Job description

Passionate about training, behaviour, and teaching others? Want to help colleagues ensure our four-legged friends are ready for their forever homes?

We’re looking for a Behaviour Officer to support our rehoming centres in the north with their training and development needs.

Why Dogs Trust?We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

What does this role involve?As Behaviour Officer, you’ll: - deliver training sessions to colleagues in our rehoming centres and online, reviewing staff development needs and identifying knowledge gaps, and then developing programmes to address these needs, - work closely with other colleagues in the professional development team to ensure a consistent approach to staff development in the region, - develop training materials, keeping up to date with latest research and clinical practice to ensure content is relevant and high quality.

What skills do you need?For success in this role, you’ll need to have: - an in-depth knowledge of dog behaviour and welfare, with a focus on practical experience in the rescue and rehoming environment, - a track record of educating and mentoring others, with the ability to confidently communicate information to both lay and peer group audiences, - excellent communication skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others about the importance of training methods and data collection.

A full manual driving licence is essential as driving is a part of this role. The role involves monthly travel to rehoming centres in the north region, including Ballymena, Darlington, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Merseyside, Penrith and West Calder.

What does this team do?Canine behaviour knowledge and practice is central to rehabilitating dogs within our rehoming centres and for the provision of Dog School training and education classes. Science-led behaviour knowledge also informs a range of other areas of Dogs Trust activity, including campaigns, international projects, and the work of the education teams. The Professional Development team ensures that Dogs Trust staff have access to the best possible education in the field of dog behaviour, training, and welfare.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you complete an application form and a covering letter explaining your interest and suitability for the role. Please note that we may close this vacancy early if we receive enough suitable interest, so to avoid disappointment early application is encouraged.**Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Feel free to send us an email at jobs@dogstrust.org.uk. We're here to support you every step of the way.

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