RSPCA
Chief Technology Officer — RSPCA
A confidential candidate briefing pack for an exceptional technology leader ready to help one of Britain's most beloved charities protect animals for the next 200 years.
This appointment is being managed exclusively by Practicus, one of the UK's leading management consulting and executive recruitment firms specialising in the charity and not-for-profit sector.


RSPCA Strategy 2030 — Preview
A Mission 200 Years in the Making
The RSPCA was founded in 1824 — the world's first animal welfare charity. Today, its mission to prevent cruelty, promote kindness, and alleviate suffering for animals is more urgent than ever. The Strategy to 2030 sets out a bold, outcome-led vision: a world where every animal is treated with compassion and respect.
The strategy rests on four pillars: Rescuing & Caring for animals in need; Preventing cruelty before it happens; Educating communities and policy makers; and Advocating for stronger animal welfare laws. Technology is the connective tissue that makes each of these pillars scalable, measurable, and sustainable.
As CTO, you will be a direct custodian of this strategy — ensuring that every infrastructure decision, every platform choice, and every pound of the technology budget ultimately flows back to a kennel, a rescue operation, or a campaign that changes the law.
Strategy 2030 at a Glance
  • Rescue & rehome more animals than ever before
  • Prevent cruelty through education & enforcement
  • Advocate for stronger animal welfare legislation
  • Build a financially resilient, modern charity
  • Harness data & technology for mission impact

RSPCA

Our Strategy - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk

Learn about the RSPCA’s Strategy to 2030 and our long-term vision for animal welfare.

THE MISSION
A Charity at a Crossroads
The RSPCA is navigating what its leadership candidly describes as a perfect storm. The cost-of-living crisis has suppressed donations at precisely the moment when animal cruelty cases are rising sharply. Rescue centres are at full capacity, and the charity is spending heavily on private boarding fees simply to house the animals it has already rescued — costs that come directly at the expense of frontline welfare work.
As CTO, your role extends far beyond managing infrastructure. You are protecting the "compelling, outcome-led narrative" that underpins every fundraising appeal, every rescue operation, and every policy campaign. Technology must tell that story clearly, securely, and at scale. Every pound saved through a smarter commercial technology strategy is a pound that goes directly back to a kennel or a rescue.
Donations Under Pressure
The cost-of-living crisis has reduced income precisely when operational demand is at its highest.
Centres at Capacity
Rising cruelty cases and full rescue centres are driving significant expenditure on private boarding.
Technology as a Force Multiplier
Every efficiency unlocked by great technology directly funds more animals helped and more lives saved.
THE JOURNEY
"Halfway Up the Mountain"
For years, the technology function operated in the shadows — described internally as "inward-looking" and deliberately avoiding the scrutiny of the Board or Executive team. The consequence was a fragmented technology landscape: individual departments procuring software independently, leaving a central IT team to retrofit a patchwork of disconnected systems with no coherent architecture underpinning them.
Where We've Come From
The organisation has already made significant progress — moving away from maintaining ageing, end-of-life kit towards a central digital assurance model that gives the charity far greater control, visibility, and accountability over its technology estate.
That journey required courage from the team and genuine organisational will. The foundations are more solid than they were. But the climb is far from over, and the window to complete it is closing.
The Burning Platform
The temporary project funding allocated for digital transformation ends this year. The incoming CTO's most urgent and defining challenge is to design and implement a sustainable operating model from scratch — one that is not a time-limited project, but a permanent, scalable, and cost-efficient technology backbone for a charity that must operate efficiently for decades to come.
the role
Key Responsibilities & Technical Authority
Reporting directly to Phil Walsh (CFO), the CTO holds final organisational authority for live IT service readiness, resilience, and operational risk. The role has been deliberately separated from the CDO function to allow dedicated focus: whilst the digital team drives user experience and product, the CTO architects a robust, secure, and future-proof foundation.
Enterprise Architecture
Ultimate accountability for a scalable technology backbone. Cloud strategy across AWS, Azure, and GCP must align tightly with the future sustainable operating model.
The AI Agenda
Lead the strategic exploitation of data assets — moving beyond maintenance to harness AI for tangible, mission-aligned operational impact across the charity.
Core Platforms
Salesforce Charity is the primary technology engine. Ensuring a seamless "single view" of customers and the animals the RSPCA protects is a critical deliverable.
Cybersecurity & Governance
Own the cybersecurity strategy, threat management, identity access control, GDPR compliance, and the ethical governance of emerging technologies.
Commercial & Financial
Manage an operating and capital budget of approximately £5m. Drive value-for-money through continuous cost management and smart supplier negotiation.
CDO Partnership
Work in close partnership with Emily (CDO) to resolve the "grey areas" between tech infrastructure and digital delivery — a relationship critical to organisational success.
THE PERSON
The Human Element: Leadership & Culture
Technical capability is the baseline. What distinguishes the right candidate for this role is the "how" — the leadership style, the emotional intelligence, and the genuine commitment to purpose over hierarchy. The RSPCA's new executive culture is deliberately and explicitly different from traditional corporate structures.
Breaking the Hierarchy — Joe Rolland, CEO
The new CEO is a "big character" with a clear mandate to dismantle old-school hierarchical structures. He wants leaders who are driven by purpose and outcomes, not empire-building or title protection. If your instinct is to build walls around your function, this is not the right environment.
Emotional Intelligence — Phil Walsh, CFO
Your direct line manager values an inclusive, empathetic approach above almost everything else. He actively encourages vulnerability and authenticity at work. Being able to say "I don't know" or "I got that wrong" is not a weakness here — it is a leadership strength.
The Team You Inherit
You are walking into a "very loyal, wonderful" team that has been unsettled following the retirement of a 20-year veteran leader. They need — and deserve — a leader who can shift them from an inward-looking, risk-averse culture to a modern, cross-functional, and outward-facing way of working.
measure of success
What "Good" Looks Like at 12 Months
The hiring panel will be assessing not just technical credentials, but a candidate's ability to articulate a clear, credible vision for what success looks like in this specific context. Below is the framework against which the incoming CTO will ultimately be measured at their first-year review.
1
1
Commercially Stronger
A clear technology investment roadmap that maximises value for money and makes a compelling case for future capital allocation.
2
2
Risk Mitigated
A cybersecurity and regulatory landscape that the Board, Executive, and charity regulators describe as safe, resilient, and well-governed.
3
3
Culture Shift
Measurable evidence of a modern, collaborative way of working and a significant positive shift in employee experience within the technology team.
4
4
AI Readiness
Tangible, demonstrable progress in how the RSPCA uses AI and data to inform operations, strategy, and ultimately its animal welfare mission.

