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SPANA - The Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad is the global charity for working animals in low-income countries. Since 1923, we have supported the welfare of working animals, including donkeys, horses, camels and elephants, in communities that depend on working animals for water, transport, agriculture and their very survival. Today, we support working animals across 26 countries, through a series of global projects and partnerships.
This role will be a part of the Global Programmes team, working alongside colleagues responsible for Education & Social Behaviour Change Communication, and Programme Quality and Delivery. The succesful candidate will liaise with colleagues in the Global Resources, Global Fundraising, Marketing, and Communication departments, and in support of our colleagues across the majority world. The role will report to the Director of Global Programmes, and directly oversee three Technical Animal Health & Welfare Advisors.
You will be responsible for delivering SPANA’s technical animal health and welfare work, relatedly, against the 2023-2027 SPANA strategy and its key performance indicators. Your work will be supported by a nascent external animal health and welfare advisory panel, as well as that of your direct reports. You will be responsible for representing the organisation in relevant fora, amongst other responsibilities as required.
While we classify this role as hybrid, it's worth noting that the vast majority of your work can be done from the comfort of your own home. Occasional in-person visits to our London office (located in Borough High Street), and all-staff gatherings will be necessary. Our full time hours are 34.5 hours per week and we offer core working hours between 10am and 4pm.
Key responsibilities
Strategy
- You will have responsibility for developing and delivering the organisation's technical animal health and welfare strategy, plans and policies, with a primary focus on best practice and quality;
- You will lead the development of a global technical audit tool to ensure best practice is consistent across all partners & programmes supported by SPANA.
Leadership
- Promote the development of your immediate team, and the technical capacity and development of animal health workers across the SPANA network. Provide mentoring and targeted training and support succession planning and growth.
- Develop a high-performing team culture within the Animal Health & Welfare Team that demonstrates organisational values.
- Maintain an effective working relationship with all colleagues and SPANA partners.
One Health
- Lead on the development of SPANA’s One Health quality framework and support the Global Programmes Team in ensuring effective delivery.
- Provide technical input in veterinary health and education based on robust data and researched evidence.
- Develop a strategy focused on improving animal health systems specific to working animals.
- Lead on the development and delivery of all aspects of the technical provision of SPANA’s animal health and welfare.
- Monitoring epidemiological trends of working animal health and welfare data to 1) advise on and support appropriate health responses and strategies; 2) inform animal health surveillance goals
- Ensure technical support and advice is effectively managed and consistent with SPANA’s standards.
- Work with the Global Programmes Team in developing robust technical indicators to ensure evidence drives decision making
- Design and oversee research and analysis activities to support the development of technical standards, innovation and programme development;
- Ensure the provision of subject matter expertise, translational evidence and advice in support of policy development in the fields of animal welfare, and in parallel working closely with the Head of Education & SBCC on education materials. This will include the provision of or contribution to briefings, submissions and official and organisational reports
Advocacy, Policy and Representation
- Collaborating with coalitions, external working groups and stakeholders, advising on and coordinating SPANA’s contribution to these groups, chairing where relevant and reporting back to relevant teams in SPANA.
- Collaborate across teams to ensure technical input is included in all external advocacy work as and where needed;
- At a global level, build effective relationships with key stakeholders in the animal welfare sectors, such as WOAH, AUiBAR, and FAO etc;
- Represent our work to supporters, influencers, key stakeholders and partners.
About You
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified Veterinarian MRCVS a minimum of 12 years of veterinary experience.
- Clinical experience in mixed or large animal practice.
Desirable
- Further qualifications in the areas of animal welfare, herd health, surveillance, preventive medicine, epidemiology or One Health is highly desirable
- Further qualifications or proven experience in project management and/or leadership.
Experience
- Experience of working or living in low-income countries
- Experience working in the animal welfare, humanitarian and/or development NGO sector.
- Experience of developing, monitoring and/or auditing technical standards in veterinary medicine is highly desirable.
- Experience of working with governmental, animal health or agricultural organisations is desirable
- Experience of communicating and working with international stakeholder groups collaboratively.
- Experience with participatory or community-led interventions for animal or public health.
- Strong interest in One Health concepts and community-level interventions.
- Good understanding of the role and socioeconomic importance of working animals in low-income communities.
Skills and Attributes
- Ability to think holistically and apply technical knowledge within a One Health framework
- Strong knowledge and motivation for animal welfare.
- Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills as well as strong cultural sensitivity.
- High level of fluency in English (written and spoken). Basic level of French, Arabic or Spanish is highly desirable.
