At a Glance
- Tasks: Help pets thrive with reward-based training and support pet owners in their journey.
- Company: Join the compassionate team at Blue Cross, dedicated to animal welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and collaboration across teams.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of pets and their owners every day.
- Qualifications: Experience in pet behaviour and training, plus excellent communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 26006 - 30240 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 30 September 2026
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Thirsk
Reporting To: Centre Manager
Compensation: £26,006 - £30,240 / year
Description
Contract: Permanent, 35 hours per week
Salary: £26,006 - £30,240 per annum
Location: Thirsk YO7 3SE
Closing date: Wednesday 30 September 2026
Interview date: 1st stage 08/10/2026, 2nd stage 13/10/2026
We’re recruiting a Rehabilitation Trainer & Behaviour Advisor to join our Behaviour team based at Thirsk! This is a really exciting opportunity to join the Blue Cross Behaviour Service.
More about the role
We are looking for a talented behaviour advisor who has a thorough understanding of reward-based training techniques, to work with pets in our care (be it on site, in foster, or post adoption). Working under the guidance of an Animal Behaviourist, you will be implementing and facilitating rehabilitation programmes practically, as well as advising and coaching centre teams who work with the pets in our care. No two days will be the same – you could be working with an owner with a problem they are having with their pet, team training, assessing pets for adoption, supporting a pet on site or collaborating with your peers across Blue Cross. If you are looking for a dynamic role which helps people and pets and is at the forefront of animal welfare, then this is the role for you.
This role is full-time (35 hours per week) and will require you to work 1 in 3 weekends. Remote working is not available, and there will be occasions when you'll need to travel to other sites or take on duties outside these hours to meet the needs of the pets and people.
About you
You will be a confident, adaptable and compassionate animal handler and trainer who enjoys working with a diverse range of people and pets. With excellent communication skills and an understanding of animal behaviour, you will be skilled at teaching and demonstrating training techniques and advising our teams and pet owners on behaviour issues. In addition, you will thrive working collaboratively with others, be skilled at asking targeted questions to uncover critical information, and have a desire to improve the experience of the pets in our care.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
- Demonstrable experience of pet behaviour and training techniques, and evidence of success in understanding pet behaviour & training problems
- Carrying out behaviour and training programmes for dogs, across a variety of breeds and temperaments
- Developing training programmes and delivering to owners / caregivers that are practical and realistic for a pet owner
- Full UK driving licence
- The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values
It would also be great if you had:
- Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) standard of Animal Training Instructor (ATI) qualification or working towards
- Experience of working with multi species animals
- Experience of promoting better understanding of pet behaviour through the media, or performing other public speaking
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
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.
Rehabilitation Trainer & Behaviour Advisor in Thirsk employer: Blue Cross For Pets
Blue Cross at Victoria animal hospital in London is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the wellbeing of both staff and animals. With opportunities for continuous professional development and a commitment to high standards of care, employees can thrive in their roles while making a meaningful impact in the community. The location in vibrant London provides unique advantages, including access to diverse cases and a dynamic team environment.
