General Manager - Animal Antiks
Location:
Overview
Animal Antiks is an educational setting dedicated to enriching the lives of children, young people and adult social care, through hands-on learning experiences with animals. Based in North Marston, Buckinghamshire, we provide unique opportunities to engage with animals in a safe and supportive environment to enhance learning.
We are seeking an experienced and proactive General Manager to oversee daily operations, manage employee performance, and drive continuous improvements in our processes. This is a key leadership position that will ensure the smooth running of the organisation, allowing our staff to focus on delivering excellent educational and enrichment services. The ideal candidate will have significant team management experience, preferably within the education, charity or animal management sector.
Salary: £32,000 (negotiable)
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full time
Closing date: 29th November 2024
About us
Animal Antiks is a caring farm that provides unique and therapeutic experiences for children and young people with complex needs. Our mission is to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where individuals can develop new skills, build confidence, and form meaningful connections with animals and nature. Located in the picturesque surroundings of Buckinghamshire, our farm offers a range of engaging activities and support services to promote personal growth and well-being.
About the role
Key Responsibilities:
- Leadership and Management: Lead, motivate, and manage a diverse team of employees, ensuring high performance and adherence to organisational goals.
- Performance Management: Set performance objectives, conduct regular appraisals, and develop strategies to enhance staff performance and engagement.
- Process Improvement: Identify, develop, and implement process improvements to increase efficiency, streamline operations, and improve service delivery.
- Operational Oversight: Oversee the day-to-day running of the setting, ensuring all areas function smoothly and in line with relevant regulations and standards.
- Staff Development: Provide coaching and development opportunities for staff, fostering a supportive and high-performance culture.
- Health and Safety: Ensure compliance with all relevant health and safety regulations, particularly those related to animal welfare and educational environments.
- Budgeting and Resource Management: Manage budgets and resources effectively to ensure operational efficiency.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with internal and external stakeholders to enhance the services offered and maintain strong relationships.
- Charity Objectives: Support the charitable objectives of the organisation and through our adult social care placements and fundraising opportunities.
About you
Essential Qualifications & Experience:
- Significant team management experience in a similar setting, with proven leadership skills, minimum of 5 years.
- Experience with performance management and HR processes, including setting goals, conducting reviews, and improving team performance.
- Strong organisational skills with a track record of improving processes and driving operational excellence.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, capable of leading and motivating teams.
- A collaborative approach with a focus on fostering positive workplace culture.
Desirable Qualifications & Experience:
- Experience in the education or adult social care sector, particularly within alternative or experiential learning settings.
- Experience in the animal management sector, with knowledge of best practices in animal care and welfare.
- Understanding and experience of the charity sector, including grants, funding and fundraising.
- A relevant qualification in education, business management, or animal management.
Personal Attributes:
- A proactive, solution-focused approach to management.
- Strong leadership skills, with a commitment to developing and supporting others.
- Attention to detail and an ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Passionate about education and animal welfare, with a genuine interest in making a positive impact.
Other information
If you are enthusiastic about making a positive impact in the lives of young people with complex needs and would enjoy working in a farm-based environment, please submit your CV to [email protected].
Animal Antiks is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Successful candidates will be required to undergo background checks as part of our safeguarding policies.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:
- All unspent cautions and convictions cautions
- All adult cautions and spent convictions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020). For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance, the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) guidance or Ministry of Justice (MOJ) guidance (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).
It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. All shortlisted applicants will be required to complete self-disclosure form and return prior to interview.
