Head Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

This is a leadership opportunity at Vets Now's Stoke clinic, which has been delivering expert emergency care since 2004 and has recently been recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as an outstanding provider of emergency veterinary care. You'll head a large team of veterinary nurses and clinical support staff, balancing hands-on clinical work with team management and operational oversight. The role combines clinical shifts with dedicated time for management duties and meetings, offering a full-time 12-month fixed-term contract starting November 2026.

Working pattern includes nightshifts Monday to Sunday (18:00 to 09:00), Saturday dayshifts (12:00 to 18:30), and Sunday dayshifts (08:30 to 18:30 or 09:00 to 19:00), plus a fair share of bank holidays. This is a genuinely busy emergency environment where you'll maintain clinical standards while developing and coaching your team.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a large team of veterinary nurses and clinical support staff
• Maintain day-to-day operational and financial management of the clinic
• Manage rota scheduling and cover gaps across the team
• Develop and coach staff, including appraisals, performance management, and return-to-work support
• Uphold quality standards for clinical equipment and patient care
• Build and maintain strong relationships with host practices through regular communication
• Deliver direct clinical nursing care during shifts

Requirements

• Minimum two years' experience in out-of-hours and critical care environments
• Proven experience managing others, preferably in a veterinary setting
• Demonstrated experience managing staff performance
• Motivated to maintain high clinic standards
• Passionate about caring for clients and their pets

Benefits

• Salary: up to £40,000 depending on experience
• 7 weeks annual leave (pro rata)
• Your birthday as a paid day off
• £1,125 CPD allowance plus 20 paid hours
• RCVS fees paid and ECC certificate support
• Private medical insurance
• Enhanced sick and maternity pay
• UK Standard Pension contributions (5% employee/3% employer)
• Death in service benefit of two times annual salary
• Up to 50% discount on staff pet care
• Reward Gateway giving discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
• Access to professional qualifications including the Vets Now ECC certificate

About the Practice

Vets Now is the UK's leading provider of emergency pet care, operating 60+ dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals serving over 1,700 veterinary practices. The Stoke clinic has been recognised by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as an outstanding provider of emergency veterinary care, with a highly skilled team committed to delivering expert care when pet owners need it most.