Chief Executive

About us

The RSPCA is the world's oldest and largest animal protection organisation. We exist to inspire everyone to create a better world for every animal. For 200 years, we've been changing attitudes, behaviours and laws to revolutionise how society treats animals. Today animals face immense challenges from the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, climate change and urbanisation, low welfare factory farming and animals used in science.

We change animals' lives by rescuing those in urgent need and rehabilitating, rehoming or releasing them, working with our hospitals, animal centres and 135 branches across England and Wales.

We change laws by advocating for meaningful policy reforms and inspiring the public to push for positive change locally and globally.

We change industries to make life better for millions of animals, introducing safety improvements for race horses, reducing suffering for animals used in science and creating a more compassionate farming system.

We change minds through prevention and education, demonstrating the human-animal connection to encourage kindness and respect for animals from a young age.

We're proud to be a volunteer-led service organisation with more than 1,700 employees and around 7,500 volunteers working in the heart of communities.

We achieve impact through our advocacy and influence, advice and care, from our dedicated rescue teams, hospitals and animal centres and through our local branches, volunteers and partners. In extreme cases of animal cruelty or neglect we prosecute.

The RSPCA plays a critical role, but we can't do it alone - we need people and partners to join our movement for animal welfare, because a better world for animals is a better world for us all.

Our new Chief Executive

We are seeking an inspirational leader who is passionate about animal welfare, aligns with our values, and has a clear strategic vision with a natural understanding of operational efficiency.

You'll need to confidently tackle the challenges we face head-on to deliver our strategy 'Together for Animal Welfare'. Supported by a high-performing Executive Leadership Team and a strong board of trustees, as our next Chief Executive you must have the vision, leadership and determination to keep animal welfare firmly on the agenda in a constantly changing world, establishing it as one of the most important causes of our time.

You'll make sure we remain a powerful voice for animals everywhere, having a demonstrably positive impact on their welfare. The RSPCA has been undertaking a seismic transformation, modernising our leadership, culture and governance, and we are firmly focused on the future. To build upon our strong foundations and mobilise new audiences to join our movement, we're looking for a transformational leader who will increase our reach and help us connect with people across communities to drive up our impact for animals.

The world we work in is complex and difficult and you will bring a proven track record of building strong partnerships, inspiring teams, and navigating challenges with grit and resilience. We also require a proven ability to lead and manage large, intricate operations, a strong commercial mindset, a highly engaging style with a track record in engaging a range of audiences, and experience as a spokesperson in a multimedia context including the media and political arenas. You'll also need a strong understanding of how effective frontline operations should be delivered.

With your background in strategic leadership, you will have extensive experience in financial planning and management in challenging funding environments, be experienced in working with boards of Trustees, and will be able to evidence your ability to influence policy- and decision-makers at a high level, particularly in the UK, resulting in policy or legislative changes.

General knowledge of animal welfare legislation and an in-depth understanding of relevant national and international regulations - as well as the scientific, ethical, and social/political issues around animal welfare - are highly desirable.

With your exceptional leadership, we will transform the way society thinks, feels, and acts towards animals - forever.

Timeline

• Closing date: Wednesday 20 November
• Preliminary interviews with GatenbySanderson: 28 November - 4 December
• Conversations with outgoing Chief Executive: 16 - 18 December
• Stakeholder meetings and psychometric assessments: w/c 13 January
• Final panels: Friday 24 January

If you meet the criteria above and have any queries, please contact Fiona Wansborough (Partner) at or Oliver Startup (Researcher) at .

The RSPCA wholeheartedly supports the principle of equal opportunities in employment and opposes all forms of unfair discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, religion or belief, age or disability.