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- Tasks: Lead the Southampton Rehoming Centre, managing pets, people, and operations.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a leading animal welfare charity dedicated to helping pets and their owners.
- Benefits: Enjoy 38-43 days holiday, wellness support, and a pension scheme with enhanced contributions.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on pets' lives while working in a supportive and rewarding environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in animal welfare management and strong leadership skills are essential.
- Other info: On-site accommodation available in a two-bedroom bungalow with a private garden.
The predicted salary is between 24400 - 26500 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 3 August 2025
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Location: Southampton
Compensation: £28,481 – £33,118 / year
Description
Contract: Permanent, full time
Salary: £28,481 – £33,118 per annum
Accommodation: there is the option to live in or out with this role
Location: West End, Southampton, SO30 2HL
Closing date: Sunday 3 August 2025
Interview date: 1st stage – w/c 11 August, 2nd stage w/c 18 August
Are you an experienced operational manager, who relishes a challenge, with a passion for pets and people?
We’re recruiting a Centre Manager with strong leadership, organisational and communication skills to lead our Southampton Rehoming Centre in all pets, people, facilities, financial and compliance matters!
More about the role
Blue Cross Southampton Rehoming Centre opened in 1988 and occupies approximately three acres of land in a discrete location surrounded by fields where we walk the dogs in our care, providing some wonderful enrichment in a quiet environment. The centre has facilities to care for dogs and cats, as well as a specialised area for kittens who are all looking for loving new homes. The offsite team cares for dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rats, gerbils, degu and chinchillas through our foster homes and home direct scheme.
As the Centre Manager, you will support the delivery of the Blue Cross strategy by overseeing the smooth operational running of your Centre and associated services. Working closely with your Assistant Managers, you will embed a culture of continuous improvement, identifying efficiencies and empowering others to take ownership for their areas of responsibilities.
As a strong leader, you will develop and deliver a clear strategy, leading and engaging your teams, addressing issues quickly and adopting an agile, problem-solving mindset.
For many, the Centre will be the ‘public face’ of Blue Cross so you will need to ensure that customer service is at the heart of every interaction. You will also develop relationships with the local community, spot opportunities for commercial partnerships and cultivate business development ventures.
This is a challenging role which provides opportunity to make a positive difference to the lives of pets and people. There will be tough days too but being able to see the bigger picture and approach the work with purpose will make this role incredibly rewarding!
The standard hours for this role are 37.5 hours per week on a locally agreed rota to include weekends and bank holidays.
Accommodation – this role comes with the option of on-site accommodation by way of a two-bedroom bungalow which includes a study/third bedroom and a large private garden!
Want to know more detail? Great! We have attached the job description which hopefully gives you everything you need.
About you
You will be a positive, inclusive, and innovative manager, with finely honed skills having worked in a similar, animal welfare related environment.
You will have the ability to multitask effectively in a busy environment and help to identify areas for continuous improvement.
As a strong business manager, you will have analytical skills, commercial acumen, and the capability to rigorously evaluate, problem solve and drive performance improvements.
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 colleagues and members of the public.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
- Significant experience of successfully motivating, leading, and developing high performance teams, including setting clearly defined objectives, and managing performance in an animal welfare setting.
- Strong knowledge of animal welfare/care, ensuring operational excellence in a similar animal welfare environment.
- Experience of positively embracing and adapting to change by identifying, leading, and managing change in line with organisational objectives.
- Financially aware and numerate.
- Proven experience of working constructively and collaboratively with colleagues from different teams.
- Interpersonal and consultative skills, including the ability to communicate, present, negotiate, influence, and build credibility with colleagues and external parties.
- Experience of working in a commercial environment where the need to control costs and deliver high levels of service are important.
- The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values
- Current full driving licence.
It would also be great if you had:
- Relevant animal related qualification.
- Experience of working effectively with and/or managing volunteers.
- Experience of acting as a spokesperson in print and broadcast media.
- Experience of keeping up to date with and applying good practice in your sector/role and encouraging those that you manage to do the same.
- IT literate with good experience of MS Office and other relevant IT systems as appropriate for the role.
- Understanding of safeguarding issues.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Sunday 3 August 2025 .
The recruitment process will consist of a first stage competency-based interview and a tour of our wonderful site at our Southampton rehoming centre. Shortlisted candidates will then be invited to a second-stage assessment centre the following week.
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
- Free physiotherapy advice and face to face intervention
- 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
Centre Manager (Southampton) employer: Blue Cross UK
Contact Detail:
Blue Cross UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Centre Manager (Southampton)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Blue Cross's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to animal welfare will help you align your responses during interviews and demonstrate your passion for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of Blue Cross, especially those in management roles. They can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable during your interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare specific examples from your past experience that showcase your leadership and problem-solving skills in an animal welfare context. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can handle the challenges of the Centre Manager role.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the local community in Southampton and think about potential partnerships or initiatives that could benefit both the centre and the community. Bringing these ideas to the interview can show your proactive approach and commitment to the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Centre Manager (Southampton)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in operational management, particularly in animal welfare settings. Use specific examples that demonstrate your leadership and organisational skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for pets and people. Address how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Centre Manager role and mention any relevant achievements in previous positions.
Showcase Your Understanding of Animal Welfare: In your application, emphasise your knowledge of animal care and welfare. Mention any qualifications or experiences that showcase your commitment to improving the lives of animals.
Prepare for Competency-Based Questions: Anticipate questions related to leadership, problem-solving, and team management. Prepare specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your ability to handle challenges effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross UK
✨Show Your Passion for Animal Welfare
Make sure to express your genuine passion for animal welfare during the interview. Share personal experiences or stories that highlight your commitment to pets and people, as this role is all about making a positive difference in their lives.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Discuss specific situations where you motivated your team, set clear objectives, and managed performance effectively, especially in an animal welfare context.
✨Highlight Problem-Solving Abilities
Be ready to discuss challenges you've faced in previous roles and how you approached them. Emphasise your analytical skills and ability to drive performance improvements, showcasing your agile mindset in problem-solving.
✨Engage with the Community
Since building relationships with the local community is crucial for this role, think of ways you've previously engaged with communities or developed partnerships. Be prepared to share ideas on how you would cultivate business development ventures in Southampton.
