Head Registered Veterinary Nurse

Vets for Pets; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

RCVS/VDS memberships

CPD support

Discounts

20% discount at Pets at Home

Job summary

Vets4Pets Fort Kinnaird is seeking a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to lead and develop the nursing team within a growing practice. You will manage day-to-day clinical operations, guide the team, and help create a proactive, nurse-led care environment.

We are expanding in 2027; you will shape the next chapter, support students, and drive standards, wellbeing, and client-focused care. A rewarding leadership role with hands-on clinical involvement and opportunities to influence services.

Qualifications

• Qualified and experienced RVN with strong general nursing skills.
• Head Nurse experience is valuable but not required; leadership demonstrated in current role.

Responsibilities

• Manage, develop and performance-manage the nursing team.
• Direct day-to-day running of the clinical floor.
• Improve workflow and use of nursing skills.
• Remain actively involved in clinical nursing duties.
• Develop nurse-led clinics and appointments.
• Contribute to appraisals, one-to-ones and performance management.
• Support students and new team members.
• Ensure compliance with protocols and clinical governance.
• Audit clinical care and practice processes.
• Help develop new services as the practice expands.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

People management

Nursing skills

Education

RVN qualification

Job description

Nursing team management | Senior clinical leadership | No OOH | Growing practice | Major expansion ahead

Are you an experienced RVN ready to manage and develop a nursing team while helping shape the next chapter of a growing practice?

At Vets4Pets Fort Kinnaird, we are recruiting a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong clinical standards, calm leadership, good judgement and the ability to bring people with them.

This is not simply a title. We want someone who can lead from the floor, manage the nursing team day to day, build confidence in others and help create a proactive, forward-thinking clinical environment.

Our surgery is expanding in 2027, creating more space to grow our team, broaden our services and develop nurse-led care. We want a Head Nurse who is energised by that opportunity and keen to help build what comes next.

Our Team

You will be joining:

• 5, soon to be 6 vets
• 4 nurses and a brilliant student nurse
• A fantastic client care and support team

Our nurses work well together and are active members of the clinical team. We want a Head Nurse who will help them grow in confidence, skill and responsibility.

The Role

As Head Registered Veterinary Nurse, you will be responsible for the management, development and performance of the nursing team.

Working closely with our practice owners and wider clinical team, your role will include:

• Managing, leading and developing the nursing team
• Directing the day-to-day running of the clinical floor
• Improving workflow and use of nursing skills
• Remaining actively involved in clinical nursing duties
• Developing individual clinical interests within the team
• Building confident client-facing nurses
• Developing nurse-led clinics and appointments
• Contributing to appraisals, one-to-ones and performance management
• Supporting students and new team members
• Ensuring compliance with protocols and clinical governance
• Auditing clinical care and practice processes
• Bringing fresh ideas to improve patient care, client experience and team efficiency
• Helping develop new services as the practice expands

Our leadership structure is hands-on and collaborative, with shared responsibility and clear ownership.

Who We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Leads with calm authority rather than ego
• Is visible, approachable and consistent
• Communicates clearly, even when conversations are difficult
• Builds trust with the team by being fair and reliable
• Notices when people need support, direction or challenge
• Gives feedback constructively and does not avoid accountability
• Helps others grow rather than taking everything on themselves
• Stays organised under pressure and keeps perspective on busy days
• Takes ownership without creating drama
• Brings solutions, not problems
• Is confident with clients and understands the value of nurse-led relationships
• Sees change as an opportunity rather than a threat
• Has the energy to bring fresh ideas and follow them through
• Cares about standards, compliance and doing things properly
• Wants to help build a strong, capable and engaged nursing team

You will need to be a qualified and experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong general nursing skills.

Previous Head Nurse experience would be valuable, but we also welcome applications from experienced RVNs already carrying significant leadership responsibility without the title.

The Kind of Leader We Value

We are not looking for command-and-control leadership, or someone who believes leadership means doing everything themselves.

We want someone who can build capability in others, set clear standards, lead by example, give fair feedback, hold people accountable, protect team culture and keep the practice moving forward.

Why Join Us?

• No OOH or overnight inpatient checks
• Busy, established practice with an experienced team
• Strong nursing involvement in clinical care
• Hands‑on, supportive leadership
• Generous CPD support with funded certificates considered and encouraged
• Strong emphasis on wellbeing
• Genuine influence over nursing standards and team development
• Involvement in appraisals, training, compliance and clinical audit
• Opportunity to develop nurse-led clinics and services
• The chance to help shape a major practice expansion

Hours

This is a full-time role working 40 hours per week, with a 1 in 3 weekends rota and no OOH.

The Package

• Salary starting at £35,000 DOE
• Contributory pension scheme
• Paid professional memberships including RCVS and VDS
• Exclusive company and high-street discounts and rewards
• 20% discount at Pets at Home

Everyone Belongs at Fort Kinnaird

Pets do not discriminate, and neither do we.

We welcome people from all backgrounds and walks of life. If you bring kindness, capability, professional standards and genuine team spirit, we would love to hear from you.

We are looking for a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse who wants to manage and develop people, strengthen standards, grow nurse-led services and help build the next chapter of Vets4Pets Fort Kinnaird.

Location: EH15 3RD