SPCA New Zealand
Join our team

Join our team

​Choose a career with us and you'll be helping to advance animal welfare and stop cruelty. We seek out exceptional talent that can help us change the way people think and behave, unite our communities and influence change to improve the welfare of animals in New Zealand.

To do that, SPCA needs various skills and passions, along with the help of our dedicated volunteers.

You may be familiar with our animal carer roles and uniformed inspectors, but SPCA also offers careers in the areas of Marketing, Fundraising, Science, Education and all fields of Administration. Everyone works together to help achieve our mission: to create a better life for New Zealand’s animals.

Become an SPCA volunteer

Working as a volunteer (for people aged 16 and over) is always a good introduction to SPCA. By volunteering at your local SPCA centre, not only are you helping support the vital work we do, you also become familiar with how the organisation works, our people, our animals and our processes.

School students

Looking for a future career in Animal Welfare? We've put together a breakdown of all of the different types of jobs you can look at working towards doing when you leave school on our Kids' Portal here.

The following are suggestions for activities and school subjects to help lead you in the right direction:

  • Become an SPCA event volunteer
  • Get some ideas from our SPCA Kids Education Portal
  • Younger students – Complete the Large Animal Science Badge
  • High school subjects to choose – Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths and English
  • Older students – Try animal work experience at an SPCA, vet clinic, pet shop, or boarding kennels/cattery

The following tertiary qualifications would be useful for an SPCA animal attendant, vet nurse or animal ambulance drivers:

  • National Certificate in Animal Care to New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3)
  • New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6)

There are various qualifications at a higher level, that would be useful in SPCA roles.

Testimonial

Animal Attendant

The best part of my job as an animal care attendant is watching the animals in my care get better each day. From healing limbs, to gaining weight, seeing them start to thrive is the most rewarding feeling in the world. My job is extremely varied as well and every day comes with a new set of challenges to face.

Testimonial

Inspector

Being an SPCA Inspector is a unique job which I am proud to perform. We enforce the Animal Welfare Act and work together with the public; the public supply information on animal cruelty cases and fund our work, then it’s up to us to do what’s best for the animals.

We work in tough situations every day, striving to improve the quality of life for animals. I take pride in SPCA and the work we do with and for the community, we deliver high level investigations and prosecutions. Every day, even my worst day, I know I’m making a difference that counts.

Testimonial

Vet nurse

Every day my team and I make a difference to the health and wellbeing of the most vulnerable animals in need. Vet nursing at SPCA can be demanding but also incredibly satisfying when you see your patients transform from sick and injured into the healthy, bright and beautiful creatures they were meant to be.

All of our hard work feeding, weighing, testing, monitoring, administering countless tablets and injections are worthwhile when they blossom in front of you.

Testimonial

Centre Manager

Having spent 30 years in the corporate sector in IT and Corporate Planning, my choice to join SPCA 10 years ago was to give something back to our animals and the community. Well so I thought, in giving back I had no idea how much love and friendship I have received from both animals and the wonderful people who have devoted their lives to saving lives, and preventing pain and suffering, we try every day to make a difference in the community, and helping others to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Testimonial

Relationship Manager

In my role as SPCA's Relationship Manager I am very lucky to be able to work with our very special donors – what an amazing group of people they are! Every day I am inspired by their kindness, their generosity and commitment to make a better world for the animals. And every day I’m privileged to see the lives they transform. To be able to share that with them is very special.

Testimonial

Scientific Officer

It has always been important to me that my work contributes to meaningful change for animals. My work as the Scientific Officer of SPCA allows me to use my training as a veterinarian and my animal welfare knowledge from my PhD, teaching, and research work to advocate for positive improvements in the way that animals are perceived and treated in our community. I cannot think of anything more rewarding than helping to make the world a better place for animals.

Testimonial

Recruitment Co-ordinator

I am always so proud to tell people I work for SPCA! It is more than just a job, it’s a passion for a cause very close to my heart. I get to recruit and support amazing people that make the world a better place for vulnerable animals. Ensuring we have high performing & happy employees means better care for animals and a better SPCA, which is such an incentive to come to work to do my best every day.

Testimonial

GM Finance

I love working for SPCA. The passion and energy I see around me, to deliver to our vision and purpose, is so evident. Coming together as ‘One SPCA’ has created a very interesting organisation, and helping with the people, process and systems transformation is really rewarding. I look forward to continuing to be part of something special.

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