Head Veterinary Nurse (12-month FTC)

IVC Evidensia Group; Willenhall; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave generous policy

Private medical insurance

CPD allowance

RCVS & VDS fees covered

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted veterinary care

Job summary

Lockwood Vets in Willenhall is recruiting a Head Veterinary Nurse on a full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract. You will lead a small nursing team, combining hands-on clinical care with leadership responsibilities in a bustling first opinion practice.

You’ll oversee nurse clinics, anaesthesia, inpatient care and contribute to staff development while working closely with 2 Veterinary Surgeons and a Reception team. Excellent patient care is at the core of this role.

Qualifications

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS is required.
• Significant clinical nursing experience with advanced medical and surgical skills.
• Proven leadership, mentoring and development of nursing teams.
• Strong governance, quality standards and communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a small nursing team (2 RVNs and 1 VCA) in a busy first opinion practice.
• Oversee day-to-day nursing activities and ensure high standards of patient care.
• Provide guidance, mentoring and support to nursing colleagues.
• Run nurse consultations and support diabetes and weight management clinics.
• Collaborate with Veterinary Surgeons and wider team to maintain service quality.

Skills

Leadership experience

Clinical nursing expertise

Communication skills

Team mentoring

Education

Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN)

Leadership experience in veterinary setting

Job description

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced Head Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Lockwood Vets, Willenhall on a full-time, 12-month fixed-term contract.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a confident RVN with leadership experience to take responsibility for a small nursing team within a busy first opinion practice. You'll be leading a team of 2 Registered Veterinary Nurses and a Veterinary Care Assistant, working closely with our 2 Veterinary Surgeons and 2 Receptionists to deliver excellent patient and client care.

You’ll have the opportunity to combine hands-on clinical nursing with team leadership, supporting the development of colleagues while helping to maintain high standards across the practice.

Practice Highlights

• Busy first opinion practice in Willenhall
• Leadership opportunity managing 2 RVNs and a VCA
• Variety of nurse clinics, including diabetes and weight management

How You’ll Make a Difference

As Head Veterinary Nurse, you will play a key role in leading and supporting our nursing team while ensuring high standards of patient care and the smooth running of the practice.

You’ll work closely with Veterinary Surgeons and the wider team, providing guidance and support to nursing colleagues while remaining actively involved in clinical duties. This includes nurse consultations, dental procedures, anaesthesia, inpatient care and supporting a varied first opinion caseload.

This role would suit someone who enjoys taking responsibility, developing others and helping to create a positive, collaborative working environment.

Working Pattern

• 40 hours per week
• 4-day working week, shifts from 8:00am to 7:00pm with 1-hour lunch break
• 1 in 6 Saturdays at Rosewood, 8:30am to 5:00pm

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of 2 RVNs and a Veterinary Care Assistant
• Oversee day-to-day nursing activities and support the smooth running of the practice
• Provide guidance, mentoring and support to nursing colleagues
• Deliver high standards of nursing care across a varied first opinion caseload
• Run nurse consultations, including diabetes and weight management clinics

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

You are an experienced and confident Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong leadership capability and a passion for clinical excellence. You’ll bring:

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Significant experience in clinical practice with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills
• Proven experience of leading, mentoring and developing nursing teams
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement and professional standards
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• A senior leadership role with accountability for nursing standards, team development and service improvement
• Structured leadership pathways through our dedicated Nurse Academy, empowering you to shape the future of nursing care within our practice
• Clear career development with progression opportunities into wider practice leadership roles
• Ongoing learning and development to support leadership, governance and strategic growth
• A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks' annual leave
• Additional annual leave for your birthday, which will be added to your holiday allowance
• Increasing annual leave accrued through length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24hrs paid leave
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you, including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world‑class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

Lockwood Vets - Willenhall

At IVC Evidensia we are a committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.

Any questions before applying?

Speak to Elliott Burgin from our recruitment team who would be happy to help you with any questions you have before applying for this role.