Team: Centre

Location: Chelmsford, Essex

Work pattern: 35 hours per week to include weekends

Salary: Up to £27,466.16 per year

Contract: Permanent

This role requires an enhanced DBS check (including the Children's Barred List)

We are the UK’s largest cat welfare charity. All over the country, our passionate employees, volunteers and supporters are using their kindness and expertise to make life better for millions of cats and the people who care for them.

Will you join us and make life better for cats?

Responsibilities of our Deputy Centre Manager:


Work with the Centre Manager, ensuring the required level of employee cover at all times and to provide effective cover in the absence of the Manager
Ensure the welfare of all cats in our care and ensure that all administrative and maintenance procedures are completed to a high standard that is in keeping with our vision.
To plan and direct the activities of the cat care employees in agreement with the Centre Manager
To handle the homing and accepting of cats and kittens and ensure completion of the necessary forms and ensure minimum veterinary standards are carried out by a suitably qualified person.


About the centre team:


Our adoption and homing centres care for thousands of cats each year until they are able to find a loving new home.
Our team is made up of a Centre Manager, Deputy Centre Manager, Senior Rehoming and Welfare Assistant , Rehoming and Welfare Assistants and a Volunteer Team Leader


What we’re looking for in our Deputy Centre Manager:


Supervisor/team leader experience, ideally within an animal welfare environment or organisation
A confident communicator with excellent interpersonal and organisational skills.
Knowledge of the prevention and control of infectious diseases in cats
A driven, positive and enthusiastic individual with plenty of initiative and the ability to thrive under pressure
A full UK, manual driving licence as you may on occasion be required to drive centre vans


What we can offer you:


range of health benefits
26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing with length of service
Salary Finance, which empowers you to take control of your financial wellbeing
and much more, which you can learn about here


Interested? Here’s how to apply:

Application closing date: 15 October 2025

Interview date: 29 October 2025

Please note, we do not accept applications or speculative CVs from agencies.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment. Please note, applications received after the closing date may not be responded to.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.

If successful, your recruitment journey will include:


anonymised application form
in-person interview at the centre


Please note, the process may change slightly dependent on application numbers. We will inform you of any relevant changes.

Please email recruitment@cats.org.uk if you require any adjustments to be made for you to complete your application or to participate in the recruitment journey.