About the Role
This is a hands-on leadership opportunity within one of the UK's largest specialist referral hospitals. You'll take full ownership of theatre operations across a busy multidisciplinary centre, coordinating workflow, managing staffing resources, and maintaining clinical excellence—all while staying clinically engaged rather than moving into pure management.
The role is structured around a traditional Monday-to-Friday, 8am-5pm schedule with no weekends or out-of-hours commitments. You'll work alongside a highly skilled nursing team of over 60 RVNs and experienced veterinary specialists, with genuine support for career progression and professional development built into the culture.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead day-to-day theatre operations including case scheduling, team coordination, and staffing allocation across shifts
- Maintain and drive high standards of patient care and clinical hygiene across theatre areas
- Act as a visible, supportive leader—providing clinical guidance and resolving operational challenges as they arise
- Coordinate patient flow by communicating effectively with Wards, Diagnostics, Reception, and Bookings teams
- Manage downtime effectively to ensure cleaning, maintenance, and organisational tasks are completed to standard
- Adapt staffing resources and workflows in response to changes in workload and department needs
Requirements
- RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN)
- Minimum 2–3 years' experience within a multidisciplinary referral practice
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Confident working in fast-paced clinical environments
- Proactive, solutions-focused approach with high attention to detail
- Strong communication skills across multiple teams
- Excellent written and spoken English
- Right to Work in the UK
Benefits
- Time off: 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
- Professional support: RCVS and VDS fees paid; external CPD funded; extensive free online Linnaeus CPD programmes
- Career development: Structured progression pathways and opportunities for additional qualifications
- Health & wellbeing: Enhanced sickness pay; enhanced equal family leave; employee assistance programme; eyecare voucher scheme; free annual flu jab; wellness programme
- Lifestyle perks: Cycle to work scheme; childcare vouchers; staff discount schemes; social team culture with events including Christmas party
- Recognition: Recruitment referral reward scheme
About the Practice
North Downs Specialist Referrals is an internationally recognised, RCVS-accredited referral centre providing advanced medical and surgical care across multiple disciplines including surgery, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, cardiology, diagnostic imaging, and anaesthesia. The practice is part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health, the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world, which enables long-term thinking and a genuine focus on purpose rather than short-term profits.
The centre employs a team of over 60 Registered Veterinary Nurses supported by experienced clinicians. The Nursing Pathways programme is designed to support RVNs at every career stage, offering structured development, leadership opportunities, and continued clinical progression. The culture emphasises genuine support, with Mental Health First Aiders and confidential employee assistance available across the group.
