Blue Cross UK
Assistant Manager - On-site Services (Horse)
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Application Deadline: 10 August 2026
Department: Rehoming & Fostering Services
Location: Rolleston on Dove
Compensation: £26,042 - £30,281 / year
Description
- Contract: 12 months fixed contract, 37.5 hours per week
- Salary: £26,042 - £30,281 per annum
- Location: Rolleston, DE13 9AU
- Closing date: Monday 10th August 2026
- Interview date: 7th & 19th August 2026
We’re recruiting an Assistant Manager - On-site 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, all horse equipment and ensuring 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 Tuesday to Saturday rota. This is a 12 month fixed term contract to cover maternity leave. Occasionally, you will be expected to carry out night checks or stay in onsite accommodation overnight when the resident team members are either not working or away for a period of time.
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For a more detailed look at the role and its requirements, please see the attached 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 and 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 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 be prepared to make decisions in a high pressure environment.
You will also bring strong analytical skills and can rigorously monitor, assess and evaluate in order to deliver improvements. 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 of working alongside vets to make key veterinary decisions in complex vet cases
- Proven experience of dealing with and treating a range of equine veterinary illness and conditions
- High standard of verbal and written communication.
- Experience of performance managing & coaching operational teams.
- Proven decision-making ability.
- Current full driving licence.
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Desirable Qualifications, Skills, and Experience
- Change management experience.
- Delivering training and presenting to large groups.
- Experience working with volunteers.
- Experience of working in horse rescue welfare environment.
- Qualifications in management, leadership, or coaching.
- Understanding of safeguarding issues.
How to apply
Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.
Blue Cross benefits
Our people are the most important part of delivering our purpose. If it were not for their amazing efforts and commitment, we would not be able to make the difference that we do today.
In return, Blue Cross wants to ensure we provide you with the best working environment we can. We want you to be happy working for us and will do everything we can to make sure you are.
Our generous benefits package includes:
- Full time equivalent of 38 days holiday rising to 43 with service (including Bank Holidays)
- Programmes for physical and mental wellbeing support
- Free access to GP via MetLife- 24/7 GP services, private prescriptions and more for you and your family
- Health cash plan
- Unlimited access to an employee assistance programme
- Pension scheme with enhanced employer contribution
- Professional fees paid with Continuing Professional Development and personal development support.
- Life assurance
- 20% discount on Pet Plan pet insurance
- Enhanced family friendly policies
- Recognition scheme
- Annual volunteer days
- Charity worker discounts across a variety of retailers
To read more about the benefits Blue Cross has to offer, please visit the 'why work for us' page on our website.
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