Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

You’ll be joining Rowe Veterinary Group’s Thornbury practice—a fully equipped small animal clinic that punches well above typical GP practice weight. With in-house ultrasound, digital X-ray, and dedicated dental facilities, the team manages complex cases directly and rarely refers routine work. Cases that do move into the Rowe Referrals Hospital give you the chance to follow your own patients through, extending your learning and clinical continuity.

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract offering genuine flexibility around a 4-day working week. You’ll split your time between the main practice and the group’s ECC hospital, working alongside two other emergency vets to manage inpatients and emergency cases for Rowe and several neighbouring practices—giving you valuable exposure to emergency and critical care medicine without the relentless pace of dedicated out-of-hours work. The weekend hours are 8AM-6PM on a current 1:9 weekend commitment. Your working pattern includes one early finish at 4:30pm each week, with other days running 8:30am–7pm.

You’ll be part of a tight-knit local team of three vets, several of whom hold or are progressing towards advanced practitioner status, backed by skilled nurses and care assistants. Beyond Thornbury, you’re joining a larger Rowe network spanning seven sites with over 40 first opinion vets and 10 referral specialists—plenty of collegial support and referral pathways.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-level small animal first opinion care across surgery and medicine cases
• Perform advanced surgical procedures in-house (the practice’s particular strength)
• Manage a broad range of medical cases with clinical confidence and minimal referrals
• Contribute to the ECC hospital rota, managing inpatients and emergency cases on a shared basis
• Follow selected cases through to referral if they move into the Rowe Referrals Hospital
• Support the local team of three vets and nursing staff in maintaining excellent patient care standards
• Engage with ongoing professional development and advanced practitioner pathways if interested

Requirements

• Qualified veterinary surgeon (RCVS registered)
• Confident and clinically competent in both surgical and medical small animal cases
• Genuine passion for high-quality patient care
• Flexibility and willingness to work across both the practice and ECC hospital settings
• Experience with emergency and critical care is desirable but not essential

Benefits

• Leave & Time Off: 6.6 weeks annual leave plus your birthday as a paid day off
• Professional Development: £1,250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid pro rata, certificate support, access to IVC Evidensia Academy, Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia, and research funding eligibility
• Memberships: BVA membership and VDS cover included
• Health & Wellbeing: Private medical insurance, cycle-to-work scheme, non-accidental injury support, enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, surrogacy pay)
• Financial: Competitive base salary, 5% employee/3% employer pension contribution, £1,250 annual Care Fund allowance, discounted staff pet care
• Additional Perks: Pawsome Benefits reward gateway offering discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers

About the Practice

Rowe Veterinary Group’s Thornbury practice is a forward-thinking small animal clinic equipped for advanced in-house care. Located in Thornbury, South West, it’s part of the broader Rowe group—a network of seven sites across the region with strong referral pathways, emergency capacity, and a collaborative culture. The practice is backed by IVC Evidensia, a global veterinary leader with over 2,500 clinics and hospitals across 20 countries, employing around 41,000 people and caring for roughly 25,000 animals daily.

IVC Evidensia’s philosophy centres on ‘Healthy Animals, Happy Owners’ and a genuine commitment to people—investing in clinical teams, premises, and continuous professional development. The wider network means access to specialist support, academy learning, research opportunities, and a robust structure for career progression, alongside genuine flexibility in how work can be structured for the right individual.