Head of Operations (Animal Welfare)

Greyhound Trust; Hookwood; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading animal welfare organization in the UK is seeking a Head of Operations to lead their national strategy for homing and welfare services. This full-time role includes overseeing operations at homing centres and managing a dedicated team. The ideal candidate will have senior experience in animal welfare, strong operational skills, and a passion for improving outcomes for retired racing greyhounds. Compensation ranges from £45,000 to £50,000 per year depending on experience.

Qualifications

• Senior experience in animal welfare, with a steep learning curve if needed.
• Strong operational and budget oversight skills.
• Ability to analyze data and trends for new working models.
• Track record of driving service improvement and innovation.
• Excellent communication and people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead national strategy for homing and greyhound care.
• Oversee operations at homing centres, including flagship National Greyhound Centre.
• Identify impactful changes to increase reach and home more greyhounds.
• Develop new welfare and outreach initiatives.
• Manage a high-performing team focused on greyhound outcomes.

Skills

Animal welfare expertise

Operational oversight

Data analysis and trends modeling

Service improvement

Excellent communication

People management

Working with volunteers

Job description

Are you a passionate leader with a commitment to animal welfare? Join Greyhound Trust as our Head of Operations where you will shape the future of homing services and champion the wellbeing of retired racing greyhounds across the UK. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive and sitting as part of the Senior Management Team, you'll be responsible for developing and delivering our national Homing and Welfare Strategy, while leading the transformation of our homing network to home more greyhounds and develop its impact.

What You Will Do

• Lead national strategy for homing and greyhound care
• Oversee operations at our homing centres, including the flagship National Greyhound Centre
• Identify high impact changes to increase reach and home more greyhounds, and lead the relevant operational change across the homing network
• Develop new welfare and outreach initiatives
• Manage a high‑performing team of operational Managers, focused on greyhound outcomes, supporting and developing our valued volunteers and championing the breed
• Lead welfare governance, policy, and budget management

You Will Bring

• Senior experience in animal welfare; if not, you will need to evidence your ability to be successful with a steep learning curve
• Strong operational and budget oversight skills
• Ability to analyse data and trends, and model new ways of working to address identified needs
• A track record of driving service improvement and innovation
• Excellent communication and people management skills
• Experience working with volunteers and multi‑site teams
• Confidence in navigating complex welfare and behavioural decisions
• A passion for animal welfare and a values‑led approach
• Experience in policy, outreach/project development and regulatory governance is a plus

About Greyhound Trust

At Greyhound Trust, we believe every retired racing greyhound deserves a loving home and a life filled with kindness and compassion. Our national network of homing centres and branches, powered by dedicated staff and volunteers, supports over a thousand greyhounds each year in their journey from track to home. You will help us return to the pre‑COVID numbers of several thousand greyhounds being homed by Greyhound Trust each year. Greyhound Trust was founded in 1975 and has found over 100,000 loving homes for greyhounds.

Compensation

£45,000 - £50,000 per year (starting salary is linked to experience level)

Full‑time Permanent Actively Interviewing