Senior Animal Welfare Officer
Location: Willand,UK
Working Hours: Monday - Friday 8am -5pm
Salary: Competitive + Benefits
About Us
Joining 2 Sisters means becoming part of the UK's largest food manufacturer, with a £3 billion+ turnover and over 13,500 employees. Our Willand site plays a critical role in supplying major retailers such as M&S, Aldi, Morrisons, Tesco, and Co-op. With a strong focus on quality and compliance, we are committed to excellence in food production, ensuring every product meets the highest industry standards.
About the Role
The Senior Animal Welfare Officer (SAWO) holds a crucial, legally mandated role at the Willand slaughter site, ensuring all animal welfare procedures align with relevant laws and standards. The SAWO will manage a team of two Animal Welfare Officers (AWOs), oversee welfare assessments, and collaborate with Official Veterinarians (OVs), transport teams, and production staff to maintain high welfare standards.
The ideal candidate must effectively balance compliance and welfare requirements with the operational needs of the business. This involves ensuring that procedures are both compliant and practical, making them easy to understand for training purposes.
The Senior Animal Welfare Officer will be responsible for the following:
* Overseeing and managing animal welfare processes at the Willand site, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation
* Leading and managing two Animal Welfare Officers (AWOs)
* Conducting assessments and audits to maintain welfare standards
* Collaborating with Official Veterinarians (OVs), transport teams, and production staff to ensure seamless operations while maintaining welfare standards
* Managing and updating procedures and training documentation to ensure they remain compliant and user-friendly
* Building and maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
* This fast-paced role requires strong attention to detail and proactive problem-solving.
About You
This role is ideal for a detail-oriented quality professional with strong communication and negotiation skills, the confidence to uphold welfare standards, and the ability to collaborate with production teams.
Key Skills & Experience:
* Strong communication and negotiation skills
* Confidence in upholding welfare standards
* Ability to collaborate effectively with production teams
* Basic IT skills for documentation and procedural management
* Team player with excellent interpersonal abilities
* Capable of working in high-care or high-risk environments
Desirable:
* Experience in an abattoir or food manufacturing environment
* Familiarity with auditing standards, HACCP, food safety procedures, or FDQ assessment
Benefits
* 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
* Strong internal training and career progression opportunities
* Hands-on, shop-floor-focused role with significant responsibility
* Opportunity to work with major retailers and contribute to high food safety standards
Why Join Us?
At Willand, you will be part of a fast-paced and dynamic team that values quality, compliance, and continuous improvement. With exposure to large-scale food production and the chance to advance your career in a highly regulated environment, this role offers a rewarding challenge for a motivated quality professional.
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