Wildlife Assistant (2863)

We are currently recruiting for a Wildlife Assistant on a 4 month fixed term contract, to join us at our Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Nantwich, Cheshire. Stapeley Grange is one of four RSPCA wildlife centres based in England that supports the rehabilitation of sick, injured, orphaned and confiscated wildlife.

The centre admits animals from south of the Scottish border to south of Birmingham, into North Wales  and across Lincolnshire. In any year, we can receive in excess of 6,000 admissions, including wildlife, exotic and domestic casualties. We also have facilities to support the intake of higher risk species

If you are enthusiastic about wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, enjoy hands-on work with animals, and are dedicated to making a difference in the lives of British wildlife, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity. Be part of our mission to protect and rehabilitate our precious wildlife for a sustainable and thriving ecosystem.

Our recruitment journey - key dates for you to note: 

We believe in transparency and a stress-free experience. Here is a quick look at what you can expect.

1. Application

You'll be asked a few targeted questions designed to help us understand your experience, unique skills, and future potential. This is your first chance to stand out!

2. Panel Interview & Site Visit 

If your application hits the mark, we'll invite you to meet us in person. You'll sit down with the Hiring Manager and our Deputy Manager for a competency based interview and a tour of the site. We'll also be asking some scenario based questions on animal handling and would welcome your thoughts and discussion on the content. This stage is designed for you to:

• Explore the Role: Get a feel for the team culture and the real-world impact you'll be making.
• Demonstrate Your Strengths: Show us how you work in a supportive, relaxed environment.

Join our incredible team at Stapeley Grange as a Wildlife Assistant, where you will contribute to the vital work of rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing British wildlife.

At Stapeley Grange, we pride ourselves on catering to the diverse needs of our wildlife patients, ranging from smaller nestling and fledgling birds, wood mice, bats and hedgehogs to the larger waterfowl and seabird species to our foxes, badgers and seal pups.

As a Wildlife Assistant, your responsibilities will include maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of our facilities, providing hands-on care and rehabilitation for various wildlife species, and collaborating with different departments and organizations to ensure the well-being of our animal patients.

Essential

• Proven experience in wild animal handling, assessment and first aid.
• Emotional resilience is required to work with distressed wildlife.
• Exceptional organisational skills and the ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a wider team.
• Proficiency in maintaining accurate digital records.
• Full manual Driving licence

This role involves working closely with bats. For safety reasons, a rabies vaccination is required, and support will be provided to obtain it if needed.

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 - We are unable to sponsor visas at RSPCA

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

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 mission.  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.