Head of Veterinary Nursing Services

University of Wisconsin Madison•Madison, WI

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Head of Veterinary Nursing Services is an integral member of the UW Veterinary Care (UWVC) leadership team and provides strategic and operational leadership for veterinary nursing teams across the hospital. Working with the Associate Hospital Director, clinical service leaders, and supervisors, this role ensures nursing operations support exceptional patient care, service to clients and referring veterinarians, education, research, and the development of the veterinary nursing profession. The position oversees nursing operations across UWVC clinical services and facilities, with responsibility for quality and safety, staffing and workforce planning, recruitment and retention, staff development, operational efficiency, service excellence, and high-quality patient care. It directly supervises and mentors veterinary nurse supervisors, and may directly oversee services when leadership positions are vacant. The role leads university staff and student hourly employees and helps establish sustainable practices and systems while fostering a positive, collaborative, and inclusive workplace. The Head of Veterinary Nursing Services participates in strategic planning, uses operational and financial data to inform staffing and resource decisions, supports hospital technology and systems, and promotes compliance with institutional policies, safety requirements, and applicable regulatory standards. The position is 100% FTE (40 hours per week), fully on-site, with an anticipated Monday–Friday schedule. On-call and holiday hours are required based on hospital needs, and the schedule may change according to departmental needs.

Requirements

At least five years of professional experience in clinical healthcare, veterinary nursing, or a closely related clinical healthcare environment.
At least three years of progressive leadership or supervisory experience with responsibility for staff, operations, or clinical services.
Demonstrated experience leading and developing teams in a complex, fast-paced healthcare or veterinary environment.
Experience with workforce planning, staffing, recruitment, retention, employee development, and performance management.
Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and evaluate policies, procedures, and operational processes.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
Ability to collaborate effectively with veterinarians, veterinary nursing staff, students, faculty, hospital leadership, and administrative partners.
Commitment to fostering a respectful, inclusive, collaborative, and supportive workplace culture.
Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology, nursing, health sciences, life sciences, healthcare administration, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience leading nursing or veterinary technician operations within a veterinary teaching hospital, academic medical center, specialty hospital, or other complex healthcare organization.
Experience overseeing multiple clinical services, large teams, or operations across multiple facilities.
Experience with continuous improvement, quality improvement, patient safety, or implementation of standardized clinical and operational processes.
Experience with strategic workforce planning, succession planning, leadership development, and organizational change.
Experience with budget development, financial analysis, space utilization, equipment planning, or other resource-management responsibilities.
Experience supporting teaching, research, and/or clinical training in an academic or teaching environment.
Experience partnering with Human Resources on employee relations, recruitment, performance management, accommodations, and other workforce matters.
Experience developing and implementing professional development, mentorship, continuing education, or career advancement programs for nursing or technical staff.
Experience using data and financial information to support operational decision-making, resource allocation, and sustainable staffing models.
Strong understanding of veterinary nursing or technician practice, patient care operations, and the role of veterinary nursing in a teaching hospital environment.
Certified Veterinary Technician credential or equivalent professional credential.
Master’s degree in veterinary technology, nursing, healthcare administration, business administration, leadership, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop veterinary nursing and technician supervisors and service leads, promoting accountability, collaboration, and a positive employee experience.
Guide staffing, scheduling, workflows, performance management, and operational priorities across clinical services.
Partner with hospital leadership, Human Resources, and clinical leaders on employee relations, organizational change, performance management, and workforce needs.
Serve on the UWVC leadership team and collaborate across clinical and administrative work.
Support consistent nursing standards, policies, procedures, and workflows across UWVC.
Develop and implement workforce strategies for recruiting, retaining, and developing a skilled veterinary nursing workforce.
Establish career development, mentorship, continuing education, internship, externship, and talent-pipeline programs in collaboration with the outreach coordinator.
Evaluate staffing models and nursing resource deployment to support patient care, staff well-being, and operational sustainability.
Promote consistent, compassionate patient and client care through nursing standards, training, protocols, and continuous improvement.
Identify opportunities to improve patient care, team performance, and operational efficiency through education, technology, equipment, and standardized processes.
Support continuing education and professional development for veterinary nurses, technicians, and assistants, including cross-training and growth opportunities across services.
Participate in strategic planning and organizational initiatives supporting patient care, teaching, research, and service.
Use operational and financial data to evaluate staffing, resource utilization, budgets, and sustainable operating practices.
Partner with leadership on technology, equipment, and space utilization that support nursing operations and patient care.
Support implementation and optimization of hospital systems and technology, including the EMR and communication platforms.
Promote compliance with UW, School of Veterinary Medicine, and UWVC policies, safety requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
Partner with hospital leadership on patient safety, workplace safety, and risk-management initiatives.
Serve as a liaison between nursing staff and hospital leadership, ensuring clear and timely communication.
Represent UWVC on relevant School, University, and professional committees and initiatives.
Educate clients and their support systems on managing conditions and promoting patient health and well-being.
Exercise supervisory authority, potentially including hiring, transferring, suspending, promoting, managing conduct and performance, discharging, assigning, rewarding, disciplining, and approving hours for at least 2.0 FTE or equivalent employees.
Provide nursing care within a specialized area of medicine or unit to support patients’ physical and mental well-being.
Evaluate care plans, complete assessments, develop specialized treatment plans, document medical activity, and analyze patient data and results to help diagnose and treat illness and disease.
Provide expertise, training, and guidance to the community, peers, and/or students.
Develop, implement, monitor, and evaluate operating policies and procedures, and train staff to ensure compliance with regulations, institutional policies, and unit objectives.