Welfare Manager

Dogs Trust; Penrith; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Dogs Trust is seeking a Welfare Manager to oversee the welfare journey for dogs in our care, including ambulance service and foster-based rehoming at our Penrith sites. You will lead a team delivering veterinary care and behaviour rehabilitation, making timely decisions to progress dogs toward their forever homes.

Accredited canine behaviourist credentials and strong leadership skills are essential. You will collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure consistent behavioural

Qualifications

• Accredited clinical dog behaviourist with CCAB/CAB certification.
• Experience in canine behaviour rehabilitation and welfare.
• Proven leadership and team development experience.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a small team to deliver veterinary care and behaviour modification for dogs in our care and on the ambulance service.
• Act as a balanced advocate for 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 dogs with complex needs and monitor progress toward rehoming.
• Support professional development of Dog Welfare Assistants and the wider team through mentoring, assessments and workshops.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure consistent, informed behavioural support before, during, and after rehoming.

Job description

Welfare Manager

Application Deadline: 3 December 2026

Department: Rehoming

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Penrith

Compensation: £34,252 per year, plus benefits

Description

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 which passes through our care, through ambulance service and foster based rehoming. 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 and on the ambulance service,
• 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 Dog Welfare Assistants, and the wider team, 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 transfer centre supports thousands of dogs each year, through foster based rehoming and our ambulance service, so they can find a loving new home throughout our network. This team works across two sites, our Community Hub, in Penrith, and our Transfer Centre, near Lazonby.

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, our Community Hub is the face of Dogs Trust Cumbria, and we pride ourselves on our staff providing the very best in customer service.