Job Description

Out of Hours Veterinary Surgeon (OOH Vet)

Location: Cardiff
Salary: £63,500 – £76,000 (including allowances) pro rata
Hours: 33.41 hours per week
Contract Type: Part-Time, Permanent
Flexible Rota Options Available: Including patterns such as 7 on / 14 off or 7 on / 21 off

Make a Meaningful Difference in Veterinary Emergency Care

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Out of Hours Veterinary Surgeon to join a highly supportive and collaborative team in Cardiff. This role offers the chance to focus on emergency and critical care (ECC) while benefiting from a predictable rota, manageable caseload and strong work-life balance.

This is not a typical out-of-hours veterinary role. The successful candidate will work in a structured, wellbeing-focused environment where clinical quality and patient welfare take priority over commercial targets. With no routine appointments and an emergency-only caseload, this position is ideal for a Veterinary Surgeon with a passion for emergency veterinary medicine, critical care, and delivering outstanding patient outcomes.

About the Organisation

For more than a century, the organisation has provided essential veterinary care to pets belonging to people experiencing financial hardship. Today, it is on an ambitious journey to expand its reach and support even more pets and owners during difficult times.

The organisation is committed to creating lasting positive change and is seeking compassionate, motivated veterinary professionals who want to make a genuine difference while helping shape the future of veterinary care.

The Role – Out of Hours Veterinary Surgeon

Based at the Cardiff Pet Hospital, the successful candidate will join an experienced veterinary team providing out-of-hours emergency care for both charitable and private practice clients.

This opportunity is ideal for a Veterinary Surgeon who enjoys the variety and challenge of OOH work but is seeking greater structure, support and sustainability in their career.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deliver high-quality emergency and critical veterinary care to pets requiring urgent treatment.
• Manage a varied caseload of emergency presentations across a broad spectrum of clinical conditions.
• Make calm, welfare-led clinical decisions under pressure.
• Work collaboratively with an experienced multidisciplinary team.
• Support and mentor Veterinary Students during shifts, helping develop practical ECC skills in a real-world setting.
• Contribute to the continued development of a growing and evolving emergency service.

Importantly, there are no routine booked appointments, allowing the Veterinary Surgeon to focus entirely on emergency medicine and urgent clinical care.

About the Candidate

The team is looking for an experienced and compassionate Veterinary Surgeon with strong clinical confidence and a keen interest in Emergency and Critical Care (ECC).

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a qualified MRCVS Veterinary Surgeon with experience in emergency or hospital-based practice.
• Have strong diagnostic and clinical decision-making skills.
• Be confident handling emergency and critical cases independently.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Maintain a calm, compassionate and welfare-focused approach in high-pressure situations.
• Have an interest in mentoring and supporting Veterinary Students.

This role would particularly suit an OOH Vet, Emergency Vet, or Veterinary Surgeon seeking to develop a long-term career in emergency and critical care within a highly supportive setting.

Why Join the Cardiff Hospital?

The Cardiff Pet Hospital is known for its collaborative culture, supportive clinical environment and commitment to shared learning. Veterinary professionals benefit from access to colleagues with a wide range of clinical interests and expertise, encouraging strong case discussion and professional development.

The hospital is modern and fully equipped, featuring:

• Separate dog and cat kennelling facilities
• In-house radiography
• Ultrasound and endoscopy equipment
• Piped gases
• Extensive orthopaedic equipment
• A highly experienced and collaborative veterinary team

Flexible Working & Work-Life Balance

Employee wellbeing is a genuine priority. Flexible rota options are available, including potential patterns such as:

• 7 nights on / 14 nights off
• 7 nights on / 21 nights off

The team is open to discussing flexible arrangements to support individual circumstances and work-life balance.

Salary & Benefits

The successful candidate will receive a competitive salary of £63,500 – £76,000 (including allowances) pro rata, alongside an extensive benefits package, including:

• Flexible working options to support work-life balance
• £1,000 CPD allowance plus 5 days CPD leave annually*
• Payment of full RCVS fees*
• Extensive internal CPD programmes
• Discounts for BSAVA Congress and London Vet Show
• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays, with the option to buy or sell up to five additional days
• Three paid wellbeing days annually: Volunteering Day, Celebration Day and Wellbeing Day
• Generous pension contributions starting at 5% and rising to 10%
• Life assurance at four times annual salary
• AXA Health Employee Assistance Programme, private medical cover and 24/7 wellbeing support
• Retail, travel and lifestyle discounts
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave

*Where applicable.

Apply Today

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Out of Hours Veterinary Surgeon in Cardiff seeking a rewarding part-time permanent veterinary role with flexibility, professional support and the chance to make a meaningful impact on pets and owners when they need it most.

Applications are welcomed from experienced OOH Vets, ECC Veterinary Surgeons, Night Vets and Small Animal Veterinary Surgeons looking to take the next step in a supportive and purpose-driven environment.

For more information or for a confidential chat, please contact Megan on 01904 570056 or email m.pinder@purovets.com

You can also WhatsApp us at WhatsApp - Purovets and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our great opportunities.  

To view all our vacancies, please visit https://purovets.com/veterinary-jobs/ 

And don't forget, if this position is of no interest to you but you know someone who may be interested, please pass on our details. We offer £250* for every successful candidate referral. *Terms and conditions apply.

Ref no: JOB-58315