Head Veterinary Nurse - Fixed Term Contract in Kettering

Here at the Lake View Veterinary Group, we’re looking for a knowledgeable, confident Head Veterinary Nurse to join us on a 12-month fixed-term contract. Our group is composed of 3 surgeries in Northamptonshire. We are a 100% small animal practice with a varied caseload. The practices have all the equipment you will need: ultrasound with colour, digital x-ray, full in-house Idexx laboratory, gold standard anaesthesia using Humphrey ADE circuits, multiparameter monitors, patient warming, oxygen generators and more. Our team comprises 5 vets and 8 nurses plus dedicated support team members. Based primarily at our main Thrapston branch, this is an exciting opportunity to step into a leadership role within a growing practice. This role combines clinical nursing with leadership and administrative duties to ensure the smooth running of the nursing function across the Lake View Group.

IVC Evidensia is the UK and Europe’s leading veterinary care group, made up of over 900 practices and referral hospitals, united by a shared purpose of happier animals, happier owners. At IVC Evidensia, we believe careers should be built without limits. Our people are supported to make more clinical impact, access more career opportunities, and play an active role in their local and professional communities. Through investment in learning, innovation, and wellbeing, we create environments where our teams can grow in confidence, capability, and fulfilment-at every stage of their career.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Head Veterinary Nurse, you will provide senior clinical and professional leadership for the nursing team, overseeing all nursing aspects of the practice and supporting the delivery of high‑quality patient and client care. You’ll be responsible for setting and maintaining nursing standards, leading clinical governance and quality improvement activity, and developing a capable, confident nursing team. Working closely with the wider practice leadership team, you'll play a key role in shaping culture, performance and ways of working. The shift pattern is 08:30-19:00 four days per week, along with no more than 1 in 3 Saturday mornings (with time off in lieu provided), primarily at Thrapston with some cover at our Rushden practice as well.

General responsibilities include:

• Lead and support the nursing team across multiple sites, ensuring high clinical standards
• Manage nursing rotas and contribute to the smooth day‑to‑day running of the practice
• Deliver high standards of nursing care across a varied caseload
• Support surgical procedures, including anaesthesia monitoring and theatre nursing

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Significant experience in clinical practice with advanced medical and surgical nursing skills
• Proven experience of leading, mentoring and developing nursing teams
• Strong understanding of clinical governance, quality improvement and professional standards
• Excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills

How We’ll Support You

• A senior leadership role with accountability for nursing standards and team development
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities into wider practice leadership roles
• Ongoing learning and development to support leadership, governance and strategic growth
• A collaborative, values‑led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24hrs paid leave
• Certificate support
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you - including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

Up to £37,000 DOE