Animal welfare jobs

Can you make a real impact guiding individuals through their employment journey?

Employment Advisor
Contract type: Permanent
Working hours: Full Time - 37 hours per week
Salary: Circa £26,988 per annum
Location: Carlisle

About Us

Groundwork NE & Cumbria is a long established environmental and community charity with over 30 years of experience creating greener, healthier and more resilient places across the region. Our mission centres on Creating Better Places, Improving People’s Prospects, and Promoting Greener Living, helping communities thrive no matter the challenges they face.

We deliver hundreds of locally led projects each year, including initiatives that support young people and adults into education, training and employment, helping them overcome barriers, build life skills, and reach their full potential.

About The Role

Join our dynamic Employment Team as a dedicated Employment Advisor, supporting individuals 1:1 on their journey into work, developing action plans, building skills, and driving positive outcomes in a fast-paced, community-focused environment.

Job Purpose

Working as a member of the Employment Team you will engage on a 1:1 basis with our employment programme participants, establishing and maintaining excellent relationships to understand and meet their individual needs. You will develop personal action plans which enable movement of these people towards and into further sustainable employment. You will work in a friendly, busy employment team environment to ensure programme performance targets are consistently achieved to meet requirements of the allocated contract.

We want someone like you with the confidence to positively engage and motivate people from a wide range of backgrounds. In your role you will work closely with the local community and employers, supporting referrals onto the programme and identifying employment opportunities. You will enable participants to develop valuable work based skills and gain knowledge. Your role will require you to be supportive and understanding, be able to deal with any issues that may arise confidently. You will have strong interpersonal skills and be able to adapt them pending on what you are dealing with, communicating at different levels as key in this role.

Closing Date: Wednesday 17th June 2026.
Please note, should we receive a high volume of applications, we may look to close the role early, therefore we recommend an early application.

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.

This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure endorsed by the Disclosure and Barring Service

We want you to be yourself at Groundwork and we value everything that makes you unique. We recognise and celebrate your difference and together we make Groundwork a special and great place to work. As a Disability Confident employer we offer a guaranteed interview to applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria for the role.

At Groundwork we ensure that we provide a safe environment for adults, children and young people to take part in any activity or service that we organise. We are committed to creating a culture that promotes safeguarding and the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. Our safer recruitment practices support this by ensuring that there is a consistent and comprehensive process of obtaining, collating, analysing and evaluating information from and about candidates to ensure that all the people we appoint are suitable to work with our children, young people and adults

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship – the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.

No agencies please.

Team: Supporter Servies

Location: Haywards Heath (Hybrid working, approx. 1 day per week office based however flexibility is possible)

Work pattern: 35 hours per week

Salary: Up to £33,994.86 per annum

Contract: Fixed term for 12 months

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

Will you join us and make life better for cats?

Responsibilities of our Income Processing Team Leader

• To lead the team of Supporter Services Advisors, who are responsible for managing fundraising income processing, the efficient coding and allocation of fundraising income, and the accurate creation and maintenance of supporter records.
• This role will liaise with colleagues across the organisation to understand and develop governing principles of fundraising processing and administration of donations, to help deliver the best possible service to a wide range of customers, including supporters, staff and volunteers.

About the Supporter Services team:

• The Supporter Services team is part of the Cats Protection Marketing & Income Generation directorate.
• We answer queries from supporters about memberships, sponsorships, lotteries, raffles and donations. We also record and update the contact preferences of our supporters to ensure we only send communications which are wanted.
• We currently have a team of 11

What we’re looking for in our Income Processing Team Leader:

• Demonstrable experience of line managing staff including setting objectives, managing performance, conduct, staff development, induction and training in line with organisational policies
• Experience of working in an income processing role, preferably within a fundraising environment
• Experience of developing, monitoring and maintaining recording systems and procedures
• IT literate – proficient with Word, Excel, Outlook and CRM databases (preferably Care or similar)
• Knowledge of fundraising activities

What we can offer you:

• range of health benefits
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
• and much more, which you can learn about 

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 14th June 2026

Virtual interview date: 22nd June 2026

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable.  You may be just the right candidate. 

