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Branch Lead Nurse
Location: Springfield, Cranbrook Road, Hawkhurst, Kent Practice: Cinque Ports Hawkhurst Practice Details
If you are a current Linnaeus Associate, you will need to apply internally. In order to do this, please contact our Talent Acquisition team (details can be found via The Link) and someone will be in touch to discuss and progress your application.
Department: Veterinary Nursing
Location: Cinque Ports Branch
Position Type: Permanent, Full-Time
Working Hours & Rota: 40 hours/week, 5 days, 8-hour shifts, weekend work compensated with time off in lieu or pay
Salary: £33,200 (depending on experience)
Company Overview
Cinque Ports is a fully equipped first-opinion veterinary practice, part of the wider Linnaeus group of practices. We provide outstanding care for pets, supported by dedicated veterinary professionals in a modern, well-equipped environment.
Facilities include:
- Clean surgeries and treatment rooms
- Dental suite with dental X-ray
- Ultrasound facilities
- In-house blood analysis
- Ophthalmology capabilities
Role Overview
The Branch Lead RVN is a pivotal clinical leadership role at Cinque Ports Hawkhurst, responsible for supporting the branch team while maintaining exceptional standards of care. This individual will line-manage nurses and students, oversee clinical rotas, and ensure high-quality nursing and clinical standards are maintained.
The role combines 90% clinical and 10% administrative duties, offering a dynamic and varied work environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Line management of nurses and student veterinary nurses, including guidance, mentoring, and performance support
- Oversight of nurse rotas and holiday planning
- Management of CD cupboard, drug stock control, and health & safety standards
- Maintaining clinical standards across the branch, including anaesthetic monitoring, nurse consultations, and routine clinical procedures
- Performing administrative duties such as reporting, filing, and liaising with external companies
- Ensuring smooth workflow and supporting colleagues across the practice
- Supporting team building and branch culture, including participation in regular meetings, “meet the team” days, and social activities
Person Specification
The successful candidate will:
- Have a minimum of 4 years veterinary nursing experience
- Demonstrate strong clinical competence and confidence, including anaesthetic monitoring and routine procedures
- Have some leadership experience (previous Lead Nurse experience not essential)
- Be highly organised and able to work on their own initiative
- Maintain a friendly, professional, and approachable manner
- Be an effective communicator with colleagues, clients, and referring vets
- Be a team player with the ability to build positive working relationships within the branch and wider Cinque Ports team
This is a hands-on role within a small, dynamic team, so leadership skills and clinical confidence are essential.
Team Structure
- 3 Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs)
- 4 Client Care Associates (CCAs)
- 1 Branch Manager
- Supervision and mentorship of student nurses
Salary & Benefits
- 5 weeks holiday + bank holidays
- Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
- Career progression opportunities (Branch CNM, Branch Manager, and wider Linnaeus roles)
- Staff discount schemes
- Life Assurance
- Enhanced sickness pay
- Enhanced equal family leave
- Employer pension contribution
- Wellness program including:
- Employee assistance program
- Eyecare voucher scheme
- Free annual flu jab
- Cycle to work scheme
- Recruitment referral reward scheme
Part of an amazing global family
Being part of this amazing global group gives us the benefit of a huge network of experts and specialists, a future we can invest in and the security that allows us to concentrate on what we do best – caring for pets. We are proud to count some of the finest specialists, veterinary surgeons and nurses in the UK among our team. Being part of the Mars family of businesses provides huge development opportunities across the group for our Associates.
The future of the veterinary world is at the heart of everything we do. We are all individual but two important things bring us together: a commitment to excellence and our passion to make A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.
Linnaeus is owned by Mars, that makes us part of their 70,000 Veterinary Health Associates who spend their days thinking about the 400 million pets of the world and how to improve their lives. Being part of this amazing global group gives us the benefit of a huge network of experts and specialists, a future we can invest in and the security that allows us to concentrate on what we do best – caring for pets.
Our Associates are fundamental to our success and we are proud to count some of the finest specialists, veterinary surgeons and nurses in the UK among our team.
Being part of the Mars family of businesses provides huge development opportunities across the group for our Associates.
Linnaeus is an equal-opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, we are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse for all our associates.
If you would like to apply for this role, please click the Apply Button or for more information, please feel free to reach out directly to our Talent Acquisition team at careers@linnaeusgroup.co.uk
