Veterinary Nurse Manager Underwood

Veterinary Specialist Services; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Veterinary Specialist Services Pty Ltd. invites applications for a Nurse Manager role at our Underwood QLD facility, leading the Internal Medicine, Oncology and Emergency and Critical Care nursing teams.

You will oversee staffing, training, and clinical protocols to ensure high-quality patient care. The role requires at least five years of veterinary nursing experience, leadership experience, and a commitment to staff development in a multidisciplinary hospital setting.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent
• Minimum 5 years of veterinary nursing experience
• Experience supervising staff and providing performance feedback
• Strong communication, organisational and decision-making skills
• Experience in multidisciplinary specialist, referral or emergency settings

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing team including mentoring and recruitment
• Oversee staffing levels, rosters and workforce planning for Internal Medicine, Oncology and ECC
• Develop and implement clinical protocols and SOPs
• Ensure safety, compliance and infection control standards
• Support staff wellbeing and professional development

Skills

Nurse leadership

Staff recruitment

Workforce planning

Nursing standards

Clinical governance

Education

Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing

Bachelor of Veterinary Technology

Job description

Veterinary Specialist Services – Underwood QLD

Established in 2000, Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS) is a privately owned veterinary specialist and emergency hospital group with three multidisciplinary referral hospitals across Southeast Queensland, located at Underwood and Jindalee in Brisbane, and Carrara on the Gold Coast.

For more than 25 years, VSS has delivered specialist veterinary care through clinical expertise, education and multidisciplinary teamwork. Our hospitals bring together specialists, residents, interns, nurses and support staff across surgery, internal medicine, oncology, emergency and critical care, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, ophthalmology, pathology and diagnostic imaging. With advanced facilities including CT, MRI, ultrasonography and digital radiography, our teams manage complex cases and contribute to the education and development of veterinary professionals.

The Nurse Manager provides leadership and operational oversight across the Internal Medicine, Oncology and Emergency and Critical Care nursing teams, with responsibility for staffing, nursing standards, team development and the effective management of nursing services.

Leadership, people management and recruitment

• Lead, mentor and support the nursing team, fostering a positive culture of professional growth, accountability and collaboration.
• Lead recruitment, selection and onboarding of nurses, animal attendants and housekeepers, including identifying staffing needs and contributing to workforce planning.
• Manage staff performance, including regular performance appraisals, probation reviews, addressing underperformance and supporting individual professional development.

Nursing standards, training and development

• Champion nursing care that reflects current evidence, best practice and a commitment to continuous clinical improvement.
• Partner with senior nurses and shift supervisors to develop, review and implement clinical protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Identify training needs and facilitate mentoring and skills development across the nursing team.

Workforce and operations

• Lead workforce planning to ensure appropriate staffing levels, skill mix and nursing coverage across the Internal Medicine, Oncology and Emergency and Critical Care departments.
• Manage nursing rosters and approve leave and timesheets, ensuring appropriate staffing coverage and effective use of resources.
• Work with clinical teams and hospital leadership to identify and implement improvements in nursing workflows, clinical resources and operational efficiency.
• Ensure nursing equipment and supplies are fit for purpose, oversee servicing schedules and contribute to infrastructure and systems planning.

Safety, compliance and risk

• Oversee patient and staff safety, including incident reporting, near misses and hazard reporting.
• Coordinate toolbox talks and safety discussions, and ensure agreed actions are completed.
• Ensure practice meets legal, regulatory, hygiene and infection control requirements.

About You:

• Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing, Bachelor of Veterinary Technology or equivalent recognised qualification.
• A minimum of five years of veterinary nursing experience.
• Demonstrable experience supervising staff, providing performance feedback, addressing workplace challenges and supporting professional development.
• Strong communication, organisational and decision-making skills, with the confidence to lead a large and diverse nursing team, and a commitment to patient care and staff wellbeing.
• Experience working within a multidisciplinary specialist, referral or emergency veterinary hospital.
• Previous responsibility for workforce planning, rostering and/or recruitment.
• Additional qualifications or professional development in leadership or management.

You Will Thrive Here If You:

• Lead by example, bringing enthusiasm, integrity and a genuine commitment to supporting and developing others.
• Build strong professional relationships, communicate clearly and address challenges with empathy and sound judgement.
• Remain calm, organised and adaptable under pressure while balancing clinical and operational priorities.
• Recognise and address clinical and operational risks, advocating for patients, colleagues and the nursing team.