Head Veterinary Nurse – Full Time

Vets Now; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private medical insurance

Enhanced sick and maternity pay

7 weeks annual leave

Birthday off

CPD allowance and time off for study

RCVS fees paid and ECC support

Staff discounts and rewards portal

Pension contributions

Staff pet care discounts

Death in service 2x salary

Job summary

Vets Now Milton Keynes is seeking a Head Veterinary Nurse to lead a busy out-of-hours clinic and clinical support team. The role combines clinical shifts with management duties, ensuring high standards of patient care while supporting staff development.

The position offers a full-time 40-hour week including weeknights, weekends, and bank holidays, with substantial benefits and professional development opportunities such as ECC certification and CPD support.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years’ experience in an out of hours and critical care environment.
• Proven experience of managing others, preferably in a veterinary setting.
• Demonstratable experience of managing performance.
• Motivated to maintain high clinic standards.
• Passionate about caring for our clients and their pets.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operational and financial management of the clinic.
• Manage rota and gaps to ensure full cover.
• Maintain strong relationships with host practices through regular communications.
• Ensure quality control of clinical equipment.
• Lead team welfare, mentoring, appraisals, and return-to-work processes.

Job description

Head Veterinary Nurse – Milton Keynes

Up to £45,000 DOE plus benefits

About Vets Now

Vets Now is the UK’s leading provider of emergency pet care, serving over 1700 veterinary practices through 60 plus dedicated out-of-hours clinics and two 24/7 pet emergency hospitals. Our Milton Keynes clinic has been providing expert veterinary care out-of-hours to local pet owners since 2007.

Understanding your key role

You will be leader of a large team of vet nurses and clinical support staff in an already well-established clinic. Whilst on clinical shifts you will maintain a high standard of patient care alongside being passionate about developing and coaching your team.

Duties will include, but not limited to:

• Ensuring day-to-day operational and financial management of the clinic is maintained.
• Rota and gaps management.
• Maintaining strong relationships with host practices through regular communications.
• Responsibility for quality control of clinical equipment.
• Team and welfare management, including mentoring and supporting staff, appraisals, performance, and return-to-work tasks.

Key requirements

• Minimum of two years’ experience working in an out of hours and critical care environment.
• Proven experience of managing others, preferably in a veterinary setting.
• Demonstratable experience of managing performance.
• Motivated to maintain high clinic standards.
• Passionate about caring for our clients and their pets.

Working pattern

A full-time role with Vets Now comprises of 40 hours per week. This role will include working as a clinical member of the team on weeknights, 1:2 weekends and bank holidays as well as having dedicated time to carry out management duties and attend meetings.

Shifts will include:

• Monday to Friday nightshifts from 19:00 to 08:30
• Saturday nightshifts from 19:00 to 09:00
• Sunday nightshifts from 19:00 to 08:30
• Saturday dayshifts from 12:00 to 19:30
• Sunday dayshifts from 08:30 to 19:30
• Plus, a fair share of bank holidays.

Unlock your potential

We will support you in your development and provide you with access to professional qualifications, such as our widely recognised ECC certificate and industry leading CPD package.

Why Join Us?

• Private medical insurance.
• Enhanced sick and maternity pay.
• 7 weeks annual leave.
• Your birthday as a paid day off.
• £1125 CPD allowance plus 20 paid hours.
• RCVS fees paid and ECC certificate support.
• Reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100s of retailers.
• UK Standard Pension contributions – 5% Employee/3% Employer.
• Up to 50% discounted staff pet care.
• Death in service of two times annual salary.

We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds, including those from diverse and minority groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we encourage candidates with disabilities and health conditions to apply and are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.