Welfare Manager

Association of Dogs and Cats Homes (ADCH); Liverpool; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Dogs Trust in England (Huyton) is seeking a Welfare Manager to lead the welfare journey for every dog in our centre. You will drive timely, compassionate decisions through expert behavioural and veterinary rehabilitation to move each dog toward a loving home.

The role requires accredited canine behaviour credentials, strong team leadership, and a proven ability to mentor staff and volunteers, collaborating with internal teams and external partners.

Qualifications

• ACCREDITED canine behaviourist credentials (CCAB/CAB) required.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a small team to deliver veterinary care and dog behaviour modification.
• Advocate for both behavioural and veterinary needs to achieve the best outcomes for each dog.
• Oversee staff and volunteer training in behaviour and dog handling, ensuring SOPs, legal and health guidelines are followed.
• Develop and implement tailored behaviour modification plans for dogs with complex needs and monitor progress toward rehoming.
• Support professional development of Behaviour Officers, Dog Welfare Assistants, and Supervisors through mentoring, assessments, and workshops.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure consistent, informed behavioural support before, during, and after rehoming.

Skills

Dog behaviour expertise

Team leadership

Staff mentoring

Communication skills

Education

CCAB/CAB accreditation

Job description

Dogs Trust

Location: England (Huyton)

Salary: ££34,252

Hours: 37.5

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 27 September 2026

Are you ready to make a lasting impact on the lives of dogs and the people who care for them?

We’re looking for a Welfare Manager to take charge of the welfare journey for every dog in our centre. In this pivotal role, you will drive timely, compassionate decisions through expert behavioural and veterinary rehabilitation, ensuring each dog progresses toward their forever home.

What does this role do?

As Welfare Manager, You’ll

• lead, coach and develop a small team to deliver high-quality veterinary care and behaviour modification for dogs in our care
• act as a balanced advocate for both behavioural and veterinary needs to achieve the best outcomes for each dog
• oversee staff and volunteer training in behaviour and dog handling, ensuring all colleagues work within SOPs, legal, and health and safety guidelines
• develop and implement tailored behaviour modification plans for dogs with complex needs and monitor progress towards successful rehoming
• support professional development of Behaviour Officers, Dog Welfare Assistants, and Supervisors through mentoring, assessments, and workshops
• collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure consistent, informed behavioural support before, during, and after rehoming

Could this be you?

As an accredited clinical dog behaviourist (CCAB, CAB) with extensive experience in canine behaviour and welfare; including behaviour modification, clinical assessment, and risk management, you will have proven expertise in safely handling and rehabilitating dogs across a range of breeds and behavioural profiles. With a strong track record of leading, developing, and managing high-performing teams, you will also be a skilled communicator, who is able to influence and engage a variety of audiences. Above all, you’ll be passionate about rehoming, and have a commitment to the aims and objectives of Dogs Trust.

What does this team do?

Our rehoming centres house thousands of dogs each year until they can find a loving new home and the success of our centres wouldn’t be possible without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers; there is a real family-community within each of our centres. Come rain or shine, our team are out in all weathers to make sure the dogs have the best possible life. Dealing with thousands of visitors each month, our rehoming centres are the face of Dogs Trust, and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service.

About Dogs Trust

We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

Interviews will be provisionally held on the 1st and 2nd October 2026 at our Merseyside Rehoming Centre.