Head Veterinary Nurse (Maternity Cover) – Crawley

Portland Group; Crawley; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

RCVS membership paid

VDS membership paid

Job summary

Portland Vets Crawley is recruiting a Head Veterinary Nurse (Maternity Cover) to lead our RVN and PCA team at Crawley. We offer a 12-month fixed contract from February 2027 to February 2028, 40 hours per week across 8-hour shifts, with enhanced weekend rosters and paid lunches.

The role requires an experienced RVN with leadership skills and excellent communication in a busy, modern practice. The Crawley branch features four floors, dedicated feline, canine and exotic areas and state-of-the-art

Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Nurse with up-to-date RCVS registration.
• Demonstrated leadership, supervision, or training experience.
• Strong clinical knowledge and patient care skills.
• Excellent communication, organisation and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead nursing team and oversee RVN and VNA staff.
• Oversee day-to-day operations, diary management and clinical scheduling.
• Develop and implement practice protocols and SOPs.
• Recruitment, induction and line management of nursing staff.
• Manage rosters, leave, and CPD coordination.
• Ensure compliance with student training and placements.
• Support clinical audits and stock control.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Team player

Organisation

Calm under pressure

Patient care

Education

Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN)

Job description

Head Veterinary Nurse (Maternity Cover) – Crawley

Employment Type:

Full Time

Experience:

Experienced RVN

Portland Vets Crawley opened in October 2025 and is the latest addition to the Portland family. We have 3 other branches located in East Grinstead, Edenbridge, and Horley, each with their own identity and areas of expertise.

Our Crawley branch provides first-class facilities spread over 4 floors, with species specific waiting areas, consult rooms and wards for our feline, canine and exotic patients. We are very proud to offer modern inpatient, surgical and diagnostic facilities for our patients including two theatres complete with laparoscopic equipment, separate dental suite with dental X-ray, digital X-ray suite, Siemens CT scanner, Mi Lab in-house laboratory and even a tortoise hibernation hotel!

We are now recruiting for an enthusiastic, full time registered head veterinary nurse for maternity cover, to join and lead our wonderful team of RVN’s and PCA’s.

What We’re Looking For

• An experienced RVN with strong clinical skills
• A supportive, approachable leader, ideally with previous leadership experience
• Great communicator and team player
• Organised, calm under pressure and passionate about patient care

What We Offer

• 12-month fixed contract, February 2027 to February 2028
• 40 hours per week, in 8-hour shifts
• Maximum of 1:4 weekends with time off in lieu
• Share of future bank holiday shifts (enhanced compensation)
• Mix of clinical and administrative shifts
• 30-minute paid lunch breaks, and the practice provides lunch on Saturdays
• 5 weeks’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• FTE annual salary range £35,360 to £39,770 depending on experience
• RCVS and VDS memberships paid

Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

The Head Veterinary Nurse (HVN) is responsible for leading the nursing team, ensuring high standards of clinical care, and maintaining efficient practice operations. This role combines clinical expertise with strong leadership, training, and organisational skills to support both the veterinary team and overall client experience.

• Undertake veterinary nursing duties as per RVN job description when on clinical shifts
• Assist leadership team with the oversight of day-to-day operations of the practice. To include organising daily activities and diary management of nursing staff, VS’s and support staff to ensure effective treatment and efficient management of patients
• Help develop and implement practice protocols and standard operating procedures.
• Lead the recruitment, selection, and induction of veterinary nurse and VNA team members
• Line management of veterinary nurse & VNA teams including supervision/one to one reviews/annual appraisals/return to work interviews/conflict management
• Effectively manage and coordinate the veterinary nurse and VNA team rotas, ensuring timely rota planning and oversight of annual and sickness leave
• Manage ongoing veterinary nurse & VNA team development including on the job training and the co-ordination of in house/external CPD as required
• Organise regular team meetings reporting directly to your branch manager & lead vet any concerns regarding the team or practice
• Plan and oversee individual responsibilities within the veterinary nurse and VNA team
• Ensure practice compliance with requirements required for student veterinary nurse training
• Organise, and oversee student veterinary nurse placements including liaising with universities and colleges
• Organise, and oversee work experience placements
• Assist with clinical audits, RCVS Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) compliance, and quality improvement projects as required
• Assist with clinical stock control and ordering as required
• Responsibility and co-ordination of the maintenance requirements of all clinical equipment
• Remain up to date with current H&S, infection control and waste management regulations and ensure they are implemented
• Complete fire warden, human first aider, mental health first aider training, and undertake associated duties as required
• Undertake any other duties as directed by the practice manager, branch manager or lead vet as required

Essential Skills & Qualifications

• Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with up-to-date RCVS registration.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, supervision, or training.
• Strong clinical knowledge, including anaesthesia, inpatient care, and nursing best practice.
• Exceptional communication, organisation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work calmly in a fast-paced, sometimes high-pressure environment.
• Previous leadership experience, managing a large team
• Certificate qualifications (e.g., anaesthesia, ECC, leadership)