Welfare Manager

Dogs Trust; Loughborough; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Dogs Trust is seeking a Welfare Manager in our Loughborough centre to drive the welfare journey for every dog in our care. You will lead a small team delivering veterinary care and behaviour modification, advocate for both behavioural and veterinary needs, and mentor staff to uphold high standards of care.

Interviews will be held at our Loughborough Rehoming Centre. You will be an accredited clinical dog behaviourist with CCAB/CAB, with a proven track record in canine rehabilitation and team

Qualifications

• Accredited clinical dog behaviourist with CCAB/CAB.
• Proven experience in canine behaviour, welfare and rehabilitation.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• 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 SOPs, legal, and health and safety guidelines are followed.
• Develop and implement tailored behaviour modification plans for complex cases 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 behavioural support before, during, and after rehoming.

Skills

Team leadership

Behaviour modification

Communication

Mentoring

Education

CCAB

CAB

Job description

Welfare Manager

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.

Interviews will be held at our Loughborough Rehoming Centre.

About Dogs Trust

Documents

Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to send us an email at [e-mail]. We're here to support you every step of the way.