Animal Centre Manager in West Malling

A bit about us

Do you want to help create a better world for animals? At the RSPCA, we believe animal welfare is everyone's welfare. Join us in creating a better world for every animal. We can do it if we work together, everyone for every animal.

Choose a career with us and make a difference. We are excited to be looking for an inspirational, people focussed leader to join us as Animal Centre Manager at our Leybourne site. This is a pivotal role at the heart of an exciting period of transformation.

The RSPCA Leybourne Animal Centre is located near West Malling in Kent. The site extends to some 23 acres and welcomes in excess of 15,000 visitors each year. There are 42 kennels licensed for 57 dogs and 40 cat pens licensed for 72 cats.

We are seeking a collaborative and forward‑thinking leader with proven experience in driving change. You’ll bring the ability to translate vision into action – engaging, energising, and supporting your team every step of the way. This role is ideal for someone who thrives on bringing people together, building trust, and creating momentum through periods of transformation.

Are you passionate about developing people, strengthening culture, and leading with empathy and clarity? Can you inspire others to embrace change and feel confident in the journey ahead? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity.

This is a fantastic opportunity to:

• Lead the centre through an exciting transformation as the RSPCA progresses through improved and standardised ways to improve animal welfare and put the animal at the heart of everything we do.
• Champion a culture of engagement, resilience, and continuous improvement and accountability.
• Inspire, coach, and develop colleagues and volunteers through change.
• Act as a visible and credible change leader, role‑modeling values and behaviours.
• Work in close partnership with the Operations Manager to deliver strategic priorities.

The role

As Animal Centre Manager, you will be responsible for both operational excellence and transformational leadership. You will lead the day‑to‑day running of the centre while embedding sustainable change that enhances animal welfare, team experience, and service delivery.

You will navigate a fast‑paced, evolving environment with confidence, balancing operational demands with long‑term improvement. Through strong leadership and coaching, you will empower your team to deliver exceptional care aligned with national standards, ensuring every animal's needs are understood and prioritised through effective, triage‑led approaches.

You will also play a key role in building a positive, inclusive culture, where colleagues and volunteers feel supported, informed, and motivated to contribute to shared goals. Ensuring safety, compliance, and sustainability will remain central, alongside your focus on continuous improvement and innovation.

Working hours & Location

Working hours: 35 hours per week on a shift basis between 08:30 – 17:00, including weekends and Bank Holidays. Location: Leybourne 199 Castle Way, Leybourne, West Malling, Kent, United Kingdom, ME19 5HW.

Key responsibilities

• Leadership & People – Lead, support, and develop colleagues and volunteers, promoting wellbeing and performance.
• Animal Welfare & Operations – Ensure care meets RSPCA standards across intake, triage, rehabilitation, enrichment, rehoming, transfers, and end‑of‑life decisions.
• Fostering – Develop and grow fostering programmes to support capacity and care.
• Compliance – Maintain a safe, compliant, and bio‑secure environment.
• Collaboration & Improvement – Work with internal teams and external partners to share best practice and drive consistency.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Proven operational leadership experience across a diverse range of teams.
• Evidenced experience of driving change with positive measurable outcomes.
• Experience managing budgets and operational expenditure.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and make sound decisions in sensitive situations.
• Strong communication skills and ability to build effective relationships.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of animal anatomy and behaviour.
• HNC/HND (or equivalent) in an animal‑related subject.
• NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent).
• Practical animal handling and husbandry experience.

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK – the RSPCA is unable to sponsor visas.

Equal Opportunity

The RSPCA is an equal opportunity employer. It actively encourages a wide diversity of applications – in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities – as these candidates are currently under‑represented at the RSPCA. Your transferable skills and lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family.

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible.

We are here to support you and encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please feel free to contact us at resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk or 0300 123 0685 so we can ensure the process works for you.