Employment Opportunities

Office Administrator – Full Time

Location: Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3QA

Pay: £12.71 per hour

Contract: Permanent, full time

Hours: 40 paid hours per week

Working pattern: Monday to Friday, 9:30 am–6:00 pm

Break: 30-minute unpaid break from 1:30–2:00 pm

About the Role

Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa is a licensed dog boarding and daycare facility based at Brent Farm in Highbridge.

We are recruiting an experienced and dependable Office Administrator to manage our reception, customer communication, bookings and day-to-day administrative processes.

A central part of the position is managing customer arrivals and departures so that our Shift Leaders and animal-care team can remain focused on the dogs and the delivery of scheduled services.

This is an on-site position in a busy animal-care environment. Applicants must be comfortable working around dogs, although professional dog-handling experience is not required.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Check-Ins and Check-Outs

• Prepare for scheduled customer arrivals and departures.
• Welcome customers and complete boarding and daycare check-ins and check-outs.
• Confirm booking details, feeding instructions, medication, emergency contacts and collection arrangements.
• Check that required vaccination records and customer information have been received.
• Record customer instructions accurately and communicate relevant information to the animal-care team.
• Process payments and issue invoices or receipts.
• Manage customer belongings, food, medication and documentation during arrival and departure.
• Maintain an organised reception area and ensure customers are attended to promptly.

Bookings and Customer Communication

• Answer incoming telephone calls and respond to emails professionally.
• Process booking requests, amendments and cancellations.
• Manage boarding, daycare and service reservations using our booking system.
• Confirm arrival and collection times with customers.
• Respond to routine questions and refer animal-welfare or operational concerns to the appropriate Shift Leader or manager.
• Follow up on outstanding information, vaccination records, forms and payments.
• Maintain clear and professional communication with customers throughout the booking process.

Administration and Records

• Create and maintain accurate customer and animal records.
• Record feeding instructions, medication requirements, behavioural information and special requests.
• Prepare daily arrival, departure and service schedules for the operational team.
• Maintain organised digital and paper records.
• Assist with invoicing, payment processing and chasing outstanding balances.
• Process paperwork and general business correspondence.
• Order office and operational supplies when authorised.
• Report booking conflicts, customer concerns, shortages or administrative issues to management.
• Support the management team with general administrative duties.

Operational Coordination

• Provide accurate daily handovers to Shift Leaders and animal-care staff.
• Inform the operational team promptly of booking changes, early arrivals, late collections or special requirements.
• Help ensure that customer-facing activity does not interrupt the animal-care team unnecessarily.
• Maintain confidentiality when handling customer, employee and business information.
• Follow company procedures and data-protection requirements.

Essential Requirements

• Minimum of two years’ previous experience in administration, office support, reception or a comparable role.
• Experience handling telephone calls, emails, records and customer enquiries.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Clear and professional written and verbal communication.
• Confidence using email, booking systems and standard office software.
• Ability to process information accurately and maintain detailed records.
• Confidence handling payments, invoices and outstanding account follow-ups.
• Ability to prioritise tasks and manage interruptions in a busy environment.
• Professional, reliable and trustworthy approach.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative.
• Comfortable working around dogs of different breeds and sizes.
• Full UK driving licence and reliable personal transport.
• Right to work in the United Kingdom.
• Reliable availability for the stated Monday-to-Friday schedule.

Desirable Experience

• Previous administration or reception experience in a veterinary, animal-care, hospitality or customer-service environment.
• Experience using booking or customer-management software.
• Experience processing card payments, invoices and customer accounts.
• Experience coordinating customer appointments, arrivals or departures.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.

Location and Travel

Applicants must be able to travel reliably to Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa, TA9 3QA, for a 9:30 am start.

Successful applicants must either:

• Already live within approximately 30 minutes of the hotel; or
• Have a genuine plan to relocate within that distance before starting work.

Accommodation options can be discussed with candidates who are considering relocation.

What We Offer

• Permanent full-time contract
• 40 paid hours per week
• Fixed Monday-to-Friday working pattern
• Company pension, subject to eligibility
• Employee discount
• Free on-site parking
• Training on our booking system and operational procedures
• Accommodation options can be discussed for candidates considering relocation

Application Requirements

Please ensure your application clearly states:

• Your administrative or office experience
• The booking, payment and office systems you have used
• Your current postcode and expected journey time to TA9 3QA
• Your notice period and earliest potential start date
• Whether you can reliably work Monday to Friday from 9:30 am–6:00 pm

Employment references and evidence of the right to work in the United Kingdom will be requested before appointment.