A successful first year is not defined by infrastructure alone — it is equally defined by team culture, commercial rigour, and the trust you have built across the Executive.
housekeeping
Package, Location & Logistics
Remuneration & Benefits
  • Salary: Target £100,000
  • Car Allowance: £6,500 per annum
  • Contract: Permanent, full-time

Location & Ways of Working
The role is hybrid, with a primary base at the RSPCA's Horsham office — where the bulk of the IT team is located — and regular presence at the London office for Executive and Board engagement.
RSPCA Headquarters
Wilberforce Way, Horsham
West Sussex, RH13 9RS

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Key Stakeholders
Meet the Team You'll Be Working With
The panel and leadership team you will encounter throughout this process have been selected to give you a rounded, honest picture of the RSPCA's culture and ambitions. We encourage you to research each individual before interview — understanding their backgrounds and priorities will help you frame your own narrative effectively.
Joanna Rowland CB — Chief Executive Officer
Joanna brings exceptional public sector leadership experience, having served at the highest levels of government. As CEO, she is the strategic force behind the RSPCA's transformation — committed to dismantling hierarchical structures and building a leadership culture grounded in purpose, outcomes, and genuine accountability. She expects CTO-level leaders to engage at Board level with confidence and conviction.
Emily Holloway — Chief Digital Officer
Emily is your closest partner in the Executive team. The deliberate separation of CTO and CDO roles means success depends on a strong, trust-based working relationship between you. Emily focuses on user experience and digital product; you focus on the infrastructure and security that makes it all possible. Understanding where the "grey areas" lie — and navigating them with generosity and candour — will define the quality of this partnership.
Phil Walsh — Chief Financial Officer (Your Line Manager)
Phil is your direct line manager and a leader who brings genuine warmth and inclusivity to everything he does. He has a strong track record in the charity sector and is deeply committed to financial sustainability without sacrificing mission impact. Phil values emotional intelligence, honest communication, and the courage to be vulnerable. He will be a strong advocate for you — and he will expect the same in return.
Recruitment Partner
About Practicus: Inclusive Hiring for Purpose-Led Organisations
This appointment is being managed exclusively by Practicus, one of the UK's leading management consulting and executive recruitment firms specialising in the charity and not-for-profit sector. Practicus is committed to inclusive, accessible, and equitable recruitment — and we take that commitment seriously at every stage of this process.

Practicus

Charity and Not for Profit

Charity support: Practicus has been helping charities navigate change and transformation for nearly two decades.

Our Commitment to Inclusion
Practicus is proud to be an inclusive employer and recruitment partner. We actively work to remove barriers that prevent talented people from applying for senior roles, and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds, identities, and lived experiences. We believe that diverse leadership teams build stronger, more resilient, and more impactful organisations.
We will make reasonable adjustments at every stage of the recruitment process for candidates who require them. If you have accessibility needs — whether for interviews, written assessments, or any other part of the process — please let us know at the earliest opportunity and we will accommodate them without question.

Practicus

2025 EDI Report Download

Accessibility & Support

Need adjustments? We can provide documents in alternative formats, offer British Sign Language interpretation, arrange remote or in-person interviews, and adjust timelines where needed. No request is too small.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
The RSPCA is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities it serves. This appointment will be conducted in full accordance with the RSPCA's EDI commitments.

Your Recruitment Partners


Meet Your Practicus Recruitment Team
Your dedicated contacts at Practicus are here to guide you through every step of this executive search process. They are committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and supportive experience for all candidates.
Natalie Allen — Head of Practice
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 637066
Email: natalie.allen@practicus.com
Michael Gater — Head of Delivery
Tel: +44 (0) 1491 637090
Email: michael.gater@practicus.com