Head Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

This Head Veterinary Nurse position is based in Northampton and combines clinical work with leadership responsibilities in an emergency and critical care setting. You will be part of the clinical team on weeknights, 1:2 weekends and bank holidays, with dedicated time set aside for management duties and meetings.

The role includes night shifts from 19:00 to 09:00, Saturday day shifts from 12:00 to 19:30, and Sunday day shifts from 08:30 to 19:30. It is a full-time role of 40 hours per week, with a strong focus on patient care, team development and operational oversight.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a large team of veterinary nurses and clinical support staff within the clinic.
• Maintain patient care standards during clinical shifts.
• Oversee day-to-day operational and financial management.
• Manage rotas and cover gaps in the schedule.
• Build and maintain relationships with host practices through regular communication.
• Take responsibility for quality control of clinical equipment.
• Support team welfare through mentoring, appraisals, performance management and return-to-work tasks.

Requirements

• At least two years' experience in an out-of-hours and critical care environment.
• Proven experience managing others, preferably in a veterinary setting.
• Demonstrable experience of managing performance.
• A motivation to maintain high clinic standards.
• A strong commitment to client and pet care.

Benefits

• Salary up to £40,000 DOE.
• Private medical insurance.
• Enhanced sick pay and maternity pay.
• 7 weeks annual leave.
• Your birthday as a paid day off.
• £1,125 CPD allowance plus 20 paid hours.
• RCVS fees paid.
• Support towards the ECC certificate.
• Reward Gateway discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers.
• UK Standard Pension contributions of 5% employee and 3% employer.
• Up to 50% discounted staff pet care.
• Death in service cover at two times annual salary.
• Paid volunteering.

About the Practice

The role is based at Abington Park Referrals, Gate 3, The Holcot Centre, Pitsford Road, Northampton, NN3 7SS. The clinic sits within Vets Now, the UK's leading provider of emergency pet care, with more than 1,700 veterinary practices supported through 60 plus dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals.

This Northampton clinic has provided local emergency care since 2005 and holds RCVS Small Animal Emergency Service Clinic accreditation, reflecting its focus on emergency and critical care cases without appointments.