Overview
Rehoming Centre Manager (Southampton) at Blue Cross UK. Permanent, full-time role based in Southampton.
Application Deadline: 16 September 2025
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Location: Southampton
Compensation: £30,000 – £35,000 per year
Contract: Permanent, full time
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum
Accommodation: option to live in or out
Location: West End, Southampton, SO30 2HL
Closing date: Thursday 18 September 2025
Interview dates:
* 1st stage interview – Thursday 25 September 2025
* Discovery Session – Thursday 2 October 2025
About the role
We’re recruiting a Centre Manager with strong leadership, organisational and communication skills to lead our Southampton Rehoming Centre in all pets, people, facilities, financial and compliance matters. This is an exciting time for the Southampton Centre with changes underway and the chance for a dynamic leader to shape the future for the pets and people at the site.
The Centre Manager will be responsible for all aspects of the Centre – pets, people, facilities, compliance and finances. Working with Assistant Managers, you’ll inspire and empower your team, embed a culture of continuous improvement and ensure the highest welfare standards.
The standard hours are 37.5 hours per week on a locally agreed rota, including weekends and bank holidays. The usual hours are 8:30–5, Monday–Friday, with flexibility when there is a business need. Accommodation is available on-site as a two-bedroom bungalow with a study/third bedroom and a spacious private garden.
Want to know more detail? A candidate pack and job description are attached with everything you need.
About you
You will be an inspirational leader with a proven track record of motivating, developing and supporting people in a fast-paced environment. You’ll bring strong change management skills and the ability to set direction, take action and empower others to deliver improvements. You’ll also have knowledge of animal welfare and operational excellence from a similar environment, balancing the needs of pets, people, and resources to achieve outstanding results. You’ll be resilient, empathetic and emotionally intelligent, thriving on challenge with a positive, problem-solving mindset.
Knowledge, skills, and experience
* Significant experience of motivating, leading, and developing high-performance teams in an animal welfare setting, with clearly defined objectives and performance management.
* Strong knowledge of animal welfare/care and operational excellence in a similar environment.
* Ability to manage a high workload and multiple complex issues and tasks with tight deadlines.
* Experience of leading and managing change in line with organisational objectives.
* Financial awareness and numeracy.
* Collaborative experience working with colleagues from different teams.
* Interpersonal and consultative skills, including communication, negotiation, influence and credibility with colleagues and external parties.
* Experience in a commercial environment where cost control and service quality matter.
* Experience in emotionally charged environments, showing empathy and resilience under pressure when dealing with distressed people and animals.
* Current full driving licence.
* Ability to demonstrate, understand and apply Blue Cross values.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application before the closing date on Thursday 18 September 2025. The process will include:
* First stage interview and site tour – Thursday 25 September 2025
* Discovery Session – Thursday 2 October 2025 (scenario-based exercises and group discussions)
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive an overwhelming response.
Benefits
Our benefits package includes:
* Full-time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
* Wellbeing programs
* Free access to GP via MetLife (24/7 GP services, private prescriptions, and more)
* Free physiotherapy advice and face-to-face intervention
* Health cash plan
* Employee assistance programme
* Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
* Professional fees paid with CPD and development support
* Life assurance
* 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
* Enhanced family-friendly policies
* Recognition scheme
* Annual volunteer days
* Retail discounts through charity worker programs
For more about Blue Cross benefits, visit the why work for us page on our website.
#J-18808-Ljbffr