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- Tasks: Lead and manage the cattery, ensuring top-notch care for our cats.
- Company: Join Mayhew, a passionate team dedicated to animal welfare and community support.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work environment and the chance to make a real difference.
- Why this job: This role is rewarding, allowing you to impact the lives of cats in need.
- Qualifications: Experience with cats, strong leadership skills, and knowledge of cat behavior required.
- Other info: Maternity cover position, 35 hours per week, based in North West London.
The predicted salary is between 27000 - 36000 £ per year.
Job Description
Contract length: FTC up to 12-month maternity cover
Location: North West London
Hours per week: 35hrs, work Tuesday – Saturday, 9am – 5pm
Salary: Circa £32,000
Closing date for applications: Monday, 24st March 2025
First interview date: W/C 31st March 2025, Microsoft Teams; interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible
Second interview date: W/C 7th April 2025, in-person interview
Every dog and cat in need deserves expert, personalised care and support, and to be loved. When you work for Mayhew, you understand that better than ever.
We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of c80 staff and c150 volunteers, here for dogs, cats and communities in the UK, in Afghanistan and in Georgia. We offer expert veterinary care, rescue and rehoming services, programmes in the community and guidance and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats in need.
We do our best for dogs and cats in need every day, working with colleague across the sector to improve their lives and to give them the care, support and love they deserve. But it’s our warmth, creativity and care that touch lives. Here, we take the time to really get to know the dogs and cats we care for and those who love them.
At our North West London Home, we are recruiting an interim Head of Cattery who will share our compassion and commitment for animal welfare to provide front line leadership to our team of Cattery and Animal Care staff and volunteers. We care for up to eight cats and kittens on site, in addition to cats placed into foster homes. Our Head of Cattery is responsible for managing the day-to-day smooth running of our cattery and maintaining the wellbeing of all cats in our care, so that their individual physical and psychological needs are catered for adequately, and in line with our standards and ethics.
This is a high profile and hugely important role for Mayhew as our Head of Cattery oversees each cat’s journey through Mayhew from in-take to assessment and then to rehoming. Working with staff and volunteers across the Home, foster carers, adopters, other charities and rescues and members of the public, our Head of Cattery is instrumental in ensuring that our cats have all they need – from feeding, cleaning, enrichment and socialising to finding their perfect forever home. This role can be physically and emotionally demanding but is also hugely rewarding; you can view some of our amazing rescue stories here.
Leading a small team, our Head of Cattery is responsible for managing all aspects of our cat in-takes, adoptions and fostering, managing our capacity to ensure we help as many cats as we can and ensuring our cats are rehomed to a home suited to their individual needs as soon as possible.
We offer a caring and supportive team and the chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of cats who rely on us.
Generally, you will:
- Lead and manage our Cattery and ensure the very best care and support is given to each of our cats
- Proactively, collaboratively and resourcefully maintain relationships with volunteers, foster carers, adopters, other rescue managers and other colleagues in the wider Mayhew community
- Manage your team in an inclusive and collaborative way, enabling and empowering them
- Engage and collaborate with senior staff to ensure effective delivery of our strategic and operational goals
To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience in:
- Experience working with cats, ideally in a shelter environment
- Strong knowledge of cat behaviour and welfare
- Experience of successfully motivating, managing, and developing a high performing team and managing performance
- Experience of effectively managing competing and changeable priorities, a high workload and multiple complex issues and tasks
Please note that successful candidates will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.
We reserve the right to close this post at any time, should we receive a high volume of applications.
Head of Cattery (maternity cover) employer: Mayhew
Contact Detail:
Mayhew Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Cattery (maternity cover)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarize yourself with Mayhew's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to animal welfare and community support will help you align your answers during the interview, showcasing your passion for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare specific examples from your past experience that demonstrate your ability to manage a team effectively. Highlight instances where you motivated staff or volunteers, as this is crucial for the Head of Cattery position.
✨Tip Number 3
Research common challenges faced in cattery management and think about how you would address them. Being able to discuss solutions to potential issues will show your proactive approach and readiness for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Network with professionals in the animal welfare sector. Engaging with others who share your passion can provide insights and potentially valuable connections that may help you stand out during the application process.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Cattery (maternity cover)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Take the time to thoroughly read the job description for the Head of Cattery position. Understand the responsibilities and requirements, especially the emphasis on animal welfare and team management.
Tailor Your CV: Customize your CV to highlight relevant experience with cats, particularly in a shelter environment. Emphasize your knowledge of cat behavior and welfare, as well as any leadership roles you've held.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for animal welfare and your commitment to providing excellent care. Mention specific experiences that demonstrate your ability to manage a team and handle multiple priorities.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In both your CV and cover letter, make sure to showcase skills such as team motivation, relationship building with volunteers and adopters, and your ability to manage competing priorities effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Mayhew
✨Show Your Passion for Animal Welfare
Make sure to express your genuine love and commitment to animal welfare during the interview. Share personal experiences or stories that highlight your dedication to caring for cats and how you align with Mayhew's mission.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As the Head of Cattery, you'll be leading a team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully managed and motivated teams in the past, especially in challenging situations.
✨Highlight Relevant Experience
Discuss your experience working with cats, particularly in a shelter environment. Be specific about your knowledge of cat behavior and welfare, and how this experience will help you excel in the role.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your ability to handle competing priorities and complex issues. Prepare scenarios from your past work where you successfully managed multiple tasks or resolved conflicts, showcasing your problem-solving skills.
