Lead Veterinary Nurse – Surrey
Independent, Family-Run Veterinary Group | Day Shifts | Leadership & Clinical Role
Ready to take the next step in your nursing career without leaving the clinical work you love behind?
My client in Surrey is looking for an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse to step into a Lead Veterinary Nurse position, combining hands-on clinical nursing with team leadership, mentoring and responsibility for the smooth day-to-day running of the practice.
This isn't a role where you'll spend your days hidden away doing rotas and paperwork. They're looking for someone who still loves being on the floor, working alongside the team and caring for patients, but who also has the confidence to take ownership, support colleagues and lead by example.
The Role
As Lead RVN, you'll play an important role in both the clinical and operational side of the practice.
You'll be a point of support for the nursing team, particularly for newly qualified and developing RVNs, helping create an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions, building their skills and progressing in their careers.
Your responsibilities will include:
• Leading and supporting the nursing team day-to-day
• Mentoring newly qualified and developing RVNs
• Supporting training and clinical development
• Coordinating daily workflow and helping the clinic run efficiently
• Maintaining excellent clinical and patient-care standards
• Stock management, equipment and clinical resources
• Identifying areas where processes can be improved
• Working closely with the veterinary and wider leadership teams
• Remaining actively involved in hands-on nursing
• Supporting consultations, procedures, anaesthesia and inpatient care
Lead From the Floor
My client isn't looking for someone who simply wants the title of Lead Nurse.
They're looking for an RVN who naturally takes ownership – someone who notices when a colleague needs support, spots when something could work better and is comfortable stepping forward to help make it happen.
You'll still be very much a clinical nurse, so this would suit someone who wants career progression without moving completely away from patients.
You'll also have the support of a much wider veterinary network around you. My client operates several practices alongside a dedicated hospital, providing access to experienced clinical teams and more advanced services when required.
Develop the Next Generation of RVNs
A particularly important part of this position will be supporting less experienced nurses.
The group is keen to invest in newly qualified RVNs and help them become confident, capable clinicians. As Lead Nurse, you'll have the opportunity to play a genuine role in that development through practical support, mentoring and sharing your own experience.
If you're someone who enjoys seeing other nurses grow in confidence and knowing you've helped them get there, this could be a particularly rewarding position.
Who We're Looking For
You'll need to be an experienced RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong general practice skills and the confidence to take on additional responsibility.
Previous leadership experience would be beneficial, although an experienced RVN who is already naturally taking the lead within their current team and is ready for formal progression would also be worth a conversation.
You'll ideally be:
• An experienced RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse
• Confident across general first-opinion nursing
• Organised and able to prioritise effectively
• A clear and approachable communicator
• Comfortable making decisions and using your initiative
• Passionate about mentoring and developing colleagues
• Practical and willing to get stuck in alongside your team
• Committed to maintaining excellent clinical standards
• Positive, proactive and solutions-focused
Why Consider This Role?
This is an opportunity to progress professionally while remaining a nurse first and foremost.
You'll have genuine responsibility within the practice, the opportunity to influence how the nursing team develops and the backing of an established, family-run veterinary group with a strong wider clinical network.
If you're already the nurse everyone turns to for advice, the person who keeps things moving on a difficult day, or you're simply ready to take that next step into leadership, I'd love to hear from you.
For a confidential chat or further information, please contact Hannah at Help Search Locate.
[hannah@helpsearchlocate.com](mailto:hannah@helpsearchlocate.com)
07535 587 851
12/08/2026
Surrey