Cats Protection

Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity. Our vision is a society where every cat has their best possible life because they are protected, cared for and understood by everyone.

We have over 10.8 million cats in the UK and more than a quarter of our households are home to a cat. Yet the experience of our cats throughout the nations is sadly not uniform. Many suffer cruelty, abandonment, poor care and crucially a lack of understanding by the humans around them.

Established in 1927, with a new 10-year strategy, Cats Protection is the UK’s leading cat welfare charity and we have helped an average of 166,000 cats and kittens a year over the last five years and throughout the UK. This work is through rehoming, neutering and dedicated research on cats’ medical and welfare needs, as well as seeking to educate people of all ages about cats and their care. Over the course of our 95 years, we have been a focal point for those who care about improving the lives of cats and who showcase the extraordinary mutual benefits of the relationship between cats and people. Our organisation’s lifeblood is our people – our movement of people include over 1,000-strong team of employees and around 10,000 volunteers across the UK who all are committed champions for cats, helping to lead society towards a richer understanding of all cats as well as providing high quality care for those that need our help.

Cats Protection has an experienced and dedicated Board with responsibility for our mission, vision, strategy and high-level policies as well as for effective oversight and support of the executive in its work. With some Trustees coming to the end of their terms, we are now looking for three Trustees to join our Board in 2022. All Trustees are expected to espouse a strong commitment to the charity and an empathy with our vision, mission and values and a willingness/ability to be a powerful advocate on our behalf. Trustees are expected to bring strategic vision alongside sound independent judgement, with the ability to work effectively in a team and the willingness to take on their full responsibilities as Trustees.

Following our recent skills audit, we are keen to add specific experience to the Board and applications would be particularly welcome from candidates with skills and experience in the following three areas: significant senior experience of the branding and marketing of large organisations; significant Commercial senior leadership, Financial management, garnered as a chief financial officer or equivalent senior leadership role and significant front line experience of working on issues of animal welfare with a breadth of perspective on latest thinking, a commitment to high standards and on service delivery in a 4 Nation structure.

It is important that the membership of the Board reflects a balance of inputs and experiences and the Board is committed to ensuring it includes Cats Protection volunteers, be they volunteers within the Cats Protection branch network or elsewhere in Cats Protection. Thus Cats Protection welcomes applications from external candidates and volunteers in all roles across the charity.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to make positive and lasting sustainable improvement, not only to the lives of cats, but also to the people around them. If you share our vision and values, and you have the skills needed to help us carry out our mission, we would love to hear from you. We are a diverse and inclusive team and actively encourage applications from currently under-represented groups at Board level.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Cats Protection on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference XBDOB. Alternatively telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on 10 August 2022.