Organisation: Animal Welfare Investigations Project (AWIP)
Department: Investigations
Location: Home-based, with occasional travel throughout England & Wales
Reports to: Head of Investigations
Contract: Permanent

About the Role

The Animal Welfare Investigations Project (AWIP) is seeking a highly organised, proactive and resourceful Operations Support Administrator to help support the effective delivery of our investigations and operational activities across England & Wales.

This is a varied role providing administrative, logistical and practical support across the organisation, working closely with our Investigations Team, Private Boarding Establishments (PBE), foster carers, volunteers and external partners.

A key part of the position involves coordinating the fostering, rehoming and transportation of animals rescued or taken into possession during investigations, helping ensure that animals receive appropriate care and can move into suitable long-term placements as efficiently as possible.

The successful candidate will also provide wider operational support, including arranging travel, maintaining records, coordinating resources and assisting with the planning and delivery of daily operations.

Although predominantly home-based and administrative, this is not exclusively a desk-based position. The postholder may be expected to attend the execution of warrants and other operational activities, providing practical and logistical assistance to frontline Investigation Officers.

We are looking for someone who enjoys organisation, problem-solving and managing multiple priorities, and who takes pride in ensuring that important tasks are completed efficiently and accurately.

Key Responsibilities

Animal Logistics, Fostering and Rehoming

• Coordinate foster care placements and rehoming arrangements for animals in AWIP's care.
• Manage fostering and adoption enquiries, applications and associated administrative processes.
• Liaise with prospective adopters, foster carers, kennelling providers, veterinary practices and external animal welfare organisations.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of animals, including their locations, placement status and rehoming progress.
• Coordinate animal transportation, veterinary appointments and transfers between facilities.
• Monitor animals awaiting placement and proactively identify opportunities to reduce unnecessary time spent in kennels.
• Assist with developing and maintaining relationships with external rescue organisations and rehoming partners.
• Ensure that animal movements, placements and rehoming arrangements comply with AWIP policies, welfare requirements and any relevant legal restrictions.
• Provide regular updates to operational management regarding animal placements, fostering capacity and outstanding actions.

Volunteer Coordination

• Support the recruitment, onboarding and administration of volunteers.
• Maintain accurate volunteer records, availability and relevant documentation.
• Coordinate volunteer assignments, including animal transportation, fostering support and other operational activities.
• Act as a central point of contact for volunteers and foster carers.
• Assist with volunteer communications, training arrangements and ongoing engagement.
• Help develop and maintain an effective network of volunteers capable of supporting AWIP's operational needs.

Operational and Investigations Support

• Provide administrative, logistical and practical support to AWIP's Investigations Team.
• Assist with the planning and coordination of warrants and other operational activities.
• Attend the execution of warrants and other operational deployments when required, providing logistical and practical support to investigators.
• Assist with coordinating animal transportation, temporary accommodation, veterinary assistance and other arrangements during operational deployments.
• Support the preparation, organisation and distribution of operational equipment and supplies.
• Coordinate staff travel, accommodation and other operational arrangements.
• Assist with scheduling meetings, training and operational activities.
• Maintain accurate operational records, databases and reporting systems.
• Liaise with external suppliers, veterinary practices, kennelling providers and other relevant organisations.
• Assist with purchasing, ordering supplies and processing administrative requests.
• Support the development and improvement of operational procedures and administrative systems.
• Undertake other reasonable administrative and operational duties as required to support the organisation.

General Administration

• Provide day-to-day administrative assistance to Head of Investigations and other colleagues.
• Monitor shared inboxes and respond to or appropriately direct enquiries.
• Maintain accurate electronic records, files and databases.
• Prepare correspondence, reports, spreadsheets and other administrative documents.
• Assist with monitoring operational expenditure and maintaining purchasing records.
• Support the coordination of internal meetings, training sessions and organisational activities.
• Identify opportunities to improve administrative processes and operational efficiency.
• Handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately, in accordance with organisational policies.

Person Specification

Essential Skills and Experience

• Previous experience in an administrative, coordination or operational support role, or demonstrable equivalent skills.
• Excellent organisational, planning and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, competing priorities and changing operational requirements.
• Confident using Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word and Excel, and other digital administration systems.
• Ability to work independently, use initiative and take responsibility for completing assigned tasks.
• A proactive, practical and solutions-focused approach to problem-solving.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate professionally with colleagues, volunteers, external organisations and members of the public.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with discretion.
• Ability to remain calm, professional and organised when working under pressure.
• Willingness to work flexibly and adapt to changing organisational priorities.
• A full, valid UK driving licence.
• Willingness and ability to travel throughout the UK, including occasional travel at short notice.
• Willingness to attend operational deployments, including warrants and animal seizures, where required.
• A commitment to animal welfare and the objectives of AWIP.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Previous experience working within an animal welfare organisation, charity, emergency service or similar operational environment.
• Experience coordinating volunteers, foster carers or community-based programmes.
• Knowledge of animal fostering, adoption or rehoming processes.
• Experience arranging transport, accommodation or other logistical requirements.
• Experience maintaining operational databases, tracking systems or management information.
• Experience supporting field-based staff or operational teams.
• Familiarity with animal welfare legislation or the work of animal cruelty investigators.

Working Arrangements

This is a predominantly home-based position, with occasional travel to AWIP-commissioned facilities and operational locations throughout the UK.

The postholder may be required to attend warrants and other operational deployments, sometimes at short notice. You may be required to attend court to give evidence in support of prosecutions.

Some operational activities may take place outside normal working hours, including evenings and weekends. Flexibility will therefore be required, with working arrangements managed in accordance with AWIP's policies and applicable employment arrangements.

Although the position is primarily administrative, the successful candidate must be comfortable working in operational environments where animals may be distressed, injured or subject to cruelty investigations.

The postholder will provide practical and logistical assistance under the direction of authorised operational personnel and will not independently exercise investigative or enforcement powers.

Nature of the Position

This is primarily an administrative, coordination and operational support role, rather than a hands-on animal care position.

We are particularly interested in candidates who genuinely enjoy administration, organisation, coordinating people and resources, and ensuring that operational activities run smoothly.

The role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to animal welfare by supporting the people, systems and activities that enable AWIP to investigate cruelty and secure better outcomes for animals.

Pay: £24,479.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Private medical insurance
• Sick pay
• Work from home

Experience:

• Administrative: 1 year (required)
• Customer service: 1 year (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: Remote