GOOD communications skills and a love of animals are just two of the qualities needed by RSPCA branch development managers.

Sue Bradley found out more..

CLAIRE McGill never mentioned her cats Pumpkin and Pie Face during job interviews when she worked in London.

But her fluffy friends were of great interest to her potential new bosses at the Stroud branch of the RSPCA.

A few months on, Claire's pets are now just two of the many animals that come into her daily life.

The role of RSPCA branch manager involves looking after marketing and public relations and liaising with managers of the charity's shops in Stroud, Cirencester and Nailsworth.

Claire works with fundraisers, the local animal welfare officer and administrator of the Stroud branch in Lansdown and helps to organise events and recruit volunteers such as dog walkers and people who are prepared to foster animals.

She also helps to ensure that animals are properly re-homed and fostered - to the extent that she is currently looking after a cat and four kittens herself.

It's a very different life to her previous high-powered jobs with several London borough councils, the Gloucestershire Constabulary and the University of Gloucestershire, even though it calls upon the same kinds of skills.

But the 32-year-old says she couldn't be happier in a role which gives her complete job satisfaction.

"When I knew my husband and I were moving back to Gloucestershire I decided to do something I really believed in," she explained.

"I wanted to put my communication and marketing skills to good use.

"I looked at the website www.charityjob.co.uk and found my skills were right for this job which especially appealed to me because I was an animal lover.

"I halved my salary to work here but I have no problem with that at all.

"This is a job that gives me immense job satisfaction: every day is different.

"It is great working as a team where the welfare of the animals is our main concern."

On average the Stroud branch of the RSPCA re-homes 70 dogs and more than 160 cats every year and subsidises around nine or 10 people on low incomes to take their pets to the neighbouring Rosewell Clinic every day.

All of this costs money and it is up to Claire to ensure the branch maintains a high profile and to think up various ideas for boosting its funds.

Claire writes regular press releases about animals in need of new homes, such as Frankie the Staffordshire Bull Terrior who was left with permanent scarring after boiling water was poured on his back, and issues for pet owners such as the new Animal Welfare Act and the importance of neutering and micro-chipping.

She has also introduced a newsletter for members and supporters.

Organising events, such as dog and fashion shows, is another good way of raising awareness of the work of the RSPCA and the branch aims to put on between three and four a year.

"One of the big things for us is about raising our profile," said Claire.

"We are the first port of call when somebody thinks about looking for any animal.

"My job is not just about the charity shops or the kennels or cattery - fundraising, promotion and recruiting volunteers are a big part of it too. If people don't know where we are we don't get the money."