Deputy Hospital Manager - Victoria Animal Hospital
Application Deadline: 7 June 2026
Department: Veterinary Services
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Location: Victoria animal hospital
Reporting To: Hospital Services Manager
Compensation: £35,784 - £40,966 / year
Description
Contract: Permanent, full time (42 hours per week)
Salary: £31,830 - £37,012 p/annum plus £3,954 London Weighting Allowance
Location: Victoria Animal Hospital, London
Closing date: Sunday 7th June 2026
Help us change lives — one pet at a time.
Blue Cross is a leading animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of pets and the people who love them. Our veterinary hospitals provide essential care to pets whose owners might otherwise struggle to afford treatment and we’re now seeking a compassionate, organised, and forward-thinking Deputy Hospital Manager to help us continue this vital work.
More about the role
As Deputy Hospital Manager, you will support the Hospital Manager in overseeing all aspects of the hospital’s daily operations while contributing to long‑term planning and service development. This role is ideal for someone currently working as a Practice Manager or Head of Receptionist in a clinical setting who is ready to step into a broader, mission-driven leadership opportunity.
You will provide direct line management for our receptionists, administrators and van drivers, taking responsibility for recruitment, induction, rotas, training and performance management. Ensuring our reception teams deliver consistently excellent service will be central to your role. You will also ensure all financial processes from cashing up to payment plans and debt collection are completed accurately and in line with internal policies and external regulations.
A core part of your responsibilities will be ensuring reception areas operate safely and efficiently, adhering to health and safety requirements, data protection rules and organisational SOPs. You will oversee robust stock control processes for both clinical and non‑clinical items, ensure all non‑clinical complaints are processed appropriately, and work closely with clinical and non‑clinical colleagues to maintain smooth and joined‑up client journeys.
Alongside this, you will provide comprehensive administration services that support our clinical teams in delivering veterinary care to thousands of pets each year. You will act as deputy to the Hospital Manager whenever required and will play an active role in continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance reception and client services, making them more efficient, effective and aligned with the needs of the hospital. Experience in fundraising or events is a valuable advantage and will help strengthen our community engagement efforts.
About you
You’ll be an excellent problem-solver who thrives in a fast‑paced environment with multiple competing demands. Your ability to prioritise, communicate clearly and delegate with confidence will help you balance the needs of our diverse team. You'll be a medical professional joining a large, multidisciplinary team of over 100 staff where you’ll bring strong leadership experience, ideally from a veterinary or clinical setting, along with a genuine interest in strategic thinking and shaping future services. Above all, you’ll share our commitment to supporting pets and the people who love them.
Essential qualifications, skills and experience
* Experience in a busy customer facing environment
* Experience supervising or managing staff teams
* Strong communication and conflict resolution skills
* Experience of financial management, including cashing up and reconciliation
Although not essential, it would be great if you also had
* Experience in a hospital, clinic, or veterinary environment
* Experience in staff recruitment, training, and development
* Understanding of animal welfare and client care issues
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.
In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:
* Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
* Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
* Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
* Health cash plan
* Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
* Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
* Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
* Life assurance
* 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
* Enhanced family friendly policies
* Recognition scheme
* Annual volunteer days
* Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the why work for us page on our website.
#J-18808-Ljbffr