Lead Veterinary Receptionist

Location: Wood Street Vet Hospital, Barnet

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent

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. Wood Street Veterinary Hospital is a busy, 24-hour, RCVS-accredited Tier 3 hospital. We are proud to deliver gold standard care to every patient and are committed to excellence in everything we do.

How You’ll Make a Difference

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Team Lead Veterinary Receptionist to join our busy and growing veterinary hospital team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is ready to take the next step into a leadership role. As the first point of contact for our clients, you will continue to deliver outstanding customer service while also overseeing the daily operations of the reception team. You will play a key role in ensuring efficiency, maintaining high standards, and supporting both staff and management across all five branches.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership & Team Management: Lead, support, and motivate the reception team across all branches. Create and manage staff rotas to ensure adequate coverage and efficiency. Train, mentor, and onboard new reception staff. Monitor team performance and productivity, providing feedback and support. Act as the main point of contact for reception staff queries and escalations.
• Operational Oversight: Oversee daily reception operations to ensure smooth and efficient workflows. Implement and maintain standard operating procedures. Ensure consistency in client service across all branches. Identify opportunities to improve processes and client experience.
• HR & Administrative Duties: Support HR processes including recruitment, appraisals, absence management, and staff development. Maintain accurate staff records and assist with performance reviews. Handle sensitive situations with professionalism and discretion.
• Reception Duties: Greet clients and their pets with a warm and professional demeanour. Manage appointment scheduling and clinic calendars. Answer calls and respond to client enquiries. Check clients in and out, ensuring accurate record‑keeping. Process payments and invoices. Assist with administrative tasks such as filing and data entry.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

• Previous experience in a veterinary or medical reception role (lead or senior experience preferred).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to multitask and prioritise in a busy environment.
• Confident using practice management or scheduling software.
• Leadership qualities with a proactive and problem‑solving mindset.
• HR or team management experience is highly desirable.

We are looking for someone who is not only passionate about animals but also about people and team development. You should be approachable, adaptable, and confident in managing both the front‑of‑house experience and behind‑the‑scenes operations.

Why Join Us?

• Work across multiple branches, keeping your role varied and engaging.
• Be part of a supportive, dedicated, and passionate team.
• Opportunity to develop leadership and management skills.
• Play a key role in delivering exceptional care and service to our clients and their pets.

How We’ll Support You

• A key client‑facing role within a supportive and collaborative practice team.
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities within client care and practice leadership roles.
• Ongoing learning and development supported by experienced colleagues and practice teams.
• A 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.
• Healthcare Cash Plan.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Learning and development opportunities via the inspiring vet care Academy.
• Pension scheme.
• Discounted staff pet care.
• Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you.
• Access to discounts/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.

Salary: Up to £28,900 per annum.