Flexa
Mars UK • United Kingdom

Animal Operations Trainer

Employment type:  Full time

1–2 days/week at home

Core hours 11–3

Dog friendly

Job Description

Job Description:

Animal Operations Trainer

Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire

Salary package from £21,724.70 upwards

Monday-Friday, daytime shifts only

This role will play an important part in ensuring that Waltham Petcare Science Institute continues to deliver the highest possible standards of animal training and enrichment. The role is essential to ensure that the animal population is fit for purpose to ensure the delivery of the research programme in line with their culture of care.

At Waltham Petcare Science Institute, we use science and data to advance our understanding of pets’ health and wellbeing. We believe research can be done in a caring way and our ambition is to improve pets’ quality of life by determining the drivers of health at each life stage, along with the risk factors associated with disease. As a global R&D site, the scientific findings we generate reach millions of pets worldwide through the Mars Petcare family of products and services.

The office is located next to Melton Mowbray, and is within driving distance from Derby, Nottingham, Oakham, Grantham and Leicester.

Not only will this position provide the successful applicant with the opportunity to develop their expertise in animal training, animal welfare and behaviour, but it will allow them to develop and demonstrate their skills and competence in building relationships across teams, motivating others and delivering results that add value for Waltham and the wider business.

What are we looking for?

  • An excellent working knowledge of learning theory and principles of animal training.
  • An excellent understanding of feline and canine communication and behaviour.
  • Practical experience of training animals.
  • A flexible working style, good communication and planning and organisation skills and proven ability to work in a team.
  • Grade C/4 or above in GCSE or equivalent in math's, English and a science.

What will be your key responsibilities?

  • To deliver trial related training to pets of all species (canine and feline), all ages and breed.
  • To identify training protocols for animals to perform non-regulated research procedures, e.g. urine collection.
  • Enable regulated research procedures, by training animals and cuing to position, then holding animals for the personal licensees.
  • To deliver early life training to kittens and puppies.
  • To drive your continuous professional development in the field of animal training.

What can you expect from Mars?

  • Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
  • Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
  • Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
  • An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.

Company benefits

Open to part-time employees
Open to job sharing
Open to compressed hours
Sabbaticals
Enhanced maternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
Enhanced paternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
24 days annual leave + bank holidays
“Pawternity” leave
Pregnancy loss leave
Bank holiday swaps
Location
94%
Employees are very happy with their working location freedom
Hours
91%
Employees are very happy with the flexibility in the hours they work
Benefits
84%
Employees are very happy with the benefits their company offers
Work-life balance
80%
Employees feel that they can switch off quite easily from work
Role modelling
81%
Employees feel that flexible working is part of the culture
Autonomy
90%
Employees feel they have complete autonomy over getting their work done

Additional employee ratings
(these do not contribute to the FlexScore®)

Diversity
75%
Employees feel that the diversity is good and there are continued efforts to improve it
Inclusion
78%
Employees feel that the culture supports equity and inclusivity well
Culture
86%
Employees feel like it is a really great environment to work in
Mission
84%
Employees feel very excited about and aligned with the company mission
Salary
70%
Employees feel that their salary is good and matches the value they bring

Working at Mars UK

Company employees

4,000 In the UK

Gender diversity (male:female)

57:43

Office locations

London, Slough, Waltham, Castle Cary, Birstall, Plymouth

Hiring Countries

Brazil
France
Netherlands
United Kingdom
United States

Awards & Achievements

1st – Large companies

1st – Large companies

Flexa100 2024
Consumer Goods

Consumer Goods

Industry awards 2023
3rd – Large companies

3rd – Large companies

Flexa100 2023
Retail & Ecommerce

Retail & Ecommerce

Industry awards 2022