Regional Clinical Animal Behaviourist (3328)

Do you want to help create a better world for animals? 

We are looking for a full-time Regional Clinical Animal Behaviourists (RCAB) to join our existing team. As an RCAB you'll be providing expert support and advice for dogs and cats in the care of the RSPCA, with input for other species depending on the needs of the Society and the post-holder's area of professional expertise.

By upholding high standards of care and expertise in behaviour and welfare matters, you will contribute significantly to the well-being and positive outcomes for dogs and cats in need of specialised attention and support.

This is a home-based role requiring extensive travel and overnight stays. While activity is primarily focused within North Wales and North West England, overnight stays and travel will also be required further afield as the RSPCA demands. Candidates must currently reside in the North Wales/North West region or be willing to relocate.

You will be provided with a fleet vehicle, so candidates are required to have a full, manual driving licence (subject to reasonable adjustments where applicable).

Are you ready to join our movement?

Our recruitment journey – key dates for you to note

Here's what the process looks like, no surprises, just a friendly guide:

1. Application
   You'll be asked to answer a couple of questions to give us a sense of your experience, skills, and potential. Don't worry if you don't tick every box - what really matters is what you can bring to the role and the team.
2.  Panel Interview - Interviews are expected to be held 28th & 31st July.
   If your application is successful, you'll be invited to a panel interview with the Hiring Manager. This is a chance to:

• Share more about what you've done and what you're proud of
• We encourage you to ask questions about the role, the team, and the impact you could make. Interviews are a two-way conversation, and we recognise that any career move needs to feel right for you as well as for us.
• Show off your skills and behaviours in a relaxed, supportive setting
• There is likely to be a task for this interview which will be sent to you ahead of your booked time

If you need any adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know - we're happy to support you.

We think this role is going to be popular and are expecting to attract high interest, so we strongly encourage early applications to avoid missing out. The deadline for applications will be Monday 20th July.

As a professional tasked with assessing the behaviour and welfare of dogs and cats with complex needs, your role will be crucial in developing and overseeing appropriate management and interventions in various settings such as animal centres, private boarding establishments, and post-adoption support environments.

Your responsibilities will include providing advice to our animal care teams, Behaviour and Welfare Advisers (BWAs), Animal Centre Managers and Vets, developing and overseeing the implementation of behaviour and welfare plans, and evaluating the progress of dogs and cats with specific needs. The post-holder will also be called upon to lend their expertise to colleagues making crucial decisions about rehoming and euthanasia assessments.

Other duties include supporting the delivery of professional development training on animal behaviour and welfare matters, and acting as a spokesperson for the RSPCA on dog and cat behavioural rehabilitation and welfare to the media. You may be called upon to support our prosecutions department as an expert witness.

Lastly, you'll be required to keep accurate records and data pertinent to your role, stay updated on current science-led practices in animal behavioural rehabilitation and welfare, and support strategic initiatives within the RSPCA.

For more information, please refer to the attached job description. 

Essential

• Level 6 graduate qualification or higher (Diploma / Masters / Doctorate NVQ level 6 etc) or higher in companion animal behaviour, welfare and behaviour modification, or companion animal behaviour counselling;
  
  
• ABTC accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist or Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist specialising in dogs;
  
  
• Member of an ABTC registered animal behaviour practitioner organisation or Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourists (CCAB) Certification Ltd;
  
  
• Extensive experience of working in the field of dog behaviour rehabilitation and welfare;
  
  
• Practical, hands-on experience of handling and applying welfare-based behaviour modification techniques with dogs for a range of concerning behaviours;
  
  
• Full, manual driving licence (subject to reasonable adjustments);
  
  
• Excellent communication skills both in writing and verbally;
  
  
• Ability to prioritise own workload and manage time efficiently;
  
  
• Experienced user of IT applications such as documents, spreadsheets and presentation software;
  
  
• Ability to cope with emotionally demanding situations and take appropriate self-care action;
  
  
• Approachable, friendly, collaborative and able to influence;
  
  
• Open to challenge and debate yet able to defend your professional opinion;
  
  
• Demonstrable dedication to animal welfare.

Desirable

• ABTC accredited Clinical Animal Behaviourist or Certificated Clinical Animal Behaviourist specialising in cats and/or small animals/exotic species;
  
  
• Practical hands on experience of handling and applying welfare-based behaviour modification techniques with cats and/or small animals;
  
  
• Experience of work in a rescue environment

Successful candidates for certain RSPCA roles will need to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK as we are unable to sponsor visas.

We want to ensure we do all we can to give you a positive candidate experience through our recruitment. Whilst we do try to give feedback where we can, sometimes due to receiving high levels of applications, this may not always be possible

Our vision is a world where all animals are respected and treated with kindness and compassion. Our purpose is to inspire everyone to create a better world for animals. We are building the future of a diverse Society, and our priority is to support animal welfare by finding people from all backgrounds who are committed  to our purpose.  For this reason we actively encourage a wide diversity of applications - in particular from members of minority ethnic groups, and people with disabilities - as these candidates are currently under-represented at the RSPCA. Your transferable skills & lived experiences could make you a valuable addition to our RSPCA Family! 

We're here to support you and encourage you to let us know if you need any adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please feel free to contact us at resourcingteam@rspca.org.uk or 0300 123 0685 so we can ensure the process works for you.