We are current looking for a Regional Animal Behaviourist (Central Belt Area) to join the team in Lanarkshire / Edinburgh and surrounding areas. If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please read on for more information. Hours – 35 hours per week Salary – £37,928 per annum (FTE) Contract Type – Permanent 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 184 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 a Regional Animal Behaviourist do? The role of Animal Behaviourist will play a vital role in the development and implementation of the Scottish SPCA’s behaviour and training capability. Working across a range of centres and species, the post holder will be responsible for overseeing complex behaviour cases and decision making with regards to animal behaviour and welfare across the sites. The post holder will be required to have an excellent understanding of animal behaviour and must be accredited to a level which allows them to ensure the Society is applying evidenced based and up to date rehabilitation techniques. All decision making will centre around animal welfare and the post holder will mentor and support team members across sites to ensure the highest possible welfare standards are upheld at all times, across all species. This will also include training of teams both at sites, and in other parts of the Society. The post holder will also regularly support owners post adoption and foster carers both remotely and in person. Overview of main duties and responsibilities Visit allocated Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centres (ARRCs) on a regular basis to provide operational support to animals under the care of the Society Collaborate with Centre Management, Veterinary Services and Regional Operations Leads to ensure each animal has the most efficient journey through the Society’s care as possible Provide expert advice to owners of animals experiencing behaviour issues either in person or remotely. Identify the behavioural issues and create behaviour modification programmes for owners to follow Where necessary, conduct in person assessments of animals with more complex needs, and closely oversee the progress of their plans Maintain a good understanding of the animals at sites undergoing behaviour modification Identify and support with training needs of colleagues within ARRCs and across the Society and contribute to continuing development of teams Foster close relationships with the Society’s Veterinary Service, to facilitate efficient complex case reviews and quality of life assessments. Identify opportunities to work with external Veterinary Surgeons where appropriate Adopt a coaching approach to support rehoming team members, in order to continually upskill and share knowledge Undertake in person assessments of animals where there are concerns raised about their behaviour and / or welfare Work closely with the Head of Animal Behaviour to develop and embed robust processes to increase the sustainability of the Behaviour Service and advocate for these throughout the Society Contribute to the development and delivery of training sessions both for internal and external audiences Support the Society’s Behaviour Services to identify opportunities for income generation in relation to animal behaviour What makes a good Regional Animal Behaviourist? A proven track record of highly effective people mentoring. Significant professional, hands on experience in multi species pet behaviour, particularly within an animal welfare and rehoming environment Significant experience of successfully modifying animal behaviour across multiple species Experience of working with dogs who may pose a risk to humans Relevant accreditation within the Animal Behaviour and Training Sector Experience and awareness of behavioural euthanasia Experience of working with veterinary surgeons using psychoactive medications to support animal behaviour in both the short and longer term Experience of working with and handling animals in a clinical setting Awareness and experience of considering the wider impacts of animal behaviour in a rehoming setting – such as reputational risk, risk to colleagues and impact to potential owners Experience in a customer focused environment An understanding and commitment to health and safety in the workplace Proven experience of training others in evidence based and up to date training techniques to modify animal behaviour 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. Scottish Charity No SC 006467 Details Type Permanent - Full Time Location Balerno, Edinburgh Hours 35 hours per week Salary £37,928 per annum (AW8) Interview Date w/c 20th January / w/c 27th January Closing Date Monday 13th January 2025