- Ability and willingness to travel to overseas projects independently as well as to SPANA’s head office in the UK as required.
Benefits
- 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays. Further leave will accrue after two years of service up to a maximum of 30 days
- Company pension scheme (SPANA will contribute 10% of salary, if you contribute 5% of salary)
- Hybrid working with London Head Office (Borough High Street) attendance approx. 1 day a month (travel expenses not included)
- Health Cash Plan with Medicash which includes access to virtual GP appointments and a members discount portal
- Group Life Insurance scheme, which provides coverage at 3x your annual salary
- Group Income Protection scheme, designed to provide income if illness or injury prevents you from working for a period of time
- Enhanced Employee Assistance Programme including face-to-face counselling
- Paid Volunteer Day
Due to a high volume of applications, we are unable to contact each applicant individually regarding the status of their application. If you are selected for an interview, we will reach out to you directly.
To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible as we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. This is to ensure that we can manage application levels whilst maintaining a positive candidate experience. Unfortunately once a vacancy has closed, we are unable to consider further applications.
Salary from £ 44,093 to £ 50,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications
40 hours per week Monday to Friday
Fixed Term - 1 Year Maternity Cover
Balham (SW12)
Are you a Home Manager or Deputy Manager looking for your next challenge?
We have a fantastic opportunity to join St Christopher's fellowship as our new Home Manager for our children’s home in South West London. You will lead and support a professional team of staff committed to transforming young lives and creating positive outcomes. You will be supported by Deputy Managers, Team Leaders, and as well as the rest of the team.
About Us
Our vision is for every child and young person to be safe, loved and happy, to achieve their potential and have a bright future.
St Christopher's is a leading charity for children and young people. We are proud of our history of providing fostering, children's homes and innovative leaving care services across the UK & Isle of Man. We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do. We provide positive life experiences for young people who are unable to sustain a placement in their parental or foster home.
We are an equal-opportunity employer keen to develop an inclusive workforce where people feel they belong. We hope to attract applications from under- represented groups, including people from different cultures, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, disabilities, religions, faith, sex, orientation, childcare responsibilities, and gender-diverse identities
About the Role
We have a passionate commitment to our young people, placing them at the centre of everything we do and as the Home Manager; you will be a key player in building and extending this commitment.
You will lead and support a team; Deputy Managers, Team Leaders and Residential Workers and all committed to transforming lives and creating positive outcomes.
In addition we have an in house team of Therapists providing support to staff and young people within the home.
St Christopher’s Academy
Our 'St Christopher’s Academy' ensures our staff is continually developing. We will support you to map out your career trajectory and help you achieve your professional ambitions.
The successful candidate will have
- Level 3 Diploma in Residential Childcare and, be either working towards or has achieved Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Residential Childcare.
- Prior experience in residential children’s homes, including at least a year with staff supervision and management responsibility.
- A passion for achieving the best possible outcomes for young people.
- Excellent leadership and staff management abilities.
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
- The ability to deliver at least ‘good’ in the home’s Ofsted inspection.
- Sound business awareness and a flair for promoting the service.
- Flexibility, drive and resilience.
This role will involve some shift work plus some on call duties in the evening and at weekends. Applicants will be subject to enhanced DBS (police) checks.
In return we offer:
- Salary from £44,093 to £50,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications
- A friendly working environment, a fun, open and honest culture.
- 25 days holiday rising to 27 days after 3 years’ service, plus Bank Holidays, pro-rata.
- Industry Leading training programme including Young People’s right and participation, CSE, empowerment, mental health, Social Pedagogy
- Contributory pension scheme, Enhanced Maternity and Company Sick Scheme.
- BUPA Employee Assistance Programme, offering counselling, financial advice and legal support.
- Interest-free season ticket loan, cycle to work scheme, childcare vouchers.
- Discount shopping scheme, to save money at hundreds of retailers across the UK.
- Discretionary Funding Training Programs.
- Employee Awards based on performance and length of service.
- Fantastic opportunities to develop your career through our newly launched “St Christopher’s Academy”
Recruitment Process
At St Christopher’s we are committed to the safeguarding of all children and young people in our care. During the recruitment process you will be expected to complete an online application form to ensure we capture essential information to meet legislation, best practice and vetting requirements.
Applicants will ideally already be on the DBS Update Service; if this is not the case St Christopher's will carry out a DBS (police) check prior to starting.
Your online application must include a supporting statement addressing the criteria stated in the Person Specification. For the full Job Description and Person Specification, please see attachment.
St Christopher’s Fellowship has a minimum age requirement of 21 for roles working directly with children and young people in our residential and semi-independent Homes.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.