Assistant Manager – Onsite Services

We’re recruiting an Assistant Manager – Onsite Services who will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of our centre-based horse care services. You’ll lead and support teams, oversee horse welfare, and ensure horses are ready for adoption as quickly as possible. With your expertise in horse care and facility management, you’ll help us place the right horse in the right home. Join us and make a difference in equine welfare! More about the role As the Assistant Manager, you will support the delivery of the Blue Cross strategy by overseeing the smooth operational running of all centre-based horse care services. By embedding a healthy culture which attracts and maintains engaged and empowered teams, you will ensure that the right horse is placed in the right service, in the quickest amount of time. On a day-to-day basis, you will have responsibility for the smooth running of the centre-based horse operations, this includes providing subject matter expertise on practical horse care and handling horses where necessary. You will also oversee the buildings used for horse accommodation, and all horse equipment and ensure that the horses are prepared and ready for adoption as soon as possible. At our Rolleston rehoming centre, we provide onsite accommodation for pets in our care 24/7. Overnight shifts are usually undertaken by team members who live on-site. This is full-time role working 37.5 per week on a rota which includes weekends and bank holidays. For a more detailed look at the role and its requirements, please see the linked job description. About you You will be a positive, inclusive manager of people, having skills which are finely honed by working in a similar, horse welfare-related environment. You will also have expert knowledge and application of horse welfare and care, understand how to drive performance improvements and efficiencies and be prepared to address promptly underperformance or poor levels of service. You will be able to lead the adoptions preparations team, developing and empowering them through effective management and coaching. You will be a positive and innovative manager, with excellent communication skills and with the ability to adapt your approach to different styles and audiences. As there are many ‘plates spinning’, you need to be organized, adaptable and prepared to make decisions in a high-pressure environment. You will also bring strong analytical skills and can rigorously monitor, assess and evaluate to deliver improvements. You won’t ‘rest on your laurels’, you will have an appetite to continually improve onsite facilities and services, ensuring your team and others involved are engaged. You will know what it is like to work in an emotionally charged environment and have excellent bounce-back ability and resilience. In addition, you will be emotionally intelligent, showing empathy and knowing how to support your team and members of the public. Essential Qualifications, Skills, and Experience Significant experience in delivering high-level Customer service in a fast-paced environment. Knowledge of behavioural science and learning theory when training horses. Experience working alongside vets to make key veterinary decisions in complex vet cases Proven experience in dealing with and treating a range of equine veterinary illnesses and conditions High standard of verbal and written communication. Experience in performance managing & coaching operational teams Proven decision-making ability. Current full driving licence. Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience Change management experience. Delivering training and presenting to large groups. Experience working with volunteers. Experience working in a horse rescue welfare environment. Qualifications in management, leadership, or coaching. Understanding of safeguarding issues. The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross Values. £25,787 - £27,047 per annum Closing Date: 23.02.25 Interview Date: 03 & 04.03.25