Job Title: / Rehoming Centre Assistant Manager (Operations)
Reporting to: / Rehoming Centre Manager
Location: / Dogs TrustLoughborough Rehoming Centre
Revised: / March 2013
Summary
Answerable to the Rehoming Centre Manager (RCM) and working within the management team with primary responsibility for kennel management, supervision of canine carers and welfare of dogs at the centre.
Duties
Staff Management
- Responsible for the daily management and supervision of canine carers to ensure they carry out their duties correctly and in accordance with health & safety guidelines – the role requires a physical presence in operating areas at key times.
- Responsible for the centre rotaand organisation of staff holidays.
- Line management of canine carers including completion of probationary reviews and annual appraisals.
- Develop and maintain good working relationships with other members of the staff, helping to foster good morale within the centre, anticipating problems within the staff, advising the RCM of such problems and helping in their resolution.
- Responsible for the day to day management of the kennel areas, including the health, welfare, exercise and presentation of the dogs, as well as the cleanliness and presentation of the kennels themselves.
- Responsible for the admittance of new dogs to the centre ensuring that kennel usage is maximised and whenever possible housing dogs in pairs, or more if compatible.
- Ensure that adequate supplies of kennel cleaning equipment, dog foods etc are held and that replacement stock is ordered in a timely manner.
- Respond promptly to day-to-day queries regarding dogs health, welfare and rehoming status.
- Be knowledgeable on all dogs housed in the centre, understanding their history, rehoming and welfare needs and current rehoming status.
- Work with the Training and Behaviour Advisor (TBA)to ensure that all dogs are assessed and behaviour is monitored continuously and acted upon as necessary and thatroutine training plans such as muzzle programmes are actioned as required.
- Workwith the TBA to ensure that appropriate training is provided for dogs with special needs and that all dogs for rehoming receive basic obedience training, including lead work.
- Responsible for creating, monitoring and instructing staff on care plans for dogs with specific health and welfare needs (following discussion and involvement with centre Veterinary Nurse and TBA).
- Responsible for keeping the management team up to date with care plans for dogs with specific health and welfare needs and updating “not for rehoming” lists as appropriate.
- Correctly prepare dogs for rehoming by ensuring assessment and rehoming processes are adhered to and that dogs are photographed and publicisedpositively and in accordance with centre protocols.
- Manage the advertisement of dogs on the Dogs Trust website, and be proactive in identifying innovative ways to advertise and promote dogs both in the centre and externally, including the use of social media.
- Present a professional and friendly approach to customers and visitors to the centre both face to face and on the telephone and ensure that any queries are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner.
- Ensure that adopters of dogs are properly briefed about the requirements of their dog, in particular the requirement for veterinary or behavioural disclaimers.
- Assist and support volunteers working with or walking the dogs.
- Develop a sound knowledge of the roles of the RCM and Assistant Manager (Administration), in order to carry out their duties during periods of absence.
- Be thoroughly familiar with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Administrative Guidelines and Instructions (AGIs) and the policies of Dogs Trust.
- Undertake presentations, briefings and chair meetings as required and promote the work of Dogs Trust and the centre, through the media, the public, etc, whilst always protecting the image of Dogs Trust.
- Assist the RCM in ensuring that all health and safety procedures are implemented and followed.
- Report to the RCM and maintenance operatives any defects or maintenance requirements in the centre.
- Assist the RCM with the recruitment, selection and training of staff.
- Work on a rota basis to include regular evening work plus overnight duties as required.
- Carry out other duties as directed by the Manager, Assistant Operations Directors, Operations Director or Chief Executive.
Person Specification
The successful candidate will have significant supervisory experience plus experience of caring for animals in a rehoming environment. They will have proven dog welfare, administrative and customer care skills with the ability to handle situations in the best interests of both the customer and the organisation.They must have utmost regard for the welfare of each dog in the centre and have the ability be able to identify deteriorating or poor welfare and ways to rectify the concerns (if possible).
Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written with good organisational and interpersonal skills are essential. A self-motivator with huge amounts of energy, commitment and enthusiasm plus demonstrate the flexibility and empathy required when working with people and animals. The candidate will be driven, positive and good humored and enjoy working in a close knit team. An innovative thinker with creative and unusual ways to tackle the challenge of rehoming dogs is a must.
The successful candidate must have a current driving licence.
A commitment to the aims and objectives of Dogs Trust is important.
The Assistant Manager will be a representative of Dogs Trust and therefore the image presented is important. A uniform is provided and must be worn during working hours.
In the interests of health and safety and to perform a physically active job, staff are required to maintain a suitable level of fitness to enable them to perform their job effectively and may be required to undergo periodic fitness assessments which will be provided by Dogs Trust.
About the role
The role of Assistant Manager (AM) Operations is key in the day-to-day operation of the busy rehoming centre.
The centre employs over 40 staff covering a 12 hour, 7 day week rotation and houses over 120 dogs. The Operations AM is responsible for rotating and managing staff in all areas; leading and directing them throughout the day.
The role is responsible for setting and ensuring high standards of dog welfare are delivered at all times. It is a very practical role with extensive involvement/handling of dogs on a day-to-day basis and will involve discussing behaviour concerns with staff and visitors and devising (with the TBA) behaviour modification plans.
The Operations AM has sole responsibility for managing dog intake and must ensure high dog throughputs at all times.
The Operations AM must be familiar with all factors that influence a dogs ability to be rehomed and be innovative in measures to maximise a dogs potential. .
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