At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead horse care services and ensure horses are ready for adoption.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a leader in equine welfare.
- Benefits: 38 days holiday, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal welfare while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in horse care and strong management skills required.
The predicted salary is between 26042 - 30281 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 10 August 2026
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: Rolleston on Dove
Reporting To: Centre Manager
Compensation: £26,042 - £30,281 / year
Contract: 12 months fixed contract, 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £26,042 - £30,281 per annum
Location: Rolleston, DE13 9AU
Closing date: Monday 10th August 2026
Interview date: 7th & 19th August 2026
We’re recruiting an Assistant Manager - On-site Services who will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of our centre based horse care services. You’ll lead and support teams, oversee horse welfare, and ensure horses are ready for adoption as quickly as possible. With your expertise in horse care and facility management, you’ll help us place the right horse in the right home. Join us and make a difference in equine welfare!
More about the role:
- Support the delivery of the Blue Cross strategy by overseeing the smooth operational running of all centre based horse care services.
- Embed a healthy culture which attracts and maintains engaged and empowered teams.
- Ensure that the right horse is placed in the right service, in the quickest amount of time.
- Have responsibility for the smooth running of the centre based horse operations, providing subject matter expertise on practical horse care and handling horses where necessary.
- Oversee the buildings used for horse accommodation and all horse equipment.
- Ensure that the horses are prepared and ready for adoption as soon as possible.
At our Rolleston rehoming centre, we provide onsite accommodation for pets in our care 24/7. Overnight shifts are usually undertaken by team members who live on-site. This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week, on a Tuesday to Saturday rota. This is a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. Occasionally, you will be expected to carry out night checks or stay in onsite accommodation overnight when the resident team members are either not working or away for a period of time.
About you:
- Positive, inclusive manager of people with skills honed by working in a similar, horse welfare related environment.
- Expert knowledge and application of horse welfare and care.
- Ability to drive performance improvements and efficiencies.
- Prepared to address promptly underperformance or poor levels of service.
- Lead the adoptions preparations team, developing and empowering them through effective management and coaching.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to adapt your approach to different styles and audiences.
- Organized, adaptable, and prepared to make decisions in a high pressure environment.
- Strong analytical skills to monitor, assess, and evaluate in order to deliver improvements.
- Appetite to continually improve onsite facilities and services.
- Emotional intelligence, showing empathy and knowing how to support your team and members of the public.
Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:
- Significant experience in delivering high level customer service in a fast-paced environment.
- Knowledge of behavioural science and learning theory when training horses.
- Experience of working alongside vets to make key veterinary decisions in complex vet cases.
- Proven experience of dealing with and treating a range of equine veterinary illness and conditions.
- High standard of verbal and written communication.
- Experience of performance managing & coaching operational teams.
- Proven decision-making ability.
- Current full driving licence.
Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience:
- Change management experience.
- Delivering training and presenting to large groups.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Experience of working in horse rescue welfare environment.
- Qualifications in management, leadership, or coaching.
- Understanding of safeguarding 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.
Assistant Manager - On-site Services (Horse) in Stretton employer: Blue Cross For Pets
Blue Cross For Pets is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional development. Located in Burford, the role of Senior Insights & Reporting Analyst provides a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful fundraising efforts while enjoying a hybrid working model and a generous benefits package that fosters growth and collaboration among team members.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Manager - On-site Services (Horse) in Stretton
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Blue Cross For Pets.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Blue Cross For Pets.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Blue Cross For Pets.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Blue Cross For Pets. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Manager - On-site Services (Horse) in Stretton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Blue Cross For Pets. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Assistant Manager - On-site Services (Horse), ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross For Pets
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Blue Cross For Pets. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
