Veterinary Surgeon – Small Animal

About the Role

Join a well-established practice serving the Hastings and Bexhill area, where you’ll deliver varied small animal care to a busy, engaged client base. You’ll work across two sites (1066 and Bexhill) or base yourself at one location—the practice provides a company car for inter-site travel, so you have genuine flexibility. This is a 4–5 day per week role with daytime hours (8:30 am–7:00 pm) plus a Saturday morning rota (8:00 am–12:00 pm), typically 1 in 4 weeks. The best part? No out-of-hours or bank holiday duties, giving you real time to enjoy life on the South Coast.

You’ll oversee clinical governance, protocol implementation, audits, and quality improvement across the practice, ensuring high standards aligned with RCVS guidance and IVC Evidensia best practices. You’ll mentor a strong, experienced team including a certificate holder in orthopaedics, nurses, and support staff—all committed to top-notch care. The practice also collaborates with local charities and the RSPCA Neutering Scheme.

Bexhill-on-Sea offers coastal living with a long promenade, charming town center, rich history, and a vibrant community—plus easy travel links to Brighton, London, and Gatwick Airport.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver clinical care across small animal cases with a high-volume, engaged clientele
• Oversee clinical governance, protocol implementation, audits, and quality improvement initiatives
• Ensure practice compliance with RCVS guidance, industry regulations, and IVC Evidensia best practices
• Mentor and support the veterinary nursing team and wider clinical staff
• Work flexibly across the two practice locations or establish a base at one site
• Contribute to the practice’s collaborative relationships with local charities and RSPCA schemes

Requirements

• Qualified Veterinary Surgeon registered with the RCVS
• Experience in small animal practice (specific years not stated, but experience preferred)
• Strong clinical and interpersonal skills with ability to mentor team members
• Commitment to high standards of animal care and professional development
• Flexibility to work across multiple sites if needed

Benefits

• Salary & Bonuses: Up to £75,000 depending on experience, welcome bonus up to £6,000, relocation allowance up to £8,000
• Accommodation: Fully furnished 1-bedroom flat available
• Holiday & Wellbeing: 6.6 weeks’ holiday including bank holidays, plus your birthday off; private medical insurance; enhanced family-friendly leave and pay; 24/7 confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Professional Development: £1,250 CPD allowance plus 40 hours paid CPD; certificate and advanced learning support; access to Vetlexicon online resources; world-leading IVC Evidensia Training Centres; £1,250 annual Care Fund
• Professional Memberships: BVA membership, VDS cover, RCVS fees covered
• Colleague Perks: Cycle to Work and Green Car schemes (eligibility applies); retail discounts and cashback offers; reduced-cost veterinary care for your own pets

About the Practice

Sussex Coast Vets, Bexhill is a well-established small animal practice serving the Hastings and Bexhill area with a varied caseload and high client numbers. The practice is well-equipped with comprehensive diagnostic and laboratory facilities including digital X-ray, Doppler ultrasound, endoscopy, blood analysers, and more. The team includes experienced vets (including a certificate holder in orthopaedics), registered veterinary nurses, and support staff dedicated to providing top-quality care.

The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, a global network of over 2,500 clinics and hospitals across 20 countries, employing around 41,000 people and caring for approximately 25,000 animals daily. IVC Evidensia is committed to diversity, equality, inclusion, and belonging, and operates as a Disability Confident Employer.