regional clinical coaches, and peer networks
• Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, and RCVS fees covered
• Healthcare: Private medical insurance and 24/7 employee assistance programme
• Family Policies: Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and surrogacy pay
• Financial: Company pension scheme with employer contribution, cycle to work scheme, green cars scheme, voluntary benefits, and access to retail discounts
• Pet Care: Discounted treatment for your own pets at IVC Evidensia practices
• Additional: £1,250 per annum via the Care Fund, eligibility to apply for research funding, and Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia access

About the Practice

Priory Vets operates across three locations (Cardigan, Crymych, and Lampeter) as part of IVC Evidensia, the UK and Europe’s leading veterinary care group comprising over 900 practices and referral hospitals. The practice is RCVS GP-accredited and built around a collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement.

The team includes 9 veterinary surgeons with complementary expertise (orthopaedics, keyhole surgery, ultrasound, dental radiography), 11 registered veterinary nurses (including a CertECC holder), and 11 support staff including VCAs and client care advisors. The practice is well-equipped with digital x-ray, dental x-ray, ultrasound, and in-house laboratory facilities, enabling the team to deliver comprehensive small animal care. The culture is explicitly inclusive and team-oriented, with clinical freedom and individual interests actively encouraged and supported.