Contract:  Permanent, 22.5 hours per week 

Salary:  £15,603 – £18,144 per annum (£26,006 – 30,240 FTE)

Location: Newport, NP18 2LH

Closing date: Tuesday 24th November 2026

Interview date: 1st interview – 4th December, 2nd interview  – 11th December  

We’re recruiting a Rehabilitation Trainer & Behaviour Advisor to join our behaviour team based at our Newport rehoming, advice & behaviour unit! This is a really exciting opportunity to join Blue Cross’ growing behaviour service.  

More about the role 

We are looking for a talented behaviour advisor who has a thorough understanding of reward-based training techniques, to work with pets in our care (be it on site, in foster, or post adoption). Working under the guidance of an Animal Behaviourist, you will be implementing and facilitating rehabilitation programmes practically, as well as advising and coaching centre teams who work with the pets in our care. A key aspect of the role involves assessing pets for suitability for rehoming, and then collaborating with the team to determine each pet’s rehoming journey. This forms a large part of the role.  

No two days will be the same – you could be working with an owner with a problem they are having with their pet, team training, assessing pets for adoption, supporting a pet on site or collaborating with your peers across Blue Cross.  If you are looking for a dynamic role which helps people and pets and is at the forefront of animal welfare, then this is the role for you.  

This role is part time role working 22.5 hours across three days, both weekdays and weekends, with some negotiation on which days you will work. While remote working is not available, there will be occasions when you’ll need to travel to other sites or take on duties outside these hours to meet the needs of the pets and people.  

About you 

You will be a confident, adaptable and compassionate animal handler and trainer who enjoys working with a diverse range of people and pets. With excellent communication skills and an understanding of animal behaviour, you will be skilled at teaching and demonstrating training techniques and advising our teams and pet owners on behaviour issues. In addition, you will thrive working collaboratively with others and have a desire to improve the experience of the pets in our care.  

 
Knowledge, skills, and experience  

• Pet behaviour and training techniques, and evidence of success in understanding pet behaviour /training problems   
• Carrying out behaviour and training programmes for dogs, across a variety of breeds and temperaments
• Developing training programmes and delivering to owners / caregivers that are practical and realistic for a pet owners
• Full UK driving licence
• The ability to demonstrate, understand and apply our Blue Cross values  

 It would also be great if you had:  

• Animal Behaviour and Training Council (ABTC) standard of Animal Training Instructor (ATI) qualification or working towards 
• Experience of working with multi species animals
• Experience of promoting better understanding of pet behaviour through the media, or performing other public speaking  

How to apply   

Click the apply button below and complete the online application process before the closing date on Tuesday 24th November 2026.   

The process will include:  

• First stage interview – 4th December 2026 – Competency based interview 
• Second stage – 11th December 2026 – Practical animal based assessment (this may be at another centre)  

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response.