Job Description

Are you a confident and dedicated Veterinary Surgeon looking for a rewarding and long-term role?

Animals 1st Vets in Macmerry are searching for an experienced vet to become a valued part of our small, friendly, and supportive team in beautiful East Lothian.

As a key member of our practice, you'll work alongside a talented team of veterinary surgeons, nurses, and support staff, delivering exceptional clinical care and upholding the highest standards in everything we do. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the continued growth of a well-established practice while enjoying a positive and collaborative working environment.

What you'll be doingBuilding strong relationships with clients, offering expert advice and compassionate care to ensure outstanding patient outcomes. Performing a mixture of surgery, routine consultations, and diagnostic case workups. Supporting best practice and contributing to clinical standards and protocols within the practice. Providing support and advice to clients via email and phone to enhance their overall experience.


This role is ideal for a proactive Veterinary Surgeon who thrives in a team-focused setting and is passionate about delivering gold-standard veterinary care.

Flexibility that fits your lifestyle

Our people are at the heart of everything we do, and we recognise the importance of a healthy work-life balance. Our full-time position offers 40 hours per week across a 4-day week, along with share in 1 in 4 Saturday mornings, paid as overtime. There is no out-of-hours requirement, as this is outsourced locally.

Why join us?

Animals 1st Vets is a welcoming small animal practice known for delivering excellent patient and client care. You'll be joining a supportive team of 3 vets, 5 nurses, and 4 support staff, providing a balance of experience and varied skill sets. We have a great mix of long-standing team members and more recently qualified colleagues, creating a positive learning environment for everyone.

Our practice is well equipped with:Digital radiography Ultrasound (including echocardiography) In-house laboratory


We see a wide variety of cases, giving you the opportunity to develop your clinical and surgical skills. CPD is encouraged and funded, and we're committed to supporting your professional development. We also offer a competitive salary, exclusive company discounts, reward schemes, and clear career development pathways.

A great place to live and work

Based in East Lothian, our location offers the perfect blend of countryside living and easy access to city life. Macmerry provides excellent transport links, with direct access to the A1. The nearby towns of Haddington and Musselburgh offer great amenities, while Edinburgh--with its vibrant culture, historic landmarks, and thriving arts scene--is only a short drive away. Whether you enjoy exploring Scotland's stunning coastline or prefer urban adventures, this area offers the best of both worlds.

Because our people matter

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from -

Work-life balance6.8 weeks annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday


WellbeingPrivate Medical Insurance Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential helpline Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay Initiatives focused on colleague wellbeing


Development1250 CPD allowance with 40 hours paid CPD leave pro rata Certificate support Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy Access to Vetlexicon - our online encyclopaedia provider All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding All our Vets get 1250 per annum to spend via our Care Fund Infection Prevention and Control Programme Quality Improvement Programme


Professional MembershipsBVA membership VDS cover RCVS fees


Colleague BenefitsCompany pension scheme. IVC Evidensia will make a contribution as well Supporting a greener commute to work with a Cycle to Work scheme and Green Cars Scheme, subject to eligibility criteria Voluntary benefits: we give you the flexibility to choose from a range of voluntary benefits to suit you Access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers Discounted treatment for your own pets at an IVC Evidensia practice

Up to 50,000 DOE

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.