Animal welfare manager jobs in Aboyne, aberdeenshire

High Value Executive
Reference: HVE-2026
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week
Contract: This is a maternity cover role for c.12 months to start early March 2026
Salary: £28,500 – £31,000 per annum
Location: Flexible remote with regular presence at our office in Horsham, West Sussex, for team meetings.

Are you passionate about wild animals with strong relationship management, communication and organisation skills?

About Us

Born Free works tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and can live according to their needs. As a leading wildlife and conservation charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild.

We promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of wildlife, especially threatened species in the wild, and to protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. We seek to positively impact animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world.

About this Opportunity

As our High Value Executive, you will work closely with the High Value Relationships team across philanthropy, corporate and event fundraising. Approximate split is 45% philanthropy, 45% corporate and 10% events.

This role requires a candidate with strong relationship management, communication and organisation skills, who is able to work across a range of relationships and activities concurrently. You will also ideally have previous experience of managing projects, campaigns or other cross -team collaborative activities, and of using creative packages to produce engaging presentations and reports. 

Philanthropy:

You will assist the High Value Relationships Manager and the Head of High Value Relationships with research to create a prospect pipeline. For existing high-value supporters, you will ensure excellent stewardship by maintaining records and reporting and assisting with thanking, impact reports and proposals.

Corporate:

You will contribute to building long-term, sustainable and mutually beneficial relationships with businesses. You will be responsible for assisting the High Value Relationship Manager in providing high-quality account management to Born Free’s growing portfolio of corporate partners and supporting the High Value Relationships Manager and Head of High Value Relationships in developing new business to increase our income and impact.

Events:

You will attend Born Free events (4-5 per year) where you will be confident in networking with high-value supporters and, in the lead up to the events, help, when needed, with sourcing prizes for raffles and auctions.

The successful candidate should ideally demonstrate the following attributes: 

• A minimum of one year in a relationship management and/or fundraising-related role
• Strong interpersonal and account management skills
• Strong timekeeping skills and highly organised, with the ability to plan, prioritise and meet concurrent deadlines
• Professional with strong presentation and communication skills, including use of design programs to create visually impressive pitches, proposals and reports
• A “can do”, flexible approach, comfortable working in a busy, fast-paced team
• Strong attention to detail, able to notice errors in written information
• Proficient with Microsoft computer packages and other digital technology, including CRM systems and online meeting platforms, and use of the internet for research purposes
• A team-minded approach - taking others on the journey with you and sharing knowledge/expertise for the benefit of the wider fundraising team and organisation  
• Celebrates success
• Solutions-focused. Resilient in the face of setbacks and challenges
• Strong empathy and engagement with the work of Born Free, and the desire to drive it forward, bringing energy and determination to its mission.
• After induction, be able to effectively communicate, orally and in writing, the charity’s animal welfare and wildlife conservation priorities, and enhance the brand’s popularity and understanding at every opportunity.

This is a fantastic opportunity to make your mark in a nimble, fundraising team and a much-loved charity.

Our excellent benefits package includes opportunities for continuous professional learning, a generous annual leave entitlement, working from home with regular team meetings to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, wellbeing support, and a competitive pension.

Born Free is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We welcome requests for flexible working.

The closing date for applications is midnight on Wednesday, 7th January 2026.
Virtual interviews will be held on Monday, 19th January 2026.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

You must have the right to work in the UK.

Born Free politely requests no contact from recruitment agencies or media sales. We do not accept speculative CVs from recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.

This is a homebased role, with some occasional travel in and around South London.

At CareDogs, we reduce social isolation by getting people out and about with local volunteers and their dogs for regular walks, talks and companionship. 

We believe in a society that values community, celebrates intergenerational friendship, honours the human–animal bond, encourages us to be outside more, and helps people feel like valued members of their local communities. 

As Fundraising and Marketing Assistant, you will play a central role in delivering CareDogs’ fundraising strategy, helping to grow income, strengthen community connections and raise awareness of our work. You will contribute to the development and delivery of creative fundraising initiatives, build relationships with local partners and supporters, and create engaging content that inspires people to get involved.

This is a hands-on, varied role for someone who enjoys both community engagement and communications. With a growing presence in South London, it’s an exciting opportunity to help shape the next stage of CareDogs’ growth and sustainability.

What you’ll do

• Deliver activities and campaigns that support CareDogs’ overall fundraising strategy and income targets.
   

• Proactively increase public fundraising initiatives and promote ways for people to fundraise for or donate to CareDogs, researching and implementing opportunities for increasing donations through organised, community and ‘DIY’ fundraising events and challenge activities.
   

• Establish, nurture and maintain community relationships, securing donations and support from local businesses (such as supermarkets and pet stores), community groups and individuals.
   

• Create marketing materials and social media content in line with CareDogs’ brand guidelines.
   

• Record and report fundraising campaign income and activity outcomes.
   

• Lead on public awareness-raising events such as Paws in the Park and other local community events.
   

• Cultivate and steward relationships with existing supporters, responding to enquiries (emails, letters, phonecalls) and increasing supporter engagement. 
   

• Keep the website up to date with news, blogs and community stories, and support monthly newsletter communications via Squarespace and Mailchimp.
   

• Maintain accurate supporter records on our CRM (we use Beacon), updating contact and engagement information regularly.
   

• Utilise Eventbrite to promote events and ensure the charity’s JustGiving Page is up to date with any fundraising campaigns
   

What you’ll get

• Join us as the first person in this new role and help shape its direction as the charity grows. A fantastic opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a real impact.
   

• Be part of a rapidly growing grassroots charity with a mission to reduce loneliness and increase wellbeing.
   

• Support from CareDogs' experienced board members and senior leadership.
   

• A flexible role with the opportunity to mostly work remotely.
   

• 20 days per year annual leave, alongside UK bank holidays (pro-rated for part-time staff), plus an extra day off to celebrate your birthday.
   

• Dog-friendly annual events: Celebrate and connect with your colleagues, and bring your furry friend along!
   

About you

We think you’ll succeed in this role if you:

• Are familiar with the charity sector and best practice when it comes to fundraising
   

• Have experience managing social media channels, including content creation and scheduling, as well as using Canva or similar design software
   

• Have great interpersonal skills and are a persuasive, confident communicator.
   

• Are a self-starter, and are comfortable working independently and remotely
   

• Have proven experience in fundraising and donor stewardship, especially within communities or supporting  local partnerships
   

• Have strong written and verbal communication skills with attention to detail.
   

• Understand the charity sector and best practice in fundraising and supporter engagement.
   

Essential requirements

• A genuine passion for CareDogs’ mission and values.
   

• A full, clean driving licence and access to your own vehicle.
   

• A clear DBS check (to be completed upon job offer).
   

Additional information

Occasionally this role will require you to attend community CareDogs events outside of office hours, so you’ll need enough flexibility to allow for this.