Job opportunities

The Royal Kennel Club is committed to activities that promote the culture of equality of opportunity. We recognise the worth of every individual and appreciate the benefits to be gained from making full use of people's talents to enhance our business performance.

We are committed to ensuring that recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion procedures result in no job applicant or employee receiving less-favourable treatment on the grounds of:

• race
• age
• gender reassignment 
• religion or belief
• disability
• marriage or civil partnership
• sex
• sexual orientation 
• pregnancy or maternity

The Royal Kennel Club's objective is to ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and otherwise treated solely on the basis of their relevant aptitudes, skills and abilities. All employees are responsible for ensuring that our equal opportunities policy is adhered to.

To work for the Royal Kennel Club you need to be passionate about making a difference for dogs. We believe that the unique skills and dedicated work of our staff should be rewarded. Below are some of the benefits we offer our staff:

Salary

We offer salaries that reflect the market we operate in and regularly check ourselves against similar roles in other organisations.

• 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)

Work-life balance

• 23 days annual leave, increasing up to 27 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
• Flexible working – formal and informal flexible working arrangements. The options available will depend on individual circumstances, and the demands and priorities of the department in which employees are based
• Family leave; including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, parental and dependant leave
• Sabbatical leave

Health and wellbeing

• 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
• Employee assistance programme, providing access to independent advisors and counsellors for staff and their immediate families
• Occupational health which we can refer staff if there are any health concerns
• Flu vaccination vouchers
• Discounted gym membership
• Cycle to work scheme

Learning and development

We aim to create an environment where individuals are able to take responsibility for their own learning and development; an environment which recognises learning as an important element of organisational and individual achievement. We aim for continuous improvement in everything that we do.

• Dedicated Senior Learning and Development Officer
• Learning Management System which consists of over 500 courses
• Open Training Programme with a spectrum of both in-house and external courses, comprising both practical skills and personal development opportunities which are supported by access to internal coaching
• Financial support for professional and vocational qualifications, with five days' study leave provided
• Free access to The Royal Kennel Club Library and Art Gallery

Financial Benefits

• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
• Lifestyle discounts via our EAP and healthcare cashback programme
• Discounts on Royal Kennel Club products and services
• Complimentary staff tickets to Crufts and Discover Dogs

Recognition

• Referral program – we are constantly looking for ways to attract and recruit the best talent possible who share our core values and aspirations
• Values nomination – we encourage colleagues to nominate individuals and teams who they believe have displayed behaviour that demonstrates Royal Kennel Club values
• Long service - to show our appreciation, staff would receive monetary rewards and a thank you card from our Chief Executive for their 10, 20 and 25 years’ service milestone

At the Royal Kennel Club we promote and encourage our oneRKC values.  They are called ‘oneRKC’ because we believe that all employees are integral in embedding our values in the culture of the organisation.

Our oneRKC values are:

Respect

Recognise and appreciate the value that each person contributes and treat each other with dignity.

Growth

Everyone is open to learning and adapting to new challenges and opportunities.

Teamwork

Our collective ambition can only be achieved by supporting, sharing and working together as oneRKC.

Ownership

We accept the responsibility for our decisions, workload, and the way we interact with others.

Excellence

We take pride in our work. We aim high and celebrate excellence in achieving and surpassing our goals.

Future Focused

The world is changing faster than ever before. We must be future focussed to remain relevant, impactful and inclusive.

The purpose of our values is to:

• Create a shared set of behaviours
• Help build a common purpose that we stand for
• Enable more transparency and consistency across the breadth of our work
• Provide guidance – we are more likely to make the right decisions in the right way and achieve our vision and goals
• Deliver a stronger framework for recruitment, progression, feedback – the ‘how’ is as important as the ‘what’

Can you provide a first-class level of service to our customers? If so, then we want to hear from you.

2 opportunities have arisen in the Commercial Operations Department for a Client Services Advisor.

The primary objective of The Kennel Club is to improve in every way the welfare, health, and general wellbeing of all dogs throughout their lives, by means of various research and educational programmes, and our Charitable Trust. The Kennel Club is an organisation committed to promoting and protecting dogs’ varied roles in society and defending the interests of all dog owners.

What the role involves:

Your role within the team will be to ensure that our customers have all the information they require and that they feel valued.

The ideal candidate will have

• Experience of working within a call – centre environment, inbound and outbound calls.
• Ability to link and promote products.
• Experience of supporting customers using web related services.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work under pressure and work to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work with KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators).
• Experience with Microsoft packages and web based systems (including web chat and CRM systems).
• Ability to effectively resolve conflicts and complaints

We are looking for a Client Services Advisor who has excellent time management and organisational skills are a must to succeed in this role, alongside the desire to assist the department to grow moving forward. You will need to be reliable and flexible with a can-do attitude and be respectful when dealing with internal and external customers. To excel in this role, you will have the ability to work alongside other members of the team and take ownership for the tasks you are given.

An interest and knowledge in the canine world would be useful but not essential as full product training will be given.

