Lort Smith Animal Hospital – North Melbourne VIC

About Lort Smith

Lort Smith is Australia’s largest not-for-profit animal hospital, dedicated to keeping pets and their people together. For over 90 years, we’ve championed the human-animal bond by providing accessible, compassionate care to more than 20,000 animals each year. Our services span world-class veterinary care, rehoming programs, and community initiatives that make a meaningful difference in thousands of lives. We’re committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, offering flexible financing options to help low-income individuals access the care their pets need.

About the role

As Veterinary Hospital Supervisor, you will play a key role in ensuring the smooth and efficient functioning of daily hospital operations across ECC, Inpatients, Outpatients and Surgery. You will oversee workflow, support and guide clinical teams, monitor operational processes, and uphold high standards of patient care and staff support. This role is hands on and fast paced, requiring strong problem-solving skills to address issues as they arise while ensuring the hospital runs safely, efficiently, and in line with organisational priorities.

About You

You thrive in a fast-paced environment and remain calm under pressure, solutions-focused, adaptable under pressure. You are a proactive leader who excels at managing people and processes, with the confidence to make sound decisions and the humility to collaborate across teams. Your communication is clear and respectful, and you’re known for building strong, supportive relationships with colleagues at all levels. You lead with integrity, prioritise effectively, and bring a genuine commitment to continuous improvement and high-quality patient care.

Your Day-to-Day Responsibilities

- Manage daily hospital workflow across ECC, Inpatients, Outpatients, and Surgery




- Monitor on-the-floor performance and allocate resources effectively
- Oversee patient flow to ensure timely admissions, treatments, and discharges
- Support clinical teams with operational needs, resolving issues proactively
- Work closely with veterinary, nursing, and customer service teams to anticipate operational requirements, coordinate cross‑functional activity, and remove obstacles to maintain effective workflow
- Resolve issues affecting service delivery and ensure compliance with safety, welfare, and regulatory standards
- Monitor adherence to hospital procedures, policies, and safety protocols
- Identify operational inefficiencies and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.

You’ll Also Be Involved In

- Assisting with rostering oversight, staffing adjustments, and shift support
- Escalating facility or equipment concerns and coordinating timely solutions
- Supporting patient‑related logistics including transfers, referrals, and scheduling
- Assisting with training, onboarding, and reinforcing best‑practice procedures
- Contributing to a positive workplace culture and supporting effective team communication
- Assisting the leadership team in achieving financial and operational KPIs.

You’ll Bring

- Veterinary nursing qualification (Cert IV or Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing)
- Minimum 7 years’ clinical experience as a veterinary nurse (desirable)
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in a senior operational management role (desirable)
- Demonstrated capability in clinical operations management,



including triage, patient prioritisation, and oversight of care standards across departments
- Strong problem‑solving, decision‑making, and situational awareness, with the ability to remain calm and professional under pressure
- Proven ability to lead and manage multi‑disciplinary teams, driving operational efficiency and maintaining high standards of patient care
- Excellent attention to detail, time management, and interpersonal skills
- Highly effective communication skills, including leading operational and clinical meetings, daily briefings, and aligning teams around shared priorities
- Experience in staff development and coaching, fostering capability, professional growth, and a high‑performance culture.

Why join us

At Lort Smith, you’ll find meaningful work with real social impact. You’ll help shape the financial future of an iconic Melbourne institution while working alongside a dedicated and compassionate team.

We offer:

- A purpose‑driven organisation with a genuine community impact
- A supportive and team-oriented executive team
- Employee wellbeing programs and highly regarded Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
- Benefits including pet‑friendly workplace policies, discounts on veterinary treatment, products and pet insurance.
- Flexible working arrangements

Lort Smith is a great place to work. We are an equal prospect employer and actively support workplace diversity, equity and inclusion.

We will begin interviewing suitable candidates as applications are received. If you're interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible, as the listing may close early once the right candidate is found.

As part of the recruitment process, the preferred candidate will be required to satisfactorily complete a National Police Check.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

📌 Veterinary Hospital Supervisor (Melbourne)
🏢 Lort Smith Animal Hospital
📍 Melbourne