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

1. Anonymised application form
2. Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

Team: Retail

Location: West Region (Covering South Wales, Bristol & Reading)

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday with some working weekend

Salary: Up to £44,289.75 per annum + £3,600 car allowance

Contract: Permanent

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

Will you join us and make life better for cats?

Responsibilities of our Area Retail Manager:

• Drive commercial performance across the Area by maximising income, controlling costs, and applying strong commercial judgement and creativity.
• Lead and develop shop teams (employees and volunteers) to deliver excellent retail performance, safe daily operations, and strong results across donated goods, new goods, online sales and Gift Aid.
• Act as a Cats Protection brand ambassador, role-modelling the charity’s values while ensuring high-quality shop standards, people management, and effective Area-wide operations.

About the retail team:

• Our retail operation consists of over 80 charity shops
• Each of our shops has its own charm and personality due to our dedicated volunteers and colleagues. From vintage jewellery and jigsaws to harps and handbags, whether our customers are looking for that 'must have' item or simply a 'missing piece'.

What we’re looking for in our Area Retail Manager:

• Experience of managing in a multi-site retail operation
• Experience of managing employees, including recruitment, engagement, retention, performance management and dealing with workplace issues
• Experience of setting and managing income and expenditure budget

• Demonstrable experience of effective decision-making

• Experience of managing health and safety processes and issues in a retail environment
• Full, valid UK driving license and access to own vehicle

What we can offer you:

• range of health benefits
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
• and much more, which you can learn about

Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 17th June 2026

Virtual interview date: Week commencing 22nd June 2026

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable.  You may be just the right candidate.

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:

1. Anonymised application form
2. Virtual interview via Microsoft Teams
3. In person meeting/final stage interview

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

Please email if you require any adjustments to be made for you to complete your application or to participate in the recruitment journey

Team: Lifeline 

Location: Hybrid with frequent travel in the Scotland region. Bases are Glasgow Cat Centre, Scotland Cat Centre, and Forth Valley Cat Centre 

Work pattern: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday 

Salary: Up to £28,454.94 per year 

Contract: Permanent 

Due to the nature of this role, this post is for women only and is exempt under Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010. 

This role requires a dislosure Scotland level 1 check

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them. 

Will you join us and make life better for cats? 

Responsibilities of our Lifeline/Domestic Abuse Caseworker: 

• assessing referrals and admitting cats onto the service 

• providing pet advice and support to our volunteer foster carers 

• working with other stakeholders such as pet owners, domestic abuse support services, and internal Cats Protection employees or other agencies 

• extensive communication via phone, email and in person, as well as daily admin and extensive driving 

About the Lifeline team: 

• Lifeline is a pet fostering service for anyone fleeing domestic abuse 

• the majority of our referrals come from women fleeing domestic abuse via women-only services. 

• the service places cats into volunteer foster homes on a temporary basis until their owners can be reunited with them. 

• our team consists of a National Lifeline Manager, Lifeline Manager and Lifeline Caseworkers 

What we’re looking for in our Lifeline/Domestic Abuse Caseworker: 

• good all-round experience of performing administrative duties in a busy service 

• previous experience supporting victims of domestic abuse in a support role 

• a strong understanding of the problems experienced by families fleeing domestic abuse with pets 

• a confident self-starter who has had experience of working with volunteers and home visiting 

• a full, manual UK driving license and comfortable driving a van 

• confident handling cats of different temperaments

• good working knowledge of Microsoft Office

What we can offer you: 

• range of health benefits 
• 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service 
• Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing 
• and much more, which you can learn about

Interested? Here’s how to apply: 

Application closing date: 15 June 2026

Virtual interview date: 25 and 25 June 2026

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to. 

If successful, your recruitment journey will include: 

1. anonymised application form 

2. virtual interview with roleplay exercise on Microsoft Teams 

Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes. 

Please emailif you require any adjustments to be made for you to complete your application or to participate in the recruitment journey. 

We are seeking a qualified Solicitor or Legal Executive, to fill the post of Employment Law Manager. We also welcome applications from paralegals with 5 years experience who wish to qualify as a solicitor (England and Wales).

You will be required to provide complex professional legal advice on employment law matters to our management team, national executive committee and members. Managing a team of junior colleagues and supporting their complex casework, you will advise on collective employment law matters and review first stage complaints.

Salary and Location

• Band 4, London Spine points 27-23 or Regional 30-26
• London starting salary: £53,726 p.a. rising to £61,115 p.a. in annual increments or Regional starting salary £49,663 p.a. rising to £56,081 p.a. in annual increments
• PCS London or Region

Successful candidates for the Employment Law Manager will be able to demonstrate:

• Proven experience in an employment law field, or qualified solicitor from any UK jurisdiction.
• Experience in staff management, appraisals, and complaints handling.
• Good communication and negotiation abilities.
• Ability to prioritise and manage workloads.
• Commitment to promoting equality and diversity in the workplace.
• Ability to work collaboratively and manage legal issues.
• Their commitment to the SRA Professional standards and behaviours.

The main duties of the Employment Law Manager role include:

• Delivering legal guidance and representation on employment law issues.
• Providing supportive management for caseworker colleagues.
• Conducting legal research, drafting advice, claims, and other legal documents.
• Providing support to senior colleagues on more complex matters.
• Advising the union on legal aspects of bargaining or campaigning matters.

You will be committed to professional development, through training, appraisal and the use of technology, you will be able to show how you maintain and share your up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation. An understanding of the political processes in the UK and the role and work of trade unions is essential.

Closing date: at 12 midday on Monday 22 June 2026

Interviews will be held in person at PCS Clapham on 8 July 2026 and 9 July 2026

About PCS

PCS is the Public and Commercial Services Union, representing many thousands of members working in the civil service and related areas.

Employer Benefits

You will have access to a generous package of staff benefits including

• flexible working (including hybrid working)
• childcare and family support
• generous maternity/paternity leave
• 32 days leave and Christmas closure
• pension scheme
• employee assistance programme

Learning and Development

The union offers a wide range of learning and development opportunities. We will work with you to support your continued professional development.

PCS Recruiting Process

We use CVMinder to manage all recruitment activities. It helps us to maintain our commitment to equality and diversity by ensuring that we are fair and compliant with our recruiting practices.

Applications must be received by the closing date and time specified.

Candidates invited for interview are required to make themselves available on the date/s specified. Interview dates cannot be changed to accommodate candidates who are unavailable to attend on the specified date.

• CVs will not be accepted. Please see the job description/person specification and follow the application process.
• PCS is working towards equal opportunities and is positive about disabled people.
• All posts can be considered on a full-time, part-time or job share basis.

Please view our guidance for applicants.

JOB DESCRIPTION: EMPLOYMENT LAW MANAGER

Ref: 1026

Grade: Band 4, London or Region

Salary:

London Spine points 27- 23

London starting salary £53,726 p.a. rising to £61,115 p.a.

Regional Spine points 30 - 26

Regional starting salary £49,663 p.a. rising to £56,081 p.a.

Location: London/Region

Purpose of the job:

To deliver a professional legal advice, guidance, and representation on employment law matters to staff and members.

To undertake a management role with direct responsibility for Employment Law Caseworker (B3) ( Paralegals)

Responsible to:

Band 5, National Officer Employment Law

Responsible for:

Band 3 Employment Law Caseworker (Senior Paralegals /Junior Lawyers)

Contacts

External:

PCS Members, elected officials and potential members. Employers, Legal and other advisors. TUC, Members of other trade unions and related bodies. MPs, pressure groups, campaigning bodies and media.

Internal:

PCS Staff and managers across Regions, Senior Management Team, National Management Team and other PCS Departments.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. Key areas

• Undertake training to complete the SQE or specialism in employment law
• Assist in legal research into past cases and documents
• Draft and prepare claims or other legal documents
• Assist in providing legal advice to SMT, NEC, members
• Keep up to date with new developments in employment legislation
• Assist in providing employment law briefings to PCS staff about changes in employment legislation
• Advise members and Reps on wrongful termination and unfair dismissal claims, including reviewing dismissal procedures and advocating for members' rights
• Assist members and reps in cases of workplace discrimination, harassment, or retaliation based on factors such as age, gender, race, disability, or other protected characteristics
• Assist with the development of the Unions policy objectives including the PCS planning process
• Assist with leadership in delivering the unions Legal and Employment Rights strategy
• Provide assistance with the unions bargaining, organising, campaigning, equality, learning and digital agendas
• Manage people and resources in the Legal and Employment Rights Unit
• Provide advice to relevant committees including assisting in the preparation and presentation of reports
• Monitor and report on issues and initiatives as requested
• Assist with input into budgetary processes including bid preparation, monitoring and control where relevant

