Weekend Animal Rescue Officer

Scottish SPCA; City of Edinburgh; On-site; GBP 5,000; Part time

Job summary

A national animal welfare charity is seeking an Animal Rescue Officer in the Edinburgh region for a part-time fixed term contract of 6 months. Responsibilities include responding to animal emergencies, providing care, and transporting animals to welfare facilities. The ideal candidate will have practical experience with animals, excellent communication skills, and a full UK manual driving licence. This role not only serves the community but also promotes animal welfare and rehabilitation efforts.

Qualifications

• Practical experience with animals is essential.
• Excellent communication and customer care skills are required.
• A full UK manual driving licence is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Respond promptly to animal emergencies as directed.
• Assess situations and take appropriate action.
• Collect and transport animals to welfare facilities.
• Support Inspectorate teams in animal emergencies.
• Promote the Society's work and membership to the public.

Skills

Practical experience working with animals

Excellent customer care and communication skills

Experience working with the general public

Ability to plan and organise own work

Commitment to animal welfare

Resilient and calm in face of difficult situations

Act with professional integrity

Flexible approach to work

Full UK manual driving licence

Willingness to work within group shift pattern

Willingness to live within the geographical area of work

Completion of a Disclosure Scotland standard check

Job description

We are currently looking for an Animal Rescue Officer to join the team in the Edinburgh region part time for a period of 6 months.

If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please read on for more information.

• Hours – an average of 7.5 hours per week, 2 days in 14 on weekends
• Salary – £4,761.90 per annum
• Contract Type – 6 months fixed term

About the Scottish SPCA

As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, we have been on‑hand to protect animals and prevent cruelty since 1839 – that’s over 185 years of creating a better world for all animals. We’ve grown to become a national charity which celebrates the strength of the human‑animal bond and enriches the lives of animals and people. We are Scotland’s animal champions.

What does an Animal Rescue Officer do?

Our Animal Rescue Officers are there to provide a responsive, caring and compassionate service when responding to rescue calls as directed by the Animal Helpline team.

Responding to a wide range of emergency calls such as sick or injured birds and small mammals to abandoned seal pups, the Animal Rescue Officers are often the first face‑to‑face point of contact for the public to assess situations and take the appropriate humane action for the animal.

Where it is deemed appropriate, the Animal Rescue Officer is also responsible for the transport of animals to our wildlife facilities for further treatment.

Working with many different types of animals, no day will ever look the same.

The Scottish SPCA aims to rehabilitate and release as many animals as possible back into the wild.

Overview of main duties and responsibilities

• Respond promptly to animal emergencies as directed by the Animal Helpline team. Assess situations and take appropriate action.
• Be caring, compassionate and humane in all dealings with animals.
• Collect and transport animals to welfare facilities where necessary.
• Carry out euthanasia in accordance with the Society’s Certification of Competence for Euthanasia and the guidelines if authorised to do so and in line with the Society’s policy of not putting healthy animals to sleep.
• Support the Inspectorate teams, and assist at animal emergencies within the limit of training given and equipment used.
• Promote the work of the Society and membership to the public where appropriate.
• Maintain good relationships with colleagues, voluntary workers, representatives of other agencies and the general public. This will require you to have excellent communication and customer care skills.
• Be smart in appearance and ensure that the Society’s vehicle and equipment are maintained in a clean and serviceable condition at all times.
• Maintain comprehensive and accurate records as required and meet all submission deadlines laid down by the Society.
• Deliver educational talks as required.

Please see full Job Description link for more detailed information on the role.

What makes a good Animal Rescue Officer?

• Practical experience working with animals
• Experience working with the general public
• Previous experience in a customer‑focused environment
• Excellent customer care and communication skills
• Ability to plan and organise own work
• A commitment to animal welfare
• Resilient and calm in face of difficult situations
• Act with professional integrity
• Flexible approach to work
• Full UK manual driving licence
• Willingness to work within group shift pattern
• Willingness to live within the geographical area of work
• Completion of a Disclosure Scotland standard check

We are fortunate that some of our roles attract a high level of interest therefore, we may have to close roles earlier than advertised. Early application submissions are highly recommended. This also means that we cannot provide individual feedback to unsuccessful candidates due to receiving high levels of applications.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission.