At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to ensure top-notch client care and efficient pet rehoming services.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a passionate organisation dedicated to pet welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, 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 the lives of pets and their future families.
- Qualifications: Experience in animal welfare and team management is essential.
The predicted salary is between 25787 - 27047 £ per year.
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Location: Burford
Application Deadline: 4 March 2026
Contract: Permanent, full time 37.5 hours per week
Salary: £25,787 - £27,047 per annum
Closing date: 4 March 2026
Interview date: 12 March 2026
More about the role
At Blue Cross we are ambitious, and the work carried out by our Centres is key in achieving our strategy and ensuring that ultimately, we help more pets. This is a wonderful opportunity to join Blue Cross to lead a team in ensuring a high level of client care, efficient and connected decisions relating to pet welfare, and the delivery of high‑quality rehoming services. On a day‑to‑day basis you’ll be leading your team and ensuring the smooth running of the refill and adoption stages of our rehoming services. You’ll work closely with operational colleagues to ensure we have a pipeline of new pets and a pool of adopters ready for a pet.
The refill and adoption stages of our rehoming services is critical, so this role will see you working closely with your team and colleagues with a strong focus on finding the right homes for pets as efficiently as possible and refilling to optimise caseloads for our Pet Welfare Assistants. While delivering robust rehoming services are important to us, so is the client experience and it will be up to you to ensure that we monitor and continually look for ways to uphold and improve our client journey. For many, the Centre will be the ‘public face’ of Blue Cross so you will need to ensure that your team put client service at the heart of every interaction. This includes making sure public areas and facilities are welcoming and engaging and that administration of the admission and adoption process complies with internal processes and compliance legislation such as GDPR.
This is a full‑time role working 37.5 hours per week on a rota which includes weekends and bank holidays. At Burford 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. 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. These duties are organised on a local rota and shared between all members of the team.
About you
You will be an excellent manager of people, having skills which are finely honed by working in a similar, animal related environment with expert knowledge and application of pet welfare and care. As an accomplished, positive, and innovative manager, you will know how to inspire, motivate, and drive continuous improvement. You will be able to lead a team of Pet Welfare Assistants, developing and empowering them through effective management and coaching. With your excellent communication skills, you will have the ability to adapt your approach to suit different audiences. As there are always many ‘plates spinning,’ you will be naturally calm and organised, and be prepared to make decisions in a high‑pressure environment. You will have strong analytical skills and the ability to rigorously monitor, assess and evaluate in order to deliver improvements. You will have an appetite to continually improve onsite facilities and services, ensuring your team and others involved are engaged. You will know what it is like to work in an emotionally charged environment and have excellent ‘bounce back ability’ and resilience. In addition, you will be emotionally intelligent, showing empathy and knowing how to support your team and members of the public.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
- Experience of working in a rescue welfare environment.
- Significant experience of managing a team.
- Significant experience in delivering high level client service in a fast‑paced environment.
- Experience of developing, mentoring, and coaching operational teams.
- High standard of verbal and written communication.
- Proven decision‑making ability.
- Understanding of and ‘hands on’ experience of pet care.
- Current full driving licence.
- Ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross Values.
It would be great (but not essential) if you also had:
- Client relationship management experience.
- Performance management and improvement experience.
- Change management experience.
- Delivering training and presenting to large groups.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Qualifications in management, leadership, or coaching.
- Understanding of safeguarding issues.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on 4 March 2026.
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.
Assistant Manager - Onsite Services in Burford employer: Blue Cross UK
Blue Cross is an exceptional employer for Veterinary Coordinators, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. Located in Exeter, our team enjoys generous benefits including extensive holiday entitlement, mental health support, and opportunities for continued professional development, all while making a meaningful impact on animal welfare. Join us to be part of a compassionate and inclusive environment where your expertise will help shape the future of pet care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Manager - Onsite Services in Burford
✨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 UK.
✨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 UK.
✨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 UK.
✨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 UK. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Manager - Onsite Services in Burford
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 UK. 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 - Onsite Services, 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 UK
✨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 UK. 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!