2. People Management

• Manage work allocation and workflow, future planning and support for officer team/line manager
• Motivate and manage individuals and the team as a whole to provide a high standard of service
• Check work standards and maintain consistent quality of delegated tasks
• Seek to continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the team
• Through induction, the appraisal system and one-to-ones, identify staff training and development needs, train or organise formal/informal training
• Proactively promote diversity in line with the wider PCS approach
• Apply the staff conduct policies as and when required e.g. discipline, grievance, capability, dignity at work and IT security policies
• Provide advice and deal with complex issues related to staff management including disciplinary or grievance in consultation with Line Manager
• Ensure that the health, safety and welfare of staff is maintained and improved, in accordance with PCS and statutory policies
• Work effectively with lay officials
• Deputise for Line Manager when required

3. Communication

• Ensure digitalisation, information & communication methods are effectively implemented and used to generate improvements
• Draft complex communications including briefs and reports
• Communicate with members by assisting in the production of circulars and briefings, and by addressing meetings and conferences etc
• As necessary, represent PCS and liaise with outside bodies

4. Casework Management

• Advise in the handling of personal casework
• Liaise with solicitors, internal and external bodies on the handling of personal casework
• Represent PCS or PCS members at official bodies such as employment tribunals, Civil Service Appeal Board, etc.
• Maintain and improve own knowledge of the developments in employment law and practice

5. Team Working

• Proactively promote team working
• Initiate, organise, lead and participate in team meetings as appropriate
• Maintain high levels of confidentiality of sensitive issues at all times
• Provide assistance to team members

6. Equality

• Contribute to PCS policies on equal opportunities by developing innovative workplace strategies to tackle inequality and discrimination

7. General

• Participate and input information into PCS planning and budgeting processes
• At all times implement and promote the PCSs equal opportunities policy and adhere to the PCS Values
• Take due and reasonable care of self and others in respect of health and safety at work
• Participate in appraisal, training and development systems
• Act in a manner that enhances the work of the PCS and its overall public image
• In all work activities, comply with data protection legislation and PCSs requirements for the protection of personal information and the privacy of individuals
• Staff at this grade may be assigned or transferred to posts within grade. A training & development programme will be provided to assist with this, where required such other duties that may reasonably be required and that are within the level of the responsibility of this post
• Willing to work outside normal office hours and location on occasion (e.g. attendance at Annual Delegate Conference, where required)

Person Specification: EMPLOYMENT LAW MANAGER

Ref:1026

Date: May 2026

Location: London/Region

ESSENTIAL FACTORS

QUALIFICATIONS

• Newly qualified Solicitor/Legal Executive/Qualifying law degree OR 5 years experience in an employment law related role

EXPERIENCE

• Employment law and legal management, including advocacy and representation
• People management including induction, work allocation, appraisal and conduct
• Leading committees and teams
• Industrial relations and negotiations
• Project management, problem solving and decision making

TRAINING

(including continuous professional development)

• Evidence of ongoing training and continuing professional development
• Commitment to undertake job-related training
• Commitment to participation in appraisal and development review process
• Commitment to staff development

KNOWLEDGE

• Understanding of the political processes in the UK and the role and work of trade unions
• Employment rights, equality legislation, discrimination law and working practices
• Impact and use of Digital and IT applications in a trade union

SKILLS

• Ability to communicate effectively using written and oral channels, including reports and presentations, with a variety of audiences
• Ability to negotiate and form effective working relationships internally and externally
• Ability to work collaboratively and manage complex legal issues
• Ability to identify and set standards and priorities
• Ability to provide timely advice and guidance

OTHER

• Commitment to the application of Equal Opportunities policies and practices at work
• Understanding of own role in maintaining legal compliances within PCS (e.g. data protection; health and safety)
• Flexible approach to work and willing to work outside of normal office hours and location on occasions

Contract Legal Specialist

Home Based with regular travel to locations across the UK

Up to £50,000 per annum (or pro-rata for 0.8 FTE)
Permanent, Full Time (35 hours per week) (0.8 FTE could be considered).

