The Scottish SPCA, Scotland’s only all animal rescue service, is seeking to recruit a Wildlife Assistant Manager for employment at its National Wildlife Rescue Centre based in Fishcross, Alloa.

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Society and make a real difference to the lives of the thousands of wildlife casualties rescued by the Scottish SPCA each year.  The Scottish SPCA’s National Wildlife Rescue Centre deals with all species of Scottish wildlife with the aim of rehabilitating the casualties and returning them to the wild. 

Overall Purpose of the Role:

To work with the National Wildlife Centre’s management team in providing professional, supportive leadership and supervision to the Centre’s employees, deputising as directed in the day-to-day operations of the Centre. To provide a caring and safe environment for all animals and maximise their comfort in the National Wildlife Rescue Centre by maintaining a high standard of animal husbandry. To work for the rehabilitation of wild animal casualties and their integration back into the wild. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Model the Society’s values, Committed, Compassionate, Professional, Expert, Collaborative and Adaptable in the workplace at all times.

Employee & Volunteer Management

• Take day-to-day responsibility for the supervision of Volunteers within the Centre, ensuring that any duties are clearly outlined and that protocols and processes are implemented.
• Take part in the recruitment and selection of both Wildlife Assistants and Volunteers as required, bringing your expertise and knowledge to ensure the Centre is appropriately resourced.
• Deputising for the Wildlife Operations Manager when necessary to manage staff resource levels across the Centre, ensuring a functioning and balanced rota
• Working with the Wildlife Manager and Wildlife Operations Manager, in partnership with Learning & Development, contribute to the development of robust training plans and programmes for Wildlife Assistants, Volunteers, and colleagues across the Society; identifying training needs where necessary.
• Take a lead role in providing and sourcing skills and knowledge based training across all sections of the Centre, including the hands-on delivery of practical and accessible training
• Supporting the induction of new colleagues, in conjunction with the Wildlife Manager and Wildlife Operations Manager
• Provide strong mentoring to colleagues across the 4 main sections of the Centre, passing on knowledge, experience and skills in a supportive and structured manner
• To act as a coach to colleagues where identified, assisting in their development through the provision of supportive coaching
• To take part in the performance management of Centre staff, as directed by the Wildlife Manager and Wildlife Operations Manager
• To act as an ambassador for identifying and implementing positive change within the National Wildlife Centre.
• To work with the Wildlife Manager and Wildlife Operations Manager in ensuring a positively engaged and informed team, taking a hands-on role in communicating key messages from Centre Management and the wider Society 

Centre Operations Management

• To deputise in the absence of Wildlife or Operations Managers in events out with the centre, this may include meetings at HQ, online meetings or committees and to liaise with other organisations 
• Ensure that levels of key stock and resources within the centre are maintained, working with the Wildlife Operations Manager to ensure orders are placed in a timely manner and with a focus on cost        
• To provide keyholder duties, opening and closing the Centre; ensuring that the appropriate security processes and protocols are adhered to
• To provide an out of hours on-call service, on a rota-basis, being available to open and close the centre out with normal working pattern to allow access out of hours to SSPCA AROs and Inspectors, other organisations or members of the public with casualties requiring admittance.
• Attend meetings across the Society, deputising in the absence of the Wildlife Manager or Wildlife Operations Manager
• To work collaboratively with the National Wildlife Centre’s Veterinary team, regularly liaising and sharing information on casualties
• Proactively network and build relationships with both external and internal contacts to drive improvements within the National Wildlife Centre
• Supporting a strong Health & Safety culture, including:
  • ensuring that accident reports are completed in a timely manner 
  • regularly reviewing Risk Assessments with the Wildlife Manager and Wildlife Operations Manager to reflect current procedures and working practices
  • reporting emerging issues
• Supporting the administration of records within centre, both electronic and paper based. 
• Ensuring that accurate and comprehensive training records for Wildlife Assistants are produced and maintained.
• Work with the Wildlife Manager and Wildlife Operations Manager to review existing rehabilitation protocols and identify improvements or change as required

 Animal Welfare

• Working across all four areas of the National Wildlife Centre, for extended periods to cover holiday, absence or to support training and development of staff and volunteers; regularly reviewing own knowledge and upskilling as required
• First point of contact for escalated queries from Wildlife Assistants across all four sections of the Wildlife Centre, triaging queries and escalating more serious issues to Centre Management
• You will be required to contribute and support the Wildlife and Operations Managers in confidential matters which may arise within the centre
• Ensure that all centre protocols and procedures are being implemented across the Centre, ensuring that any required guidance and support is given to colleagues
• Identify where animals are at in terms of release, including:
  • forward planning for eventual release.
  • Identifying animals not fit for release and establish if euthanization would prevent further suffering
• Identifying release sites.  Liaising with land owners and other organisations in sourcing release sites and maintaining relationships.  Ensuring transparency in release processes and a well maintained register of release sites.
• Ensure that animal accommodation, isolation areas, pens, treatment rooms and exercise facilities are maintained to strict standards of cleanliness and hygiene and in line with the Society’s policies on health and safety.
• You must be willing to undergo training in the euthanasia of animals and birds so you are able to alleviate the suffering of an injured animal, any personal circumstances will be fully considered in this matter. 
• Admitting, caring for, preparing for release and monitoring wildlife casualties according to centre protocols and procedures for the benefit of injured wildlife.
• Attend to the welfare needs of all animals including food storing, ordering and preparation as well as managing feeding routines, grooming and exercising.
• When directed, and appropriately trained, carrying out first aid and medical treatment to all animals and birds including assisting in euthanasia competently in a compassionate and efficient manner and keeping appropriate records.
• Where appropriately trained, ensuring medication prescribed is correctly administered, overseeing the safe handling of drugs and accurate record keeping. 
• General care and cleanliness of all areas of the National Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Other Duties

• Engaging with external partners, community groups, education groups and callers as required
• Handle enquiries from the general public and provide excellent customer service.
• Driving, including transportation of animals, as required.

Applicants should ideally have practical experience of working with Scottish wildlife. A keen interest in the welfare of native wildlife is essential. The successful candidate should have excellent customer care and communication skills with proven experience. Candidates must also have a full UK manual driving licence.

Hours of work are 37.5 hours per week by rota, between the hours of 6.30am and 11.30pm, 10 days out of 14, to include weekends.

For further information relating to this position, please click on the job description.

CVs and covering letters will not be accepted.

Please note that applicants who do not meet the above criteria or provide the required information will not be considered.

Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Scottish Charity No SC 006467