Chief executive jobs for the Animal sector

If you’re a purpose‑driven CEO with a deep passion for animal welfare, this is your opportunity to steer a trusted charity as it transforms for a sustainable future.

Margaret Green Animal Rescue is embarking on an exciting phase of strategic revitalisation. As a leading animal welfare charity with a proud history since 1965, we are seeking a visionary and dynamic Chief Executive Officer to lead us into our next chapter. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our charity and ensuring the animals in our care receive the very best support.

As Chief Executive of Margaret Green Animal Rescue, you’ll lead a proud organisation delivering rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming, and providing lifetime care for animals with complex needs across Dorset and Devon since 1965. You’ll harness the charity’s tangible local footprint across three rescue centres and a network of retail shops to elevate outcomes, scale supporter engagement, and embed operational excellence.

You’ll be the catalyst for significant strategic change—partnering closely with the Board of Trustees to set bold transformational objectives and KPIs. You’ll transform our operating model to meet current and future needs, oversee a data and IT modernisation programme to strengthen insight, efficiency and compliance (from donor management and welfare tracking to retail operations), steward budgets and risk with rigour, and act as the charity’s primary spokesperson to media, partners and the wider community.

The role is full‑time, based at Head Office in Church Knowle, Dorset, with regular travel across centres and shops, and offers a competitive package including 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays. We welcome experienced CEOs and senior leaders who bring strategic planning, change delivery and inclusive leadership.

The Role

As CEO, you will provide inspirational leadership and strategic direction, working closely with the Board of Trustees to deliver our mission and vision. You will be responsible for:

• Leading the development and implementation of a revitalised strategic plan, ensuring alignment with our values and ambitions
• Driving operational excellence across all areas, including animal welfare, fundraising, retail, and administration
• Championing a ‘One Charity’ culture, embedding consistent ethics and best practices across all teams and locations
• Acting as the primary spokesperson, enhancing our profile and engagement with supporters, partners, and the wider community
• Overseeing financial stewardship, risk management, and the effective use of data and technology to support organisational goals
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation and charity governance requirements

About You

We are looking for an exceptional leader who is passionate about animal welfare and ethical leadership. The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven senior leadership experience, ideally within the charity, animal welfare, or related sectors
• Demonstrable experience in strategic planning, organisational development, and change management
• Strong financial acumen and experience in budget management and income generation
• Experience in data and IT management, including digital transformation
• Excellent communication, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement skills
• A commitment to the highest standards of animal welfare

Experience in retail operations, fundraising, and working with Boards of Trustees is desirable.

What We Offer

• Full-time role (37.5 hours per week) with flexibility for additional hours as required
• Competitive salary (£65-80k depending on experience) and benefits, including 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), business expenses, and mobile phone provision
• The chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of animals and the communities we serve

Join us at this pivotal moment and help shape the future of Margaret Green Animal Rescue. If you are ready to lead with vision, compassion, and drive, we would love to hear from you.

The Executive Director has overall responsibility for TOLFA UK’s fundraising, financial management, marketing and communications, and personnel, to implement its mission of providing vital and preventative healthcare to India’s ownerless animals and those belonging to low-income owners, as well as educating communities in their welfare and value 

Initially  a salary of £19,000 per year for 24 hours per week; both the hours and salary could potentially increase based on the organisation’s income and financial assets 

A minimum 18-month commitment is expected; longer is preferred 

Reporting to the Board of Trustees
 

Responsibilities 

• Proactively diversify and sustainably increase TOLFA UK’s fundraising, such as: 

• Submitting grant proposals and reports to trusts and foundations 

• Cultivating individual donors and major donors 

• Using TOLFA UK’s donor database to raise funds more effectively 

• Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to develop the strategy of TOLFA UK, which will include becoming a more impactful organisation with increasing revenue and additional staff 

• Provide the vision and leadership to ensure the implementation of TOLFA UK’s strategy 

• Maintain excellent communication with the Board of Trustees, including providing monthly reports 

• Lead, motivate, and evaluate other staff, freelancers or consultants of TOLFA UK 

• Oversee TOLFA UK’s finances, collaborate with a bookkeeper to create and monitor budgets and ensure strong financial controls are in place, and promptly notify the Board of Trustees of any concerns. Lead on oversight of processes such as submission of year end accounts with third party accountancy partners. 

• Liaise with TOLFA India, including to understand their funding needs and obtain content for communications and fundraising 

• Manage TOLFA UK’s public communications, such as enquiries from the public and the media 

• Fill other roles and complete additional tasks as needed
 

Person Specification 

• UK Based 

• Demonstrated leadership skills which are necessary to expand TOLFA UK

• Proven success in fundraising

• Proven success in leading fully remote teams 

• Exceptional interpersonal skills with donors, trustees, staff, collaborators, and others 

• Excellent administrative skills including organization and attention to detail 

• Demonstrated efficiency, versatility, and ability to complete tasks within deadlines, when working independently and remotely. Strong ability to manage simultaneous ongoing tasks, projects or deadlines. 

• Strong writing skills, including writing in diverse styles and for diverse audiences 

• Demonstrated passion for animal welfare 

Please note that early applications are encouraged and we reserve the right to close the advert if we find the right candidate before the closing date of 12th Dec.

Harris Hill is delighted to be working with the Cotswolds Dogs and Cats Home (CDCH) to recruit its new Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The CDCH has been providing care and support to vulnerable animals in our community for over 80 years. We work across Gloucestershire and support over 1,000 animals each year living in our community.  We find wonderful families for pets who need a new home and provide access to veterinary treatment for pets living with financially vulnerable families through our subsidised veterinary clinics, ensuring no animal suffers because of cost.

As COO, you will:

• Oversee operations, including the CDCH centre, retail and fundraising as well as project delivery, finance, human resources, IT, customer service, and facilities.
• Translate the Board’s strategic vision into actionable plans and upgrade daily procedures.
• Lead a high-performing team.

If you are inspired and excited by what CDCH does, we’d love to hear from you.

Job title: Chief Operating Officer

Salary: Up to £75,000 p.a.

Location: Gloucestershire

Employment term: Permanent / Full Time

Please review the Recruitment Pack for further information about CDCH, the COO position and for details on how to apply.

Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 5th January 2026

Both CDCH and Harris Hill operate an equal opportunity policy and commit to treating all of our candidates and jobseekers fairly. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnership.

The Retail Manager with e-commerce will have responsibility for the five Danaher Charity

Shops providing strong leadership for shop managers to drive and enhance the

profitability and attraction of the shops, ensure standards and administrative procedures

are streamlined and stock levels are properly controlled with supplies also made available

for online sale. Building an online, e-commerce, function is a key priority for this role.

A high level of organisation and communication is required in this role and a hands-on

approach to ensure success at this small charity. Main responsibilities of the e-commerce

manager’s post will include:

•  producing income for Danaher through sales via online platforms such as Vinted and eBay and through charity shops.

• Building good relationships with local business and doners to ensure a continuing supply of stock for resale.

• line management of the five charity shop managers and the Danaher drivers to provide to manage the logistics of stock and supplies, support volunteer recruitment

• Taking part in events to create opportunities for sales and promotion of Danaher animal home.

• Alongside other senior key staff members, provide Senior leadership out of hours at weekends on a rota basis as an emergency contact should staff require it.