Work location: In person

Dog Boarding & Daycare Shift Leader

Location: Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa, Highbridge, Somerset, TA9 3QA

Pay: £12.71 per hour

Contract: Permanent

Guaranteed hours: Minimum 25 hours per week, with additional hours potentially available

About the role

Wags & Whiskers Pet Hotel & Spa is a licensed dog boarding and daycare facility based at Brent Farm in Highbridge.

We are recruiting a qualified and dependable Shift Leader to supervise the day-to-day operation of our dog hotel and support our animal-care team.

This is a hands-on position. The successful candidate will be expected to lead staff while also participating fully in dog care, cleaning, feeding, exercise, medication, customer service and administrative duties.

Key responsibilities

Shift leadership

• Coordinate the daily shift and allocate duties to members of the animal-care team.
• Ensure feeding, exercise, medication, cleaning and welfare schedules are completed correctly.
• Monitor staff performance and address operational issues promptly.
• Maintain accurate handovers and report welfare, staffing or maintenance concerns to management.
• Ensure company procedures, licensing conditions and health and safety requirements are followed.

Canine care

• Monitor the health, behaviour and wellbeing of every dog.
• Recognise signs of illness, injury, fear, stress or abnormal behaviour and take appropriate action.
• Safely handle dogs of different breeds, sizes and temperaments, including nervous, strong or reactive dogs.
• Prepare food and follow individual feeding instructions.
• Administer prescribed medication accurately and maintain appropriate records.
• Provide exercise, enrichment and individual attention according to each dog’s needs.

Cleaning and facility standards

• Participate in and coordinate the cleaning and disinfection of boarding suites, exercise areas and shared spaces.
• Deal routinely with urine, faeces, vomit, soiled bedding and laundry.
• Maintain infection-control standards and ensure cleaning procedures are followed.
• Report maintenance issues, safety concerns and stock shortages.

Customer service and administration

• Complete customer check-ins and check-outs.
• Communicate professionally with clients in person, by telephone and by email.
• Maintain accurate customer, vaccination, medication and animal-care records.
• Assist with bookings, payments, invoices and general administration using our management software.

Essential requirements

• An appropriate Level 3 Ofqual-regulated qualification in Animal Care, Animal Management, Veterinary Nursing or a closely related subject.
• Demonstrable professional experience caring for and handling dogs in a boarding, daycare, veterinary, rescue or comparable animal-care environment.
• Previous experience supervising staff, coordinating a team or taking responsibility for the operation of a shift.
• Knowledge of canine welfare and behaviour, including recognising illness, stress, fear and potentially unsafe behaviour.
• Confidence handling unfamiliar dogs of different sizes, breeds and temperaments.
• Strong attendance, punctuality and employment reliability.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Basic computer and administrative skills.
• Full UK driving licence and reliable personal transport.
• Right to work in the United Kingdom.
• Availability for early starts, weekends and bank holidays.

Location and travel

Applicants must be able to travel reliably to TA9 3QA for shifts beginning as early as 6:30 am.

Successful applicants must either:

• already live within approximately 30 minutes of the hotel; or
• have a genuine plan to relocate within that distance before starting work.

Accommodation options can be discussed with candidates who are considering relocation.

Working pattern

The business operates 365 days a year. Shifts may include:

• Morning shifts beginning at 6:30 am
• Afternoon or evening shifts
• Full-day shifts
• Rotational weekends
• Bank holidays shared across the team

Rotas are issued in advance where possible, but flexibility is required because of the nature of animal care.

What we offer

• Permanent contract
• Minimum 25 guaranteed hours per week
• Additional hours may be available
• Company pension, subject to eligibility
• Employee discount
• Free on-site parking
• Training and continuing development
• Potential progression within the business
• Possible rented on-site employee accommodation

Application requirements

Please ensure your application clearly states:

• The complete title and awarding organisation of your Level 3 qualification
• Your professional dog-handling experience
• Your supervisory or leadership experience
• Your current postcode and expected journey time to TA9 3QA
• Your availability for early starts, weekends and bank holidays

Qualification certificates and employment references will be requested before appointment.