Join Vets4Pets Fort Kinnaird as a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse in a full-time, 40 hours per week role with a 1 in 3 weekends rota and no OOH. Starting salary from £35,000 DOE. Lead and develop an expanding nursing team as the practice prepares for a major expansion in 2027.
Requirements
Qualified and experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with strong general nursing skills.
Previous Head Nurse experience is valuable, but experienced RVNs ready for leadership are also welcome.
Strong leadership, communication, and organisational abilities.
Passion for clinical standards, team development, and nurse-led services.
Skills & Responsibilities
Team Management: Lead, develop, and manage the performance of the nursing team through appraisals and one-to-ones.
Clinical Leadership: Direct the day-to-day running of the clinical floor and ensure compliance with protocols.
Nurse-Led Care: Develop nurse-led clinics, appointments, and new services as the practice expands.
Workflow & Efficiency: Improve workflow, audit clinical care, and bring fresh ideas for patient care and team efficiency.
Potential transition routes: People from Senior Veterinary Nurse or experienced RVN roles may bring clinical expertise and supervisory skills, alongside meeting registration and leadership requirements.
Job description
Nursing team management | Senior clinical leadership | No OOH | Growing practice | Major expansion ahead
Are you an experienced RVN ready to manage and develop a nursing team while helping shape the next chapter of a growing practice?
At Vets4Pets Fort Kinnaird, we are recruiting a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong clinical standards, calm leadership, good judgement and the ability to bring people with them.
This is not simply a title. We want someone who can lead from the floor, manage the nursing team day to day, build confidence in others and help create a proactive, forward-thinking clinical environment.
Our surgery is expanding in 2027, creating more space to grow our team, broaden our services and develop nurse-led care. We want a Head Nurse who is energised by that opportunity and keen to help build what comes next.
Our Team
You will be joining:
5, soon to be 6 vets
4 nurses and a brilliant student nurse
A fantastic client care and support team
Our nurses work well together and are active members of the clinical team. We want a Head Nurse who will help them grow in confidence, skill and responsibility.
The Role
As Head Registered Veterinary Nurse, you will be responsible for the management, development and performance of the nursing team.
Working closely with our practice owners and wider clinical team, your role will include:
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
Our leadership structure is hands-on and collaborative, with shared responsibility and clear ownership.
Who We’re Looking For
We are looking for someone who:
Leads with calm authority rather than ego
Is 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
Is 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
You will need to be a 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.
The Kind of Leader We Value
We are not looking for command-and-control leadership, or someone who believes leadership means doing everything themselves.
We want someone who can build capability in others, set clear standards, lead by example, give fair feedback, hold people accountable, protect team culture and keep the practice moving forward.
Why Join Us?
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
The chance to help shape a major practice expansion
Hours
This is a full-time role working 40 hours per week, with a 1 in 3 weekends rota and no OOH.
The Package
Salary starting at £35,000 DOE
Contributory pension scheme
Paid professional memberships including RCVS and VDS
Exclusive company and high-street discounts and rewards
20% discount at Pets at Home
Everyone Belongs at Fort Kinnaird
Pets do not discriminate, and neither do we.
We welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life. If you bring kindness, capability, professional standards and genuine team spirit, we would love to hear from you.
We are looking for a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse who wants to manage and develop people, strengthen standards, grow nurse-led services and help build the next chapter of Vets4Pets Fort Kinnaird.
