Head Registered Veterinary Nurse (Head RVN) – Irvine, North Ayrshire

Salary up to £36,000 DOE | Full-Time or Part-Time | No OOH | 1:4 Saturday Rota | Excellent Benefits

Are you an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) ready to take the next step in your veterinary nursing career? Are you looking for a Head RVN role in North Ayrshire where your experience, ideas and leadership skills will genuinely be valued?

We’re looking for a passionate and motivated Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to join a supportive, forward-thinking veterinary team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced RVN who is ready to take on a leadership position while continuing to develop clinically and professionally.

The Role

As Head RVN, you’ll play an important role in supporting the nursing team, maintaining high clinical standards and helping to shape the day-to-day running of the practice.

You’ll be joining a team that genuinely values its veterinary nurses, with strong support available from experienced nursing colleagues and an RVN Business Partner who understands the role and the challenges and opportunities that come with it.

Our nurses are encouraged to use their skills and take ownership of their areas of interest. Across the wider team, RVNs have developed specialist interests in areas including:

• Acupuncture
• Pain management
• Behaviour
• Schedule 3 surgical procedures
• Anaesthesia and inpatient care
• Nurse-led consultations

Whether you’re leading nurse consultations, monitoring anaesthetics, supporting surgical cases or providing outstanding inpatient care, you’ll be encouraged to make the most of your clinical skills.

About the Team

You’ll be joining a 60-strong veterinary team across three practices in Ayrshire, led by four partners including two vets, an RVN and a Practice Manager.

Across the wider clinical team, there are:

• 14 Veterinary Surgeons
• 12 RVNs
• 2 VCAs
• 3 GPD-trained Clinical Lead Vets
• 3 Clinical Coach RVNs
• Three Head Nurses
• Three Senior Nurses
• Dedicated RVN Business Partner support

This means you’ll always have experienced colleagues to lean on, share ideas with and collaborate with, even when you’re working across different sites.

We pride ourselves on creating a workplace built around mutual respect, open communication, teamwork and genuine work-life balance. We understand that everyone has different needs, which is why we aim to offer flexibility around working patterns and benefits wherever possible.

About You

We’re looking for an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse who is ready to step into, or progress within, a leadership role.

You’ll ideally be someone who:

• Is a qualified RVN with solid veterinary nursing experience
• Has a passion for delivering excellent clinical and patient care
• Is confident taking responsibility and leading by example
• Is keen to develop their leadership and management skills
• Has a positive, proactive and team-focused approach
• Communicates well and enjoys working collaboratively
• Is willing to get stuck in and support the wider team
• Wants to contribute to the continued development of the nursing team

Previous leadership experience would be advantageous, but we’re also happy to hear from experienced RVNs who are ready to take their first Head RVN or senior nursing leadership step.

Salary, Benefits & Working Pattern

• Salary up to £36,000 DOE
• Full-time or part-time hours available – 30 to 40 hours per week
• 1:4 Saturday rota
• No out-of-hours (OOH)
• Generous CPD allowance
• Paid CPD days
• Professional fees paid
• Private healthcare, with the option to extend to family
• Enhanced maternity pay
• Income protection
• Pension scheme
• Strong support across three practices, including Head Nurses, Senior Nurses, Clinical Coach RVNs and an RVN Business Partner

Why Apply?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced RVN looking for a Head Nurse position in Irvine or North Ayrshire where you can have a genuine influence on the nursing team and the wider practice.

You’ll have the support to develop your leadership skills, access to a wide range of clinical expertise and the opportunity to work alongside a team that genuinely values its nurses.

If you’re an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse, Senior RVN or current Head RVN looking for your next challenge, we’d love to hear from you.

Apply today to find out more about this Head RVN opportunity in North Ayrshire.

Interested in finding out more?

Angel Mason
Recruitment Consultant – GVC
📧 angel.mason@gvcvets.com
📞 01392 793153

I’d love to have a confidential chat about the role and what you’re looking for in your next veterinary nursing position.