Welfare & RKC Foundation Relationship Manager
RemotePermanentPosted Jun 16, 2026
Job Title: Welfare & RKC Foundation Relationship Manager
Location: Homebased with a requirement for field work (travel to locations around the UK)
Team: Partnerships & Events
Reports to: Chief Partnerships & Events Officer
Salary: Competitive
Closing date: 3 July 2026
The Welfare & RKC Foundation Relationship Manager will lead the Royal Kennel Club's engagement with breed rescue organisations, welfare charities and key external stakeholders, ensuring strong relationships, effective governance, impactful collaboration and increased visibility of the RKC's work in the welfare sector including rescue and rehoming.
Why join us
Join us to play a pivotal role in strengthening the Royal Kennel Club’s impact across the canine welfare sector, building meaningful partnerships with breed rescues, charities and key stakeholders. You’ll lead high-profile engagement and collaboration that directly supports rescue and rehoming efforts, while shaping projects and initiatives that increase our visibility and influence. This is a unique opportunity to drive lasting change and help improve outcomes for dogs nationwide.
Location: Homebased with a requirement for field work (travel to locations around the UK)
Team: Partnerships & Events
Reports to: Chief Partnerships & Events Officer
Salary: Competitive
Closing date: 3 July 2026
The Welfare & RKC Foundation Relationship Manager will lead the Royal Kennel Club's engagement with breed rescue organisations, welfare charities and key external stakeholders, ensuring strong relationships, effective governance, impactful collaboration and increased visibility of the RKC's work in the welfare sector including rescue and rehoming.
Why join us
Join us to play a pivotal role in strengthening the Royal Kennel Club’s impact across the canine welfare sector, building meaningful partnerships with breed rescues, charities and key stakeholders. You’ll lead high-profile engagement and collaboration that directly supports rescue and rehoming efforts, while shaping projects and initiatives that increase our visibility and influence. This is a unique opportunity to drive lasting change and help improve outcomes for dogs nationwide.
What you’ll bring:
- Experience managing stakeholder relationships, partnerships or external affairs programmes.
- Knowledge of canine welfare, rescue and rehoming.
- Strong presentation, communication and relationship management skills.
- Experience analysing data and producing reports and recommendations.
- Ability to influence and work across multiple internal and external stakeholder groups.
- Strong planning, organisation and project management capability.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead relationships with the Royal Kennel Club Breed Rescue network and affiliated rescue organisations.
- Support rescue organisations with governance, compliance and data protection guidance.
- Develop and maintain relationships with key welfare organisations including Battersea, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross and ADCH.
- Represent the RKC at conferences, forums, roundtables and industry events
- Manage relationships with RKC Foundation grant recipients and funded projects.
- Produce regular reports, presentations and board papers
- Analyse breed rescue and welfare sector data to identify trends and opportunities. Support delivery of canine welfare and Foundation initiatives with strategic partners
- Coordinate partner participation in campaigns, events and projects.
Benefits
- 25 days annual leave, increasing up to 30 days, in addition to statutory holidays. Staff may also receive additional days for any approved business closure days over the festive period in December
- Option to buy up to five days of annual leave per year
- Employer pension contributions double the percentage of your plan earnings, up to 8%
- Life assurance equivalent to three times your basic salary (two times your basic salary for non-pension scheme members)
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Lifestyle discounts via our EAP and healthcare cashback programme
- Discounts on Royal Kennel Club products and services
- 4 x complimentary staff tickets to Crufts and Discover Dogs
- Healthcare cashback programme with a fixed contribution paid for by the Royal Kennel Club
- Free eye tests with a voucher towards the cost of your spectacles
- Financial support for professional and vocational qualifications, with five days' study leave provided
- Free access to the Royal Kennel Club Library and Art Gallery