This role is predominantly home-based with regular travel to locations across the UK. Office facilities are available at our Newark office (Tuesdays to Thursdays) for those within easy travelling distance.

Closing date for applications: 21st June 2026

First interview: 8th & 9th July (Online Interview)

Second interview: TBC (Online Interview)

About Us

The Wildlife Trusts are a grassroots movement of people from a wide range of backgrounds and all walks of life, who believe that we need nature and nature needs us. We have more than 945,000 members, over 33,000 volunteers, 4,100 staff and 600 trustees. There are 46 individual Wildlife Trusts, each of which is a place-based independent charity with its own legal identity, formed by groups of people getting together and working with others to make a positive difference to wildlife and future generations, starting where they live and work.

Every Wildlife Trust is part of The Wildlife Trusts federation and a corporate member of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, a registered charity in its own right founded in 1912 and one of the founding members of IUCN – the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. Taken together this federation of 47 charities is known as The Wildlife Trusts.

The next few years will be critical in determining what kind of world we all live in. We need to urgently reverse the loss of wildlife and put nature into recovery at scale if we are to prevent climate and ecological disaster. We recognise that this will require big, bold changes in the way The Wildlife Trusts work, not least in how we mobilise others and support them to organise within their own communities.

About You

If you are an experienced and self-motivated contracts lawyer ready to apply your commercial and legal expertise with real purpose, we’d love to hear from you. This is a great opportunity to help safeguard the work and future impact of one of the UK’s best-loved conservation charities.

In this newly created role of contracts legal specialist, you’ll lead on all contractual legal matters across The Wildlife Trusts Federation, acting as the first point of contact, providing high quality legal advice for contract-related queries. Reporting to our Legal Director, you’ll build successful working relationships across the organisation supporting colleagues to identify, manage and mitigate legal risk while enabling the Charity’s work to thrive. You’ll play a key role in promoting legal compliance, contributing to the development of policies and guidance, and staying up to date with legislative changes and relevant case law. While your focus will be on contract law, you’ll also bring a broad awareness of related areas such as charity and employment law.

Using your legal expertise and excellent communication skills, you will design, organise and deliver training to colleagues, embedding best practice, building capacity and confidence, improving consistency and ensuring value for money on contracting activities. You’ll be organised, adaptable and comfortable juggling multiple priorities in an ever-changing environment.

As a pragmatic and commercially astute professional, you’ll balance risk awareness with opportunity, using your initiative to take on new challenges and quickly develop knowledge in unfamiliar areas to support the wider work of the legal team.

While there is currently no line management responsibility, our ambition is to grow the legal function over time — creating future opportunities to gain line management experience and play a part in shaping the team.

The Wildlife Trusts value passion, respect, trust, integrity, pragmatic activism and strength in diversity. We are passionate in promoting our aims, and we pride ourselves on being inclusive. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented within our sector, including people from minority backgrounds and people with disabilities. We are committed to creating a movement that recognises and truly values individual differences and identities.

RSWT take our Safeguarding responsibilities extremely seriously. Please click here to read our commitment statement. The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. For applicable roles, applicants must be willing to undergo checks with past employers and Disclosure and Barring Service checks at the eligible level.

RSWT are committed to increasing the diversity of its staff through its Levelling the Field recruitment pledge and, as a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and welcoming recruitment experience for all applicants. Applicants with disabilities and from ethnic minority backgrounds, will be considered for the next stage of the selection process should they meet all the minimum criteria for the role outlined in the person specification detailed as essential criteria in the recruitment pack.

As part of our Disability Confident Scheme, RSWT offers an interview to a fair and proportionate number of applicants with disabilities and therefore not all applicants with disabilities would be entitled to an interview as they must still satisfy the minimum requirements for the job. This commitment is designed to help reduce barriers and promote equal opportunity. We actively work to remove barriers throughout the recruitment journey and are dedicated to creating an accessible and supportive recruitment experience by offering reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process, as well as within the workplace. If you would benefit from any adjustments to support you during your application or interview process, please let us know and we will be pleased to put the appropriate support in place.

At RSWT, we are committed to creating a safe environment where discrimination, bullying, and harassment are not tolerated. We expect everyone to uphold, respect, and support our zero-tolerance policy. Please be aware we may not accept applications if we have reason to believe they have been wholly produced using generative AI tools.