Animal Trainer - Waltham On The Wolds

Job description

Due to an opening within the Operations Trainer Team, 1 full time position has become available .As a member of the Operations Trainer team, the post holder will play an important role in ensuring that WALTHAM continues to deliver the highest possible standards of animal training and enrichment, and in so doing, directly impact on the successful delivery of the WALTHAM research programme.  Not only will this position provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to develop their expertise in animal training, animal welfare and behaviour, but it will allow them to develop and demonstrate their skills and competence in building relationships across teams, motivating others and delivering results that add value for WALTHAM™ and the wider business.

To support the delivery of the WALTHAM research programme by:

·  Piloting new training protocols to develop methods which open up research opportunities in line with the WALHAM™ caring science approach
·  Providing direct training of pets with specific training needs
·  Supporting the development of puppies and kittens with the goal to establish a feline and canine population with a high percentage of individuals that are capable of participating in the research programme
·  Training and supporting associates and contract staff in animal training, animal handling and husbandry
·  Implementing animal welfare and behaviour programmes
·  Acting as a source of expertise in animal welfare and behaviour

Contributing to the further development of WALTHAM animal welfare standards, thus ensuring that WALTHAM continues to deliver outstanding care to its animal population 

 

KEY OUTPUTS  

The post-holder will have responsibility for: 

·  Continually developing their expertise in the area of animal welfare and behaviour.
·  Acting as a skilled resource to train associates and contract staff in animal handling, animal training, and unit husbandry.
·  Organising and running appropriate training programmes/workshops for unit personnel to ensure the delivery of WALTHAM animal welfare standards.
·  Organising and running appropriate training programmes for unit personnel in order to implement training and habituation programmes for a variety of research trials as directed by the Pet Behaviour and Care Manager, Welfare & Behaviour Specialist and/or Unit Owners.
·  Developing and piloting new training and handling methods in support of specific research trials, or new welfare initiatives under the direction of the Pet Trainer & Behaviour
·  Delivering animal awareness and handling training to WALTHAM associates and contract staff who come into contact with animals.
·  Executing complex animal behaviour programmes as directed by the Pet Trainer & Behaviour Specialist, and providing support to unit personnel in dealing with non-complex behaviour programmes.
·  Supporting assessment of the delivery and effectiveness of WALTHAM husbandry standards (e.g. through welfare and behaviour audits, programme effectiveness data collection)
·  Supporting the WALTHAM sourcing and homing processes by conducting animal assessments, creating behaviour profiles and attending and/or hosting homing visits.

 

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

 

·  A good general education (grade C or above in GCSE or equivalent in maths, English and a science) is essential.
·  A higher/professional qualification(s) (e.g. A-level, HND) is desirable.
·  A good working knowledge of learning theory and principles of animal training is essential. 
·  A good understanding of feline and canine communication and behaviour is essential.
·  Practical experience of working directly with animals is essential.
·  Practical experience of training animals is essential.
·  Practical experience of delivering animal husbandry programmes is desirable.
·  Experience of training others is desirable.
·  Good communication skills and a proven ability to work in a team are essential.

 

 

Mars Leadership Competencies important for this role are:

 

Creates Collaborative Relationships :

·  Managing conflict
·  Peer relationships
·  Customer focus

 

Delivers Consistent Results:

·  Drive for results
·  Planning
·  Priority setting

 

Engages Associates:

·  Motivating others

 

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'We are committed to equal opportunity employment practices.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internal applications with Line Manager endorsement are currently invited from associates who have the skills, competencies and experience for this role.  The completed application form must be uploaded to the Careers section of iTMS by the closing date, which is 15.07.2016. The proposed selection date is 27.07.2016.  A job description is available on request from ************@*******.** .

 

Please ensure that you obtain an Internal Application form from the Forms section of the M-Power Portal - www.mpower.mars as this will hold the most up-to-date form.   Although this vacancy is open to all associates, candidates who are at risk of compulsory redundancy will be considered before those candidates who are not at risk.  Any role that would result in a promotion at B5, all job levels within Technical Leadership except T1 and all job levels within People Leadership may require the associate to sign an amendment to move to a 12 week notice period.  Although all applications will be considered, an interview is not guaranteed in every case and if you do not apply before the closing date stated on the form, please be aware that your application may be considered alongside external candidates.  We cannot guarantee that applications received after the closing date will be considered.

 

'We are committed to equal opportunity employment practices.'