What we can offer as a Client Services Adviser

• Competitive Salary
• Hybrid Working (2 days a week in our Aylesbury Office)
• Generous contributory pension scheme
• Life assurance and healthcare cashback plan
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing by one day after every full year of service up to a maximum of 30 days

The application process

If you are interested in applying for this position, please click on the link to send your CV. Please be advised that if you are a member of The Kennel Club and are successful in your application you will be required to relinquish your membership

Judges Education Administrator

Location: London & Hybrid (2 days a week in our London offices)

Team: Canine Activities - Judges Education

Reports to: Judges Education Manager

Salary: Competitive Band 1

Are you an organised and enthusiastic Administrator with an eye for detail and enjoy working with people?
We’re looking for an administrator to support our Judges Education team as well as dog owners and judges.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Managing and responding to internal and external customer calls and voicemails
• Managing and responding to internal and external customer emails
• Supporting the JET with general administration tasks and the processing of data
• Carrying out JET and RKC tasks as directed by the Judges Education Manager (JEM)

What You’ll Bring

• High level of literacy and grammar
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Attention to detail
• Use of a CRM and general business IT systems
• Self-starter to manage own workload
• Self-discipline to succeed with hybrid working
• A solution focused approach

YKC Chairman role specification +

Young Kennel Club Chairman Role Specification
The YKC Management Team meets around twice a year.
The primary purposes of the Management Team are to:
• To review and develop the structure of the YKC.
• To review YKC strategy and policy.
• To look for new and review existing opportunities within the current structure and how they will be integrated and/or developed within the YKC.
• Investigate, discuss, or review any other matters if required to do so by the Board.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate their strengths and weaknesses in the following areas:
Leadership & Governance
• Ability to lead meetings effectively and fairly
• Strategic planning for the YKC’s future
• Accountability and responsibility in a leadership role

Communication & Representation
• Public speaking and confidence in representing the YKC at events
• Advocacy for young members’ interests within the wider Kennel Club
• Listening skills and openness to feedback
Teamwork & Collaboration
• Building strong relationships with committee members and volunteers
• Delegation and empowering others to contribute
• Working with diverse groups (age, background, experience)

Youth Engagement
• Encouraging participation from younger members
• Understanding what motivates young people in dog activities
• Creativity in developing engaging programmes and events
• Inclusivity and ensuring all voices are heard

Candidates are likely to have:
• A good understanding of Safeguarding and be prepared to have an enhanced DBS check and undergo safeguarding training
• Experience of working in a Youth or Educational setting either in a paid or voluntary role
• Recent and relevant experience of working with young people and/or volunteers
• An empathy with children and dogs

Knowledge or experience of the Kennel Club or canine sporting activities would be essential.
Candidates will be required to provide a detailed CV and 2 recent references to help demonstrate the attributes and experiences above.
The role is voluntary, and members can claim reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred when fulfilling their role on the committee.

YKC Chair recruitment  &  selection process +

We are committed to selecting a Chair who demonstrate the necessary skills, experience, and passion to help drive the Young Kennel Club’s mission forward. The following selection process will ensure that we identify the best candidate to join our leadership team.

Stage 1: Application Submission

Timeline:

• Applications will be open for 3 weeks.

• Candidates must submit the below documentation by the closing date.

• Application submissions will be circulated via external  education/volunteer recruitment and canine media

What’s Required:

• CV with relevant experience.

• Cover Letter outlining how the candidate meets the key criteria in the following areas:

  • Leadership & Governance

  • Communication & Representation

  • Teamwork & Collaboration

  • Youth Engagement

  • Safeguarding and Volunteer Experience

• Any relevant supporting documents (e.g., certificates, references).

Stage 2: Initial Screening

Timeline:

• Completed applications will be reviewed within 2 weeks of the closing date.

Process:

• We will assess each application against the criteria listed in the recruitment template. This will include:

  • Skills in leadership, communication, teamwork, and youth engagement.

  • Experience with safeguarding, young people, and volunteer management.

  • Knowledge of the Kennel Club and canine sports

Next Steps:

• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to the next stage.

• Candidates who do not meet the essential criteria will be notified of their unsuccessful application.

Stage 3: Interview

Timeline:

• Interviews will be scheduled within 2 weeks after the initial screening.

Process:

• Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview, which may be held virtually or in person.

• The interview will assess the candidate’s competency in key areas, including:

  • Leadership (e.g., leading meetings, accountability, strategic planning)

  • Communication & Representation (e.g., public speaking, advocating for young members)

  • Teamwork & Collaboration (e.g., delegation, building relationships)

  • Youth Engagement (e.g., encouraging participation, creating inclusive programmes)

  • Safeguarding knowledge (e.g., understanding safeguarding practices, DBS checks).

• Panel:
  The interview panel will consist of Ian Seath, Robert Harlow and Helen Kerfoot who will evaluate the candidate’s responses based on their alignment with the YKC's values and needs.

Interview Format:

A 10 minute presentation based around “What is your vision for the YKC over the next five years, and how would you, as Chair, contribute to realising this vision?

A mix of competency and scenario-based questions.

Next Steps:

• Following interviews, candidates will be assessed and scored based on their performance across the core competencies.

Stage 4: Reference Checks & DBS Screening

Timeline:

• Following successful interviews, reference checks will take place.

Process:

• Candidates will be required to provide at least two professional references.

Next Steps:

• References will be reviewed to ensure the candidate’s suitability for the role.

• Successful completion of the DBS check will be required before proceeding to the final selection stage.

Stage 5: Final Decision & Offer

Timeline:

• An offer will be made after reference checks are received.

• Before an official offer letter is sent, an Enhanced DBS check must be undertaken.

Process:

• Successful candidates will receive a formal offer and details of the next steps.

• Unsuccessful candidates will be notified with feedback on their performance.

Stage 6: Induction & Onboarding

Timeline:

• Induction will take place shortly after the candidate accepts the offer.

Process:

• The successful candidate will be provided with an induction process to familiarise them with the YKC’s structure, culture, and specific Chair responsibilities.

• They will also undergo safeguarding training

Selection Criteria Overview:

To ensure a fair and transparent process, candidates will be assessed on the following:

For further details on the application and selection process, simply register your interest by email: kc.membership@royalkennelcub.com

The closing date for applications is 4  January 2026