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- Tasks: Lead home-based pet operations and ensure every pet finds their perfect family.
- Company: Join Blue Cross, a compassionate organisation dedicated to pet welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday, wellbeing support, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal growth and teamwork.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of pets and their new families.
- Qualifications: Experience in team management and a passion for animal welfare required.
The predicted salary is between 25787 - 27047 £ per year.
Application Deadline: 30 March 2026
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Employment Type: Permanent
Location: Devon
Compensation: £25,787 - £27,047 / year
Description
Contract: Permanent, full time (37.5 hours per week)
Salary: £25,787 - £27,047 per annum
Location: Exeter, EX2 8ED
Closing date: Monday 30th March 2026
Interview date: TBC
We are recruiting an Assistant Manager – Off-site Services to lead and streamline our home-based pet operations in Devon! In this role, you will ensure that every pet finds the perfect match with their new family as quickly as possible, while maintaining top-quality care for both our pets and clients throughout the entire adoption journey. Join us in making a difference, one pet at a time!
This role is based onsite at our Exeter centre and does not offer hybrid working arrangements.
More about the role
Our Devon centre has a wonderful group of dedicated people with varying skills that meld into one team with one mission: to help as many pets as possible. We help pets through our two main services, Home Direct and our fostering network of over 80 volunteer foster carers. In this role, you will play a key part in ensuring exceptional care for both pets and clients while making well-connected, efficient decisions that prioritise pet welfare.
As the leader of our home-based pet operations, you will oversee the smooth running of daily activities, acting as the subject matter expert in practical animal handling and assessment. Your goal will be to prepare pets for adoption as quickly and effectively as possible. You will work closely with your team to ensure timely pet assessments, behaviour management, and training, while providing full support to foster carers. You will also be responsible for achieving pet-related targets, ensuring your team of Pet Welfare Assistants and Foster Coordinators maintain the highest standards of animal care and adhere to national processes in case management.
Since we do not have cattery or kennel facilities, innovation and teamwork are essential to address the most urgent cases effectively. Motivating and managing your team is central to this role, enabling the centre to provide top-quality home-based pet care while helping your team develop professionally. This is a full-time position, working 37.5 hours per week and you will be required to work 1 in 3 weekends. Please note that this is not a hybrid role, and each working day is based at the centre.
About you
You will be a great people manager, bringing finely honed skills from your experience in an animal-related environment, along with expert knowledge of pet welfare and care. As a dynamic and innovative leader, you know how to inspire and motivate your team, driving continuous improvement. You will lead a team of Pet Welfare Assistants, empowering them through effective management and coaching.
With excellent communication skills, you adapt your approach for different audiences, ensuring your message resonates. While juggling multiple tasks, you remain calm and organised, making confident decisions in high-pressure situations. Your strong analytical skills enable you to monitor and evaluate effectively, implementing meaningful improvements.
Rather than resting on your laurels, you will have a genuine desire to enhance onsite facilities and services, actively engaging your team in the process. Having worked in emotionally charged environments, you understand the importance of resilience and have excellent “bounce-back ability.” Your emotional intelligence and empathy will shine as you support your team and the public, creating a compassionate and effective workplace.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
- Significant experience in managing a team.
- Significant experience in delivering high level customer service in a fast-paced environment.
- Significant subject matter expertise and application of pet welfare and handling of domestic animals.
- High standard of verbal and written communication.
- Current full driving licence.
- The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values.
It would be great (but not essential) if you also had:
- Performance management and improvement experience.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Understanding of safeguarding issues.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Monday 30th March 2026. 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.
Assistant Manager - Off-site Services in Exeter employer: Blue Cross
Contact Detail:
Blue Cross Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Manager - Off-site Services in Exeter
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company! Before your interview, do a bit of research on Blue Cross and their mission. Understanding their values and how they operate will help you connect with the interviewers and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. This will help you articulate your experience and skills clearly, especially when it comes to your pet welfare knowledge and team management.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for pets! During the interview, share personal stories or experiences that highlight your love for animals and your commitment to their welfare. This will resonate well with the team and demonstrate that you’re the right fit for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your appreciation for the opportunity and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Manager - Off-site Services in Exeter
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the role of Assistant Manager – Off-site Services. Use keywords from the job description to show us you understand what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Passion: Let your love for pets and commitment to their welfare shine through in your written application. We want to see your enthusiasm for making a difference in the lives of animals and their new families!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your skills and experiences are easy to read and understand. Avoid jargon unless it’s relevant to the role!
Proofread Before Submitting: Take a moment to review your application for any typos or grammatical errors. A polished application shows us that you pay attention to detail, which is super important in this role!
How to prepare for a job interview at Blue Cross
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of pet welfare and handling. Be ready to discuss specific examples from your experience that demonstrate your expertise in these areas. This will show the interviewers that you’re not just passionate about pets, but also knowledgeable about their care.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an Assistant Manager, you'll need to inspire and motivate your team. Prepare to share examples of how you've successfully managed a team in the past, especially in high-pressure situations. Highlight your ability to coach and develop others, as this is key to the role.
✨Communicate Clearly
Excellent communication is crucial for this position. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and concisely. Think about how you can adapt your communication style to different audiences, whether it’s your team, foster carers, or clients. This will demonstrate your versatility and emotional intelligence.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect to face scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and decision-making abilities. Think of examples where you had to make tough calls regarding pet welfare or team management. This will help you showcase your analytical skills and resilience under pressure.