Welfare Manager

Dogs Trust Company Limited; United Kingdom; Remote; GBP 31,000 - 38,000; Full time

Job summary

Dogs Trust Company Limited is seeking a Welfare Manager in Merseyside to lead welfare journeys for dogs, guiding behavioural and veterinary rehabilitation to progress dogs toward their forever homes.

The role requires accredited clinical dog behaviour expertise, strong leadership, and a passion for rehoming, with responsibility for training staff and coordinating with partners to ensure high standards of care and safety.

Qualifications

• Accredited clinical dog behaviourist with extensive canine welfare experience.
• Proven leadership and team development experience in welfare settings.
• Strong communicator able to engage diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a small team delivering veterinary care and 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 within SOPs and safety guidelines.
• Develop and implement tailored behaviour modification plans for complex cases.
• Support Professional development of Behaviour Officers and Supervisors via mentoring.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners for consistent behavioural support.

Skills

Team leadership

Behaviour modification

Clinical assessment

Risk management

Communication

Education

Accredited clinical dog behaviourist (CCAB, CAB)

Job description

Welfare Manager

Application Deadline: 27 September 2026

Department: Rehoming

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Merseyside

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