Head of Operational Response

We are currently looking for a Head of Operational Response to join the team at the Scottish SPCA.  This is a hybrid role based at our HQ in Dunfermline with a combination of home working and regular travel across Scotland.
 

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

•    Hours – 35 hours per week
•    Salary – Starting salary £55,109.60 - £61,388.60 per annum 
•    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 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.
 

Overall, Purpose of the Role:

This role holds operational accountability for the Society’s Inspectorate and Animal Rescue functions, ensuring that finite resources are deployed effectively, proportionately and in line with organisational priorities to protect animals at greatest risk of suffering.

You will lead the field-based animal response functions, ensuring that the highest standards of animal welfare intervention, investigation, rescue and enforcement are delivered consistently across Scotland.

Working in close partnership with the Head of Centre Operations, you will ensure the seamless transition of animals from field response into Society care, maintaining shared ownership of animal welfare outcomes across the full animal journey.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES:

1.       Effective response and intervention: You will lead our Inspectorate teams to respond, assess and act in line with our operational animal welfare standards, so we direct resources to where they will have the greatest impact.

2.       Quality investigation & progression: You will ensure our interventions are supported by a risk-based and information-led approach to animal welfare, where there is strong enforcement quality, robust evidential standards, and effective progression of cases.

3.       Wildlife response: You will oversee wildlife triage, field intervention and partnership working with veterinary practices, rehabilitation centres and specialist rescue partners, ensuring wildlife response remains a visible, effective and specialist function.

4.       Continuous improvement: You will champion a culture of operational excellence where welfare is never compromised, and service delivery and continuous improvement is supported through operational learning, reflective practice and professional development.

5.       Decision-making & compliance: You will implement clear operational standards and decision-making frameworks that ensure risk, vulnerability, harm and welfare impact are assessed and applied consistently and proportionately across animal response teams.

6.       Leadership contribution: You will play an active part in translating strategy into clear Animal Response priorities, and work alongside Veterinary, Behaviour, Rehoming, Fostering, Communications, Fundraising and Corporate Services to support successful delivery of the Society’s wider strategic plan.

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

What makes a good Head of Operational Response? 

•       Strong operational leadership experience, most likely already operating at senior leadership level within an animal welfare, enforcement, rescue, regulatory or emergency response environment.

• Strong track record of leading geographically dispersed operational teams, raising standards, improving performance and embedding consistency across complex operational environments.

• Experience of operational resource planning, budgeting and effective deployment of resources to drive business outcomes

•        Strong knowledge of investigations and enforcement, ideally with experience of prosecution processes.

• Excellent people and stakeholder management skills, with an ability to inspire, motivate and develop teams and customers.

• A positive, solutions-focused attitude, comfortable with organisational change and driving ambitious transformation across a business.

•       A calm, credible and confident decision-maker who others turn to during critical incidents and challenging and complex situations.

•      Strong interest and commitment to animal welfare and the Society’s purpose, values and objectives; you may have, or have had, one or more animals in your life, or aspire to be close to animals in the future. Regardless of ownership, you will share a view that there is no excuse when it comes to abuse for any animal across Scotland.

This role offers an excellent opportunity to shape the future operational response of the society for existing employees with the relevant above experience and drive.

Scottish Charity No SC 006467