Lead Veterinary Nurse

Animal Trust (UK); Warrington; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A non-profit veterinary service in Warrington seeks a Lead RVN to help establish a new 24/7 hospital. This role involves managing nursing operations, staff development, and ensuring high standards of patient care. Candidates should be experienced Registered Veterinary Nurses with strong leadership and communication skills. The position offers a supportive environment with opportunities for professional growth and a variety of benefits, including enhanced leave and funding for continuous professional development.

Benefits

6 weeks holiday including bank holidays

CPD funded

52 weeks sickness benefit

Enhanced maternity and paternity package

Contributory pension scheme

RCVS and VDS fees paid

Counselling support after 12 months

Cycle to work scheme

Store discounts

Staff discount

E-Car Scheme

Refer-a-Friend bonus

Qualifications

• Experienced leader in a veterinary practice or referral hospital.
• Solid post-qualification experience as an RVN.
• Clear and compassionate communicator.

Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of nursing and staff development.
• Oversee clinic compliance with health standards.
• Encourage a team-focused environment.

Skills

Leadership

Nursing Excellence

Communication

Staff Development

Commercial Awareness

Education

Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN)

Job description

Overview

We’re looking for a Lead RVN to join our Warrington team and play a key role in developing our new 24/7 hospital due to open summer 2026. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who wants to truly make a difference, lead by example, and use the full breadth of their nursing skills in a progressive, well-supported environment.

Warrington is the next exciting addition to our growing group, and we’re proud to be opening a brand-new 24/7 veterinary hospital designed to deliver exceptional care across first opinion, referral, and out-of-hours services.

This state-of-the-art facility has been thoughtfully designed with both patients and teams in mind. The hospital will feature seven consultation rooms, a dedicated end-of-life room, three theatres, separate dog and cat wards, isolation facilities, a fully equipped dental suite, diagnostics suite, and a digital X-ray room.

Built to the high standards we’re known for, the hospital will also include spacious, modern staff areas, ensuring a supportive, comfortable working environment for our teams as we continue to grow and invest in the future of veterinary care.

About Animal Trust

Animal Trust stands out from other veterinary services. We are a unique non-profit, Community Interest Company. Our primary focus isn’t solely on maximising profits; instead, we are dedicated to delivering on our mission and ensuring enough profit to sustain our business in the long term.

Our vision is clear: No pet should go untreated or face euthanasia when there is a viable treatment option. We believe that pet ownership should be accessible to all, acknowledging that individuals earning the Real Living Wage may encounter challenges in affording veterinary care when their pet falls ill. In response, we aim to assist. Our free consultations and transparent pricing enable our vets and nurses to break down the barriers that stand in the way of pets receiving the treatment they need.

Key role responsibilities

• Able to carry out all aspects of nursing.
• Actively encourage staff development, mentoring and best practice.
• Be experienced in carrying out 1-2-1 meetings with staff members.
• You will be a clinical coach or want to become a clinical coach with support.
• Have experience in rota management or be keen to develop this skillset.
• Happy to oversee clinic compliance such as Health and Safety and RCVS Practice Standards scheme criteria.
• Oversee stock management within the clinic.
• Carry out regular staff meetings.
• Have good commercial awareness with a tenacity to grow caseload, allowing more pets to access great, but affordable healthcare.

About You

• An experienced and confident leader, either within a first-opinion practice or referral hospital environment.
• A Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with solid post-qualification experience.
• A clear and compassionate communicator, able to lead, motivate and support a multidisciplinary team.
• Passionate about high standards of patient care, nursing excellence and clinical governance.
• Confident in delegating, mentoring and developing nurses, students and support staff.
• Comfortable working in a busy, 24/7 hospital environment.
• Organised and proactive, with the ability to prioritise workload and adapt to changing demands.
• Aligned with our non-profit ethos, values-driven and committed to delivering accessible, high-quality care.
• Keen to play a key role in building and shaping a growing hospital team.

Hours

40 hours
4 day week
2:9 Weekends (with TOIL)
Share of Bank Holidays

Benefits

• 6 weeks holiday, including bank holidays
• CPD funded
• 52 Weeks sickness benefit and free Employee assistance program — awarded after qualifying period
• Enhanced maternity and paternity package
• Contributory pension scheme
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Access to counselling support including mental health, financial and life counselling after 12 months of service
• Cycle to work scheme
• Store discounts with Vivup
• Staff discount
• E-Car Scheme
• Refer-a-Friend bonus