Head RVN – Wards Nursing Team Leader

About the Role

This is a leadership opportunity for an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse who wants to grow a team and influence how a busy referral hospital operates. You’ll combine hands-on nursing with strategic leadership, supporting complex and intensive care cases while mentoring fellow nurses to excel. The role includes a 40-hour week with weekends and on-call rota responsibilities, but you won’t be working in isolation—the whole team pulls together to deliver exceptional patient care.

Based at Veterinary Specialists Scotland’s new, fully-equipped facility in Livingston, you’ll have access to state-of-the-art equipment and the opportunity to be part of a growing service. With new specialists joining the team, you’ll gain exposure to an expanding range of complex referral cases, continuously developing your clinical skillset while shaping processes and workflows that drive the hospital forward.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead ward rounds, handovers, and infection control protocols to create a safe, organised, and high-quality clinical environment
• Mentor, develop, and inspire nursing team members through coaching, training, CPD opportunities, and regular constructive feedback
• Work collaboratively with clinicians, nurses, and patient care assistants to ensure smooth patient flow and effective care plan delivery
• Contribute to hospital projects, quality improvements, and accreditation initiatives that support organisational growth
• Serve as a key point of client support, championing clear and compassionate communication to enhance the overall client experience
• Work independently and make sound clinical decisions in a fast-paced referral environment

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Nurse with a minimum of 3 years’ post-registration experience
• Demonstrated leadership experience (formal or informal)
• Ability to work confidently and independently, making sound clinical judgements
• Thrives in fast-paced, collaborative environments handling high caseloads
• Passionate about mentoring others and fostering positive team culture

Benefits

• £1,000 welcome bonus (direct applicants only)
• Competitive salary: £35,000–£40,000 per annum depending on experience
• 5 weeks’ annual holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• RCVS and VDS fees fully covered
• Funded external CPD and professional development
• Enhanced equal family leave
• Comprehensive wellness programme including employee assistance programme, eyecare voucher scheme, free annual flu jab, and cycle-to-work scheme

About the Practice

Veterinary Specialists Scotland is a state-of-the-art referral hospital based in Livingston, part of Linnaeus and Mars Veterinary Health—the world’s largest family-owned veterinary company. The practice combines cutting-edge facilities with a collaborative clinical culture, supporting complex and intensive care cases with a multidisciplinary team of specialists.

As part of Linnaeus, you’ll join a network of over 6,000 associates with access to worldwide development opportunities and a comprehensive wellbeing package prioritising physical and mental health. The organisation is committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse culture where associates are empowered to speak up, step up, and deliver quality services driven by a shared purpose: creating a better world for pets and the people who care for them.