Head Veterinary Nurse - Ryde Vet Clinic

VetPartners; Ryde; On-site; AUD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Real career pathways

Training and development

VNCA professional membership paid for

24/7 EAP support via Sonder

Savings across fuel, groceries, travel

Exclusive discounts on veterinary care

Supportive network of VN professionals

Job summary

VetPartners Ryde Veterinary Clinic is seeking a Head Veterinary Nurse to lead a dedicated nursing team in a busy, client‑facing practice. This role blends hands‑on clinical nursing with leadership, mentoring, and clinic administration to ensure smooth daily operations and outstanding patient care.

You will coach staff, coordinate nursing activities, maintain high hygiene and safety standards, and work closely with veterinarians to deliver exceptional care.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent is required.
• 2+ years veterinary nursing experience required.
• Patience and passion for animal welfare.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to lead, motivate and coach a team.

Responsibilities

• Lead, support and mentor the veterinary nursing team.
• Coach and train Junior Veterinary Nurses.
• Coordinate day-to-day nursing operations of the clinic.
• Provide high-quality patient care and uphold nursing standards.
• Assist with surgical and anaesthetic procedures.
• Monitor patients, provide hospital care and maintain hygiene and safety.
• Support veterinarians and collaborate across the team.
• Develop and maintain nursing protocols and procedures.
• Assist with stock management, orders and inventory control.
• Complete administrative duties including reporting and clinic admin.
• Support reception when needed and handle client enquiries.
• Ensure excellent client communication and service, KPI achievement.
• Foster a positive, collaborative team culture.
• Deliver exceptional patient and client care.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Communication

Client service

Team management

Organisational skills

Education

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

2+ years veterinary nursing experience

Job description

Lead a caring, engaged team and make a real difference to pets and their families.

Are you an experienced Veterinary Nurse ready to take the next step in your career?

Ryde Veterinary Clinic is looking for a passionate and motivated Head Veterinary Nurse to join our friendly and dedicated team on a permanent full-time basis.

About Ryde Veterinary Clinic

Located in central Ryde, with convenient parking directly out the front on Quarry Road, Ryde Veterinary Clinic has been proudly serving the local community for over 30 years.

We are a trusted veterinary clinic for pet owners across Ryde, West Ryde, East Ryde, Putney and Hunters Hill.

At Ryde Veterinary Clinic, our caring and dedicated team treat pets like family. We are committed to providing our patients with the best medical care, delivered with caring hearts.

About the role

As our Head Veterinary Nurse, you will play an important role in leading our nursing team, supporting our clients and patients, and ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the clinic.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced nurse who enjoys combining hands-on clinical nursing with leadership, mentoring, administration, client service and team development.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, supporting and mentoring our veterinary nursing team
• Coaching and training team members, including Junior Veterinary Nurses
• Coordinating the day-to-day nursing operations of the clinic
• Providing high-quality patient care and ensuring excellent nursing standards
• Assisting with surgical and anaesthetic procedures
• Patient monitoring, hospital care and treatment
• Maintaining high standards of hygiene, infection control and workplace safety
• Supporting veterinarians and working collaboratively across the whole team
• Helping develop and maintain nursing protocols and procedures
• Assisting with stock management, ordering and maintaining appropriate stock levels
• Completing administrative duties, including ordering, weekly reports and other clinic administration
• Supporting the reception team when required, including answering phone calls, booking clients and procedures, and assisting with client enquiries
• Ensuring a consistently high standard of client communication and customer service
• Working with the team to achieve clinic KPIs and business goals, including client rebooking and Best for Pet initiatives
• Supporting the implementation of strategies that improve client engagement, patient care and overall clinic performance
• Helping foster a positive, collaborative and supportive team culture
• Ensuring our clients and their pets receive exceptional care and service

About you

We are looking for a confident and compassionate veterinary nurse who is ready to take the next step into a leadership position.

You will ideally have:

• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent
• 2+ years veterinary nursing experience
• A genuine passion for animal welfare and patient care
• Strong clinical nursing and organisational skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• A calm, professional and compassionate approach
• The ability to lead, motivate and support a team
• A willingness to coach and mentor less experienced nurses
• Strong administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Confidence communicating with clients and assisting with reception duties when required
• An understanding of the importance of KPIs, client retention and rebooking
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritise in a busy environment
• A positive, proactive and team-focused attitude
• A commitment to delivering high standards of patient and client care

Previous leadership or senior nursing experience will be highly regarded, but we are also open to an experienced veterinary nurse who is ready to take the next step.

At Ryde Veterinary Clinic, we believe that a great veterinary hospital starts with a great team.

You will be joining an engaged, supportive team with a positive workplace culture, where collaboration, communication and genuine care are valued.

As part of our team, you'll have access to a range of benefits designed to support your career, wellbeing and life outside of work:

• Real career pathways – develop your clinical skills, explore specialist interests, or grow into leadership roles.
• Training and development – access to our online training courses, face-to-face workshops and dedicated vet nurse programs.
• VNCA professional membership paid for by us, supporting your ongoing professional development and connection with the veterinary nursing community.
• Access to 24/7 EAP support through Sonder, a Mental Health First Aid network and a range of wellbeing initiatives to support you both at work and at home.
• Enjoy access to savings across fuel, groceries, travel, entertainment and more.
• Access exclusive discounts on veterinary services and products for your own pets.
• Become part of a supportive network of veterinary professionals across Australia and New Zealand, providing opportunities to connect, share knowledge and learn from others in the industry.

Ready to take the next step?

If you're an experienced Veterinary Nurse looking for a rewarding Head Veterinary Nurse position where you can lead a great team, develop your career and make a meaningful difference to pets and their families, we'd love to hear from you.

We look forward to welcoming our next Head Veterinary Nurse to the team!