Job opportunities

Veterinary Nurse

The role:

To carry out veterinary nursing duties in support of our animal welfare strategy and to deliver an excellent quality service in line with agreed procedures and service standards, in support of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) vision and mission. 

This is a permanent position / full-time where the working hours are 37.5 hours per week and evening and weekend working may be required.

Some of the things you’ll do:

Veterinary Nurse for the RZSS (Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park). Cross site support provided where required.

• The role requires shared working between the Highland Wildlife Park and The Saving Wildcat Project (including night shifts for wildcat trapping). 
• The veterinary nurse has no direct line management responsibilities.
• Provide mentoring /coaching for undergraduate veterinary students and less experienced staff.
• Responsible for maintaining the integrity of veterinary stock including sourcing, ordering consumables and equipment held by the veterinary section on either site.
• Responsible for day-to-day veterinary nursing duties including maintaining medical records, dispensing medications, faecal parasitology and monitoring general anaesthesia of zoo animal cases.
• Operates as a competent professional with changes to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) being approved by Head of Veterinary Services.
• Has an RCVS recognized veterinary nursing qualification and gives reliable advice on veterinary nursing aspects of animal health, welfare to the veterinary team as required.
• Work with minimum supervision but under Veterinary Surgeon guidance during medical procedural work.
• Acting as a first point of contact (primarily for non-emergency) will triage cases determined on treatment priorities / animal welfare needs and will escalate to veterinary team when required.
• Responsible for dispensing drugs, running in house lab samples, carrying out x-rays, and day-to-day administrative tasks.
• Actively involved with designing and implementing of animal training plans, for example hand injections to take blood from an animal consciously.

 What we’re looking for: 

• Understanding and practical application of basic laboratory techniques, including faecal sampling and screening.
• Competent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Working knowledge of ZIMS.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication with effective and appropriate decision making.
• Ability to work individually as well as part of a team.  Demonstrate good organisational and time management skills.
• High degree of observational skills and attention to detail.
• Good animal management skills for a range of taxa, including exotic species.

What you’ll get in return:

• Starting salary between £28,037 - £28,738 (offer based on experience) with future salary progression up to £31,250 per annum
• 37.5hr working week (may require night shift working)
• 34 days annual leave (pro rata)
• Discount in both retail/catering
• Access to a healthcare plan
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), that provide 24-hour counselling and support, including health, legal, finance, wellbeing and family advice, plus up to 8 face to face sessions for all members.

• Employer contributory pension scheme

• You will receive a staff membership which will give you (and family/friends) free (and discounted) entry to both the Highland Wildlife Park and Edinburgh Zoo as well as a number of other Zoo’s across the UK.

Please note that shortlisting of applications and interviews for this position will take place while the advert is live.  The advert will close once a successful candidate has been found.

Interested candidates are therefore encouraged to submit applications, as soon as possible.

Proposed start date:  Beginning of October 2025

We offer a range of great benefits which you can read about here.