Ready to make a real difference in animal welfare? Join the RSPCA's frontline rescue team in Birmingham, where you'll respond to animal cruelty and neglect with a supportive team backing you every step of the way.
Shifts run between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends. This is not traditional out-of-hours cover; it is standard field-based rescue work.
As an Animal Rescue Officer with the RSPCA, you'll respond to reports of animal cruelty, neglect, and injury across the West Midlands, making direct interventions to prevent suffering. This is field-based, independent work involving frequent long-distance driving (up to 150 miles per day), but you'll remain connected to an experienced, supportive team throughout. The role combines investigation, education, advice, and enforcement, often requiring calm communication with people in emotionally charged situations.
Much of your day will be spent working alone, travelling to diverse communities across urban, suburban, and rural areas. You'll gather evidence, make welfare assessments, and take accountable decisions with real consequences for animal and public safety. While the work is physically and emotionally demanding, the RSPCA provides comprehensive training, equipment, and ongoing mental health support to help you build resilience and succeed in the role. This is a 35-hour full-time position with shifts between 8am and 9pm, including bank holidays and weekends.
You'll receive intensive, supported training over 26 weeks before taking on full duties. The RSPCA recognises that backgrounds, experiences, and strengths vary widely, and welcomes applications from people with or without previous animal welfare experience.
The RSPCA is a leading animal welfare charity operating across England and Wales. The organisation is committed to preventing animal cruelty and improving animal welfare through rescue, investigation, education, and advocacy. The RSPCA employs a dedicated team of Animal Rescue Officers who form the frontline of its mission to help animals in need.
The organisation values diversity and inclusion, recognising that effective rescue work requires understanding diverse communities and lived experiences. It actively welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and has established internal affinity networks supporting women, neurodivergent staff, parents, carers, and minority ethnic employees. Mental health and staff wellbeing are priorities, with support structures in place to help officers manage the emotional demands of rescue work.
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