Rescue and Care Officer

Level Grade 4, Band B

Full-time 35 hours per week

Fixed term position until December 31st 2022, with an initial probationary period of six months.   

About the Charity

Born Free works tirelessly to ensure that all wild animals, whether living in captivity or in the wild, are treated with compassion and respect and are able to live their lives according to their needs.  As a leading wildlife charity, we oppose the exploitation of wild animals in captivity and campaign to keep them where they belong – in the wild.

We promote Compassionate Conservation to enhance the survival of wildlife, especially threatened species in the wild, and to protect natural habitats while respecting the needs and safeguarding the welfare of individual animals. We seek to have a positive impact on animals in the wild and protect their ecosystems in perpetuity, for their own intrinsic value and for the critical roles they play within the natural world.

Set up initially as Zoo Check in 1984 by Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna and their son Will Travers, Born Free has worked tirelessly for nearly 37 years to prevent captive animal suffering and phase-out zoos.  Will continues to lead the organisation as Manager President, and Virginia remains active on the Board of Trustees, working closely with the team to share our vision and programmes on public forums.

The Opportunity          

This role at Born Free is integral to the delivery of the Rescue and Care programme of work, supporting the Acting Head of Rescue and Care, with a specific focus on Born Free-Supported projects, ensuring animal welfare remains at the forefront of Rescue and Care work. Maximising essential relationships management skills and coordinating and delivering a range of desk-based tasks, while also contributing to the overall work delivered by the Rescue and Care department. 

The successful candidate will be highly motivated by, and passionate about, the mission of Born Free. They will have experience managing several different work streams and a proactive approach to problem solving. The candidate will have the ability to apply technical knowledge and best practice of captive wild animal welfare and care to in-situ projects which operate overseas in challenging and unique environments.

The Role

The Rescue and Care Officer will be resourceful, organised, and a proactive team player with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.  You will need to juggle multiple tasks with drive and enthusiasm, able to work independently showing good judgement and initiative, as well as part of a team. Whilst previous experience reviewing wild animal sanctuary protocols and the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accreditation process is not essential, it is desirable.

Key tasks will include:

• Provide task-based and administrative support to further Born Free Rescue and Care projects and supporting the Acting Head of Rescue and Care.
• Coordinating Born Free-Supported projects with oversight from the Acting Head of Rescue and Care. This will include drafting and updating grant funding agreements, ensuring reporting requirements are met and funds are transferred, as per the terms of the agreements.
• To collate, draft and fact check Rescue and Care project content for use in Born Free communication and fundraising efforts, including project updates, articles for Born Free’s WildLife magazine and biannual updates for Born Free Adopters and quarterly updates to Lifetime Care donors.
• Under the guidance of the Acting Head of Rescue and Care, and working with the Born Free Shamwari team, take forward the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) accreditation process for Born Free’s Sanctuary in South Africa.
• Working closely with the Acting Head of Rescue and Care, review and update sanctuary protocols and policies to ensure they are current and effective, and where appropriate, ensure consistency across Born Free’s sanctuaries.
• Draft and fact check Rescue and Care project information to be used in project fundraising proposals and project updates to Trusts, Foundations, Corporates sponsors, and other fundraising initiatives.
• With oversight from the Acting Head of Rescue and Care and, when needed, input from relevant members of the Policy, Conservation and Education Teams, draft information in response to enquiries from supporters and members of the public regarding requests to help animals and other areas of Rescue and Care work.
• Ensure Born Free demonstrates the best sanctuary practice and helps to deliver Born Free’s message that animals should be treated with respect and that wildlife belongs in the wild.
• Provide administrative support to progress Rescue and Care projects

The successful candidate should ideally demonstrate the following attributes: 

• A BSc in animal behaviour, animal welfare, or related field.
• Experience of applied captive wild animal welfare and wild animal welfare science.
• Practiced in reviewing and assessing large quantities of information.
• Experience with the GFAS accreditation process (desirable).
• Experience developing and reviewing grant funding proposals and grant funding agreements.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication and presentation skills, and ability to write technical reports and updates for donors and supporters.
• Experience in drafting responses to supporters and members of the public.
• Ability to work as a member of a in a small, fast-paced team, as well as independently, and be responsive and accountable to established organisational priorities and objectives.
• Prioritise work and manage time and projects effectively; attention to detail and a methodical approach.
• A self-starter with the ability to work intuitively with a “can do” approach,
• Proficiency with Microsoft computer packages, including Excel.
• Willing to undertake occasional overseas travel (dependent on Covid-19 restrictions and guidelines).
• Supportive of Born Free’s policies and agenda, and conscious of its organisational reputation.

The candidate will report directly to the Acting Head of Rescue and Care.

Our excellent benefits package includes a generous annual leave entitlement, working from home with regular team meetings (Covid permitting) to help you maintain a healthy work-life balance, wellbeing support, and a competitive pension.

At Born Free we strive to create a working environment that promotes and values diversity; where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work in a creative and safe space. We are committed to equal opportunities and to building a more inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. There is always more work to be done, and we endeavour continuously to make progress, hold ourselves accountable and grow, both as a charity and as individuals.

Applications with a covering letter and CV should be sent to bornfreehr@aspiringhr.com by 5pm Monday 19^th July 2021.  Important: Please include Rescue and Care Officer in the subject line of your email. 

If you do not receive an invitation for an interview by August 2^nd 2021, then you have unfortunately not been shortlisted. The first round of interviews are scheduled to take place during the week commencing August 2^nd 2021. Interviews will take place on Zoom, due to Covid-related restrictions. 

Please note that if an application is received which is particularly interesting to Born Free, we will be contacting candidates on a rolling basis for interview before the dates above. So, if this is the job you want to apply for, apply now, and please don’t wait until the deadline date. 

Thank you for your interest!