Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the role

At Vets4Pets Fort Kinnaird, we are recruiting a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to manage and develop the nursing team while helping shape the next chapter of a growing practice. The surgery is expanding in 2027, creating more space to grow the team, broaden services and develop nurse‑led care. You will join a team of 5 (soon to be 6) vets, 4 nurses and a brilliant student nurse, plus a fantastic client care and support team.

Responsibilities

• Managing, leading and developing the nursing team
• Directing the day‑to‑day running of the clinical floor
• Improving workflow and use of nursing skills
• Remaining actively involved in clinical nursing duties
• Developing individual clinical interests within the team
• Building confident client‑facing nurses
• Developing nurse‑led clinics and appointments
• Contributing to appraisals, one‑to‑ones and performance management
• Supporting students and new team members
• Ensuring compliance with protocols and clinical governance
• Auditing clinical care and practice processes
• Bringing fresh ideas to improve patient care, client experience and team efficiency
• Helping develop new services as the practice expands

Requirements

• Leads with calm authority rather than ego
• Visible, approachable and consistent
• Communicates clearly, even when conversations are difficult
• Builds trust with the team by being fair and reliable
• Notices when people need support, direction or challenge
• Gives feedback constructively and does not avoid accountability
• Helps others grow rather than taking everything on themselves
• Stays organised under pressure and keeps perspective on busy days
• Takes ownership without creating drama
• Brings solutions, not problems
• Confident with clients and understands the value of nurse‑led relationships
• Sees change as an opportunity rather than a threat
• Has the energy to bring fresh ideas and follow them through
• Cares about standards, compliance and doing things properly
• Wants to help build a strong, capable and engaged nursing team

Qualifications

Qualified and experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong general nursing skills. Previous Head Nurse experience would be valuable, but we also welcome applications from experienced RVNs already carrying significant leadership responsibility without the title.

Benefits

• No OOH or overnight inpatient checks
• Busy, established practice with an experienced team
• Strong nursing involvement in clinical care
• Hands‑on, supportive leadership
• Generous CPD support with funded certificates considered and encouraged
• Strong emphasis on wellbeing
• Genuine influence over nursing standards and team development
• Involvement in appraisals, training, compliance and clinical audit
• Opportunity to develop nurse‑led clinics and services
• Chance to help shape a major practice expansion
• Contributory pension scheme
• Paid professional memberships including RCVS and VDS
• Exclusive company and high‑street discounts and rewards
• 20% discount at Pets at Home

Pay

Salary starting at £35,000 DOE

Schedule

Full‑time role working 40 hours per week, with a 1 in 3 weekends rota and no OOH.

Location