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- Tasks: Lead a passionate team to improve the lives of pets and their owners.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a leading animal welfare charity with a heart for pets.
- Benefits: Enjoy 38-43 days holiday, health support, and professional development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal welfare while shaping the future of our Manchester Centre.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership skills and knowledge of animal welfare required.
- Other info: Dynamic role with excellent career growth and a supportive work environment.
The predicted salary is between 28481 - 33118 £ per year.
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Location: Manchester
Application Deadline: 19 February 2026
Compensation: £28,481 - £33,118 / year
Contract: Permanent, full time
Salary: £28,481 to £33,118 per annum
Location: Radcliffe, M26 1NQ
Closing date: Thursday 19th February
Interview dates: TBC
More about the role
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 Manchester Rehoming Advice and behaviour unit. This is an exciting time for the Manchester Centre with many changes happening and the chance for a dynamic leader to bring their own experience and help shape the future of the centre, for the pets and clients we help through our site, as well as the Manchester team.
About you
You will be an inspirational leader with a proven track record of motivating, developing and supporting people in a fast-paced environment. You’ll bring strong people management skills – able to set direction, take action and empower others to deliver improvements. Alongside your leadership strengths, you’ll bring sound knowledge of animal welfare and operational excellence from a similar environment. Confident and decisive, you’ll balance the needs of pets, people and resources to achieve outstanding results. Resilient, empathetic and emotionally intelligent, you’ll thrive on challenge and approach every situation with a positive, problem-solving mindset.
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.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Thursday 19th February 2026. The process will include:
- First stage interview and site tour
- Online Discovery Session – This will include scenario-based exercises, giving you the chance to demonstrate your leadership style and approach to change while meeting colleagues.
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)
- Programs 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.
Rehoming Centre Manager in Manchester employer: Blue Cross UK
Contact Detail:
Blue Cross UK Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Rehoming Centre Manager in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, mission, and recent projects. This will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those scenario-based exercises! Think about how you would handle challenges in a leadership role, especially in an animal welfare setting. Practising your responses can boost your confidence and help you shine during the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and ready to take that next step in your career.
We think you need these skills to ace Rehoming Centre Manager in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Make sure to express your love for pets and people in your application. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about animal welfare and making a difference.
Tailor Your CV: Don’t just send the same CV everywhere! Tailor it to highlight your leadership experience and knowledge of animal welfare. We’re looking for someone who can motivate and develop teams, so make that shine through.
Be Clear and Concise: When filling out the application, keep your answers clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that get straight to the heart of your experience and skills.
Apply Through Our Website: Remember to apply through our website before the deadline! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly and is considered for this exciting role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross UK
✨Know Your Stuff About Animal Welfare
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of animal welfare and care. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your understanding and commitment to these principles. This will show the interviewers that you're not just passionate about pets, but also knowledgeable about their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to share concrete examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about times when you motivated your team or managed change effectively. Highlight your ability to set clear objectives and how you empowered others to achieve them. This is crucial for a Centre Manager role!
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
Since the interview process includes scenario-based exercises, practice responding to potential challenges you might face in the role. Think about how you would handle difficult situations involving both pets and people, and be prepared to explain your thought process and decision-making.
✨Demonstrate Your Financial Awareness
As the role requires financial awareness, be prepared to discuss how you've managed budgets or controlled costs in previous positions. Show that you understand the importance of balancing service delivery with financial responsibility, which is key in a commercial environment.
