
Ready to combine a thriving mixed caseload with genuine work-life balance and island living? Shetland Vets is hiring two experienced mixed vets to join the UK's most northerly practice.
1:5 weekend on-call (includes Saturday morning consultations 9:00–13:00, with Monday off in lieu); one weeknight on-call per week (moves to Friday if it falls on your regular weekend).
You'll be joining Shetland Vets, the only veterinary practice across the Shetland Islands, covering all inhabited islands and the mainland. This is a full-time permanent role working a four-day week (typically 8:30–17:30, with occasional later finishes 10:00–19:00) with a manageable 1:5 weekend on-call rota and one weeknight on-call, designed around genuine work-life balance rather than relentless pressure.
The caseload is beautifully varied: approximately 75% small animal, 20% farm work (mainly beef and sheep), 5% equine, plus occasional wildlife cases including everything from seals to wallabies. You'll rotate between three practice sites and have the opportunity to conduct regular visits to the outer islands by ferry, including weekly trips to Unst and Yell. While some sole charge work is involved, you're never truly on your own; support is always available by phone and your nursing team is on call alongside you.
Shetland itself offers breathtaking scenery, a welcoming community, and a genuinely different lifestyle. With 19 hours of summer daylight, opportunities for hiking, kayaking, wild swimming, and Northern Lights viewing, combined with strong cultural events and excellent schools, this is a location that appeals to those seeking both professional fulfillment and a meaningful change of pace.
Shetland Vets is an independent, employee-owned practice and the only veterinary service across the Shetland Islands. Operating since 1985 (celebrating 40 years in 2025), it serves all inhabited islands with three branch locations in Bixter, Scalloway, and Lerwick. The practice has been employee-owned since 2014, meaning team members hold shares in a trust for long-term benefit and have genuine input into how the business is run.
The team comprises five veterinary surgeons (four mixed and one small animal focused), seven RVNs (three full-time and four part-time), two animal care assistants, and receptionists/admin staff. Team members bring diverse interests including orthopaedics, ophthalmology, and farm animal health, creating a collaborative and knowledge-rich environment. The practice is committed to exceptional animal care, client service, and reducing environmental impact across the islands.