Assistant Manager - Onsite Services

Blue Cross UK

Burford

On-site

GBP 25,787 - 27,047

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

38-43 days holiday

Health wellbeing support

Life assurance

Employee assistance programmes

Job summary

A prominent animal welfare organization in Burford is seeking an Assistant Manager for Onsite Services. This full-time position involves leading a team to ensure efficient rehoming services and high levels of client care. Responsibilities include managing operational processes, improving client experiences, and fostering a supportive environment for pets and team members. Applicants should have experience in animal welfare, team management, and delivering exceptional client service. A comprehensive benefits package is part of the employment offer.

Qualifications

Experience working in a rescue welfare environment.
Proven decision-making ability.
Understanding and hands-on experience of pet care.

Responsibilities

Lead the team in providing high levels of client care.
Ensure smooth running of rehoming services.
Monitor and improve client journey.

Skills

Team Management

Client Service

Pet Care Knowledge

Analytical Skills

Communication

Education

Qualifications in management or coaching

Job description

Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services

Location: Burford

Application Deadline: 4 March 2026

Contract: Permanent, full time 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £25,787 - £27,047 per annum

Closing date: 4 March 2026

Interview date: 12 March 2026

Assistant Manager – Onsite Services

More about the role

At Blue Cross we are ambitious, and the work carried out by our Centres is key in achieving our strategy and ensuring that ultimately, we help more pets. This is a wonderful opportunity to join Blue Cross to lead a team in ensuring a high level of client care, efficient and connected decisions relating to pet welfare, and the delivery of high‑quality rehoming services.

On a day‑to‑day basis you’ll be leading your team and ensuring the smooth running of the refill and adoption stages of our rehoming services. You’ll work closely with operational colleagues to ensure we have a pipeline of new pets and a pool of adopters ready for a pet.

The refill and adoption stages of our rehoming services is critical, so this role will see you working closely with your team and colleagues with a strong focus on finding the right homes for pets as efficiently as possible and refilling to optimise caseloads for our Pet Welfare Assistants. While delivering robust rehoming services are important to us, so is the client experience and it will be up to you to ensure that we monitor and continually look for ways to uphold and improve our client journey.

For many, the Centre will be the ‘public face’ of Blue Cross so you will need to ensure that your team put client service is at the heart of every interaction. This includes making sure public areas and facilities are welcoming and engaging and that administration of the admission and adoption process complies with internal processes and compliance legislation such as GDPR.

This is a full‑time role working 37.5 hours per week on a rota which includes weekends and bank holidays. At Burford rehoming centre, we provide onsite accommodation for pets in our care 24/7. Overnight shifts are usually undertaken by team members who live on site. Occasionally, you will be expected to carry out night checks or stay in onsite accommodation overnight when the resident team members are either not working or away for a period of time. These duties are organised on a local rota and shared between all members of the team.

About you

You will be an excellent manager of people, having skills which are finely honed by working in a similar, animal related environment with expert knowledge and application of pet welfare and care. As an accomplished, positive, and innovative manager, you will know how to inspire, motivate, and drive continuous improvement. You will be able to lead a team of Pet Welfare Assistants, developing and empowering them through effective management and coaching. With your excellent communication skills, you will have the ability to adapt your approach to suit different audiences. As there are always many ‘plates spinning,’ you will be naturally calm and organised, and be prepared to make decisions in a high‑pressure environment.

You will have strong analytical skills and the ability to rigorously monitor, assess and evaluate in order to deliver improvements. You will have an appetite to continually improve onsite facilities and services, ensuring your team and others involved are engaged. 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 your team and members of the public.

Knowledge, skills, and experience

Experience of working in a rescue welfare environment.
Significant experience of managing a team.
Significant experience in delivering high level client service in a fast‑paced environment.
Experience of developing, mentoring, and coaching operational teams.
High standard of verbal and written communication.
Proven decision‑making ability.
Understanding of and ‘hands on’ experience of pet care.
Current full driving licence.
Ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross Values.

It would be great (but not essential) if you also had:

Client relationship management experience.
Performance management and improvement experience.
Change management experience.
Delivering training and presenting to large groups.
Experience working with volunteers.
Qualifications in management, leadership, or coaching.
Understanding of safeguarding issues.

How to apply

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on 4 March 2026.

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