We are seeking two veterinary surgeons to join our team; one position based at our Thurso branch and the other at our Wick branch. Our supportive team includes a mix of highly experienced clinicians and recently qualified vets, allowing us to offer excellent mentoring for a new graduate, while also providing a welcoming and stimulating environment for an experienced vet looking to join a well-established practice.
Our exceptional retention rate reflects our supportive, welcoming and stable working environment. The current team of 20 vets has 264 years of services with the Practice.
We are proud to be an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) practice, meaning the business is owned for the benefit of the people who work in it. This fosters a genuinely collaborative culture where every team member has a voice, shares in the success of the practice, and can help shape its future. Employee ownership enables long-term stability, transparent decision-making and reinvestment into people, facilities and clinical standards
We are a truly mixed practice, with an approximately 50:50 split between small and large animal work. Our rota is designed to give vets a fair and balanced exposure to both disciplines, while also offering the flexibility and support to develop individual clinical interests and shape your role within the practice.
The normal working day is 9am–5.30pm, with an hour for lunch, during which everyone is encouraged to leave the practice to get a break. At 5.30pm, any remaining work is passed on to the on-call vets, so you can expect to finish on time and enjoy a good work–life balance. Our small animal consults are 15 minutes, with time scheduled in the diary for client communication. A minimum of 3 vets are on-call across the branches , providing full support from colleagues at all times. Additional support for new graduates is also provided out of hours.
At our Thurso branch, the shared out-of-hours rota currently runs at 2:9, with a scheduled day off in lieu following a night as first on call. In Wick, the shared out-of-hours rota is currently 1:5, with time off in lieu for first on-call nights built into the rota.
Excellent Facilities Across All Disciplines
Farm Animal Rectal scanners; hydraulic foot-tipping crate; EEJ equipment for bull and tup fertility testing; access to post-mortem facilities at the local SRUC (with trained vets); dedicated large animal unit for sheep obstetrics; calf hospitalisation facilities including IV fluid therapy; in-house Ovacyte machine for faecal egg analysis.
Equine Reproductive and tendon ultrasound scanner; portable DR X-ray system; power float for routine and advanced dental procedures.
Small Animal DR radiography; ultrasound; dental X-ray with table-side processing; comprehensive in-house blood analysers; multiparameter monitoring; extensive orthopaedic equipment including a TPLO kit.
Living and working in Caithness offers an outstanding quality of life, with dramatic coastal scenery, open countryside and easy access to outdoor pursuits including walking, surfing, cycling and wildlife watching.
The area offers a relaxed pace of life, affordable housing and a strong sense of community, while still providing good local amenities and transport links. It’s an ideal location for those looking to enjoy a rewarding veterinary career alongside a healthier work–life balance in a truly beautiful part of Scotland.
What are vets say about working at DS McGregor’s:
‘I started working at DS McGregor’s as a new graduate in 2023 and I could not have asked for a more supportive, friendly and welcoming team to start out with. The work load is fun and varied, and everyone is encouraged to pursue what interests them, whatever field that might be! Caithness is a stunning county to live and work in, and I genuinely think we have some of the best clients and farmers in Scotland! I love coming to work each day and feel so lucky to have been in such a good environment from day one.’ Cara MacGregor MRCVS 2023 Graduate
“Thurso has been a very welcoming practice for a new grad in the last year. I’ve felt supported as well as pushed to do anything and everything that comes my way”
Elizabeth Scaife MRCVS 2024 Graduate
Benefits include:
· Salary dependent on experience but approx. £36,000 to £72,000, with an established pay rise structure in place, including usual subscriptions paid
· 29 days’ holiday per year
· 5 days CPD, with a budget that includes travel and accommodation. We also have a GDP adviser who can support recent or new graduates
· Company private health insurance
· Accommodation and vehicle can be provided
· Membership of the XLVets community of independently owned, progressive veterinary practices working together to achieve the highest standards of veterinary care
To apply, or for an informal discussion, please contact: Joanna Grooves (Practice Manager) on 01847 892387 or by email at jobs@dsmcg.co.uk
