Small Animal Veterinary Surgeon

About the Role

This is a small animal veterinary surgeon role with Riverside Veterinary Care, ideal for an experienced vet who enjoys the pace and variety of general practice but has a clear interest in surgery. The practice is expanding its surgical offering, so you'll have the chance to help shape a developing service within a well-equipped first-opinion setting.

The role suits a confident GP vet with strong surgical skills, ideally backed by a surgical certificate or equivalent experience. You'll work across consulting, surgery and interesting medical cases, with scope to spend more time in theatre as your caseload develops. The rota is designed to support work-life balance, with no OOHs and a flexible approach to full-time or part-time working.

Riverside Veterinary Care is based in beautiful Monmouthshire, with clinics in Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale. The area offers access to the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons National Park, with Cardiff, Hereford and Bristol also within reach.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide first-opinion small animal veterinary care across consulting, surgery and medical cases
• Contribute to the development of the practice's expanding surgical service
• Carry out and continue developing soft tissue surgery and orthopaedic procedures
• Work within the new surgical hub as the Abergavenny expansion is completed
• Take part in the practice rota, including a weekly late shift and weekend cover as agreed
• Support the team's collaborative approach to patient care and clinical development

Requirements

• Experienced small animal vet
• Strong surgical skills
• Ideally a surgical certificate or equivalent experience
• Confident GP clinician who enjoys a varied caseload
• Interest in helping develop a growing surgical service

Benefits

• Salary of £45,000 to £60,000
• 8% employer pension contribution
• Generous CPD allowance, with certificates supported and funded
• Personal improvement allowance for physical and mental wellbeing
• Future shareholder or ownership prospects for the right person
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Full private health insurance
• No out-of-hours work
• Flexible rota, with full-time and part-time options available
• Higher rate paid for hours worked after 6.30 pm or on weekends

About the Practice

Riverside Veterinary Care is a proudly independent small animal practice in Monmouthshire. It has two standalone clinics, in Abergavenny and Ebbw Vale, and is part of the Vet Dynamics community. The practice has won Best Vet in County at the Best UK Vets Awards in 2023 and 2024, and also received the John Sheridan Award at the Vet Dynamics Conference 2023.

The practice currently uses digital X-ray, ultrasound, an in-house laboratory and laser therapy. A major building project is underway at the Abergavenny branch, which will create a new surgical hub, a separate dental suite with dental X-ray, three additional consulting rooms, and improved dog and cat kennels, with completion due in October 2026. The team works with a strong focus on contextualised veterinary care, teamwork and ongoing development.