Clinical Nursing Manager (12 months fixed Term)

About the Role

This 12-month maternity cover position offers a rare chance to lead nursing across three established, high-performing small animal practices in the Surbiton area (Surbiton, Teddington, and Shepperton). You’ll work Monday to Friday with no weekends or out-of-hours duties, giving you genuine work-life balance while stepping into a senior leadership role.

The split between clinical and leadership is deliberately balanced: spend roughly three days per week in active clinical practice (rotating across the three branches) and two days on leadership and administration. This keeps you connected to the hands-on work you love while developing senior leadership skills and exposure to business strategy, P&L awareness, and multi-site decision-making.

You’ll join stable, home-grown nursing teams who are genuinely engaged and keen to develop. This isn’t about being office-bound—you’ll have an active, visible presence within the team every day.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor nursing teams across three branches, supporting nurses at every career stage from newly qualified to experienced practitioners
• Maintain consistent nursing standards and clinical excellence across all three sites
• Oversee day-to-day nursing operations and team development initiatives
• Support and influence processes that directly improve patient care
• Contribute to senior leadership discussions and multi-site strategy
• Remain actively clinically involved, leading by example in nursing practice
• Build a culture of mentorship, shared clinical standards, and mutual respect across the team

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with significant clinical experience
• Proven experience in a lead or head nurse role, ideally with team mentoring and development experience
• Confidence in coaching, leading by example, and developing nursing talent across all levels
• Strong clinical knowledge and commitment to high standards of patient care
• Ability to think strategically while remaining clinically engaged
• Comfortable working across multiple sites and liaising with senior leadership

Benefits

• Salary: From £40,000 (experience dependent)
• Fixed-term contract: 12 months (maternity cover)
• Full-time, 40 hours per week
• Monday–Friday working: no weekends, no out-of-hours
• Access to comprehensive wellbeing package prioritising physical and mental health
• Continuing professional development opportunities
• Exposure to senior leadership team discussions and business strategy
• Involvement in P&L awareness and multi-site decision-making
• Active social culture: monthly team-led activities (quizzes, yoga, bingo), seasonal events (summer socials, Christmas parties, Halloween activities)
• Part of a large, supportive professional network across Linnaeus (6000+ associates)
• Access to worldwide development opportunities through Mars Veterinary Health

About the Practice

Vet4Life operates three well-established small animal practices serving Surbiton, Teddington, and Shepperton. The practices are known for delivering exceptional patient care and maintaining consistently high clinical standards. The nursing teams are stable, home-grown, and highly engaged, with a genuine culture of mentorship and mutual respect—a team where nurses’ opinions are listened to and acted upon.

Vet4Life is part of Linnaeus, which operates under Mars Veterinary Health, the world’s largest family-owned veterinary company. Being privately owned allows Linnaeus to focus on long-term investment in people, facilities, and patient care rather than short-term profits. Across Linnaeus, there are over 6000 associates supported by a comprehensive wellbeing package, access to specialist networks worldwide, and genuine commitment to inclusive, diverse, and authentic workplace culture.