Veterinary Receptionist/Administrator

Vet Record Careers; Southampton; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A veterinary clinic located in Southampton is seeking a friendly receptionist for a one-year maternity cover position. The role involves managing reception duties, supporting the veterinary team, and maintaining hygiene in the clinic. Ideal candidates should be warm, organized, and thrive in a busy environment. Full training will be provided. Employee benefits include generous annual leave, enhanced family-friendly policies, and wellbeing initiatives.

Benefits

6.6 weeks annual leave

Birthday leave

Enhanced family-friendly policies

Cycle to work scheme

Employee wellbeing initiatives

Learning and development opportunities

Discounted staff pet care

Qualifications

• Warm, approachable demeanor for customer interactions.
• Ability to manage reception duties and keep areas clean.
• Full training provided for the right candidate.

Responsibilities

• Manage all reception duties including answering phones.
• Ensure cleanliness in prep and theatre areas after operations.
• Support the team and provide excellent patient care.

Skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Organization

Compassion

Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

Job description

Are you ready for a fresh experience and curious about working in a veterinary clinic? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!

Your day to day

We're seeking a friendly and professional individual to join our team for a one-year maternity cover position starting in October. Primarily a receptionist role, it also includes some administrative tasks and general housekeeping—such as maintaining cleanliness in the prep and theatre areas after operations. You'll support the team by managing all reception duties, from answering phones to welcoming clients, while helping ensure our surgery stays hygienic and well-maintained.

Why join us?

We are a friendly, experienced team who strive to give the best patient care to all our clients, but also provide consistent support to each other. We have a loyal client base established over the last 40 years and have gained a respectful local reputation. We are invested in each other as much as our animals and pride ourselves on being a stable team with a low turnover.

Southampton is a vibrant city with excellent links to the rest of the country by car, train, and air. We are on the doorstep of the beautiful New Forest and the Solent, offering great opportunities for hiking and water sports if you enjoy outdoor activities.

More About You

This role offers a fantastic insight into the daily workings of a veterinary practice—ideal if you're considering a future career in this field. As this is a customer-facing position, you'll need to be warm, approachable, professional, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Organization, attention to detail, compassion, and a good sense of humor are essential. Don't worry if you're new to this—full training will be provided to the right candidate.

Your shift pattern

This position is full or part-time, working 8-hour shifts 5 days a week, with 1 in 4 Saturday mornings. Shifts are either 8 am - 5 pm, 9 am - 6 pm, or 10 am - 7 pm. You will be given roughly a month's notice of your shifts.

Benefits

• 6.6 weeks annual leave (FTE)
• Additional annual leave for your birthday, added to your holiday allowance
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and surrogacy pay
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee wellbeing initiatives
• Non-accidental injury support
• Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Pawsome Benefits—discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers
• Pension scheme
• Discounted staff pet care