Dog Care Supervisor

Organization: Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

Location: National Headquarters and Training Centre, Model Farm Road, Cork, Ireland

Job Type: Full time

Deadline: January 24, 2025

Job Description

Contact at organisation: Kasia Ahern, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

Phone: 0858767350

Email: recruitment@GUIDEDOGS.IE

Job Title: Dog Care Supervisor

Department: Dog Care and Breeding team

Reports to: Dog Care and Breeding Manager

Hours: 37.5 hours per week – variable, weekends and travel required on occasion

Contract Term: Full-time, Permanent

Purpose of Role:
To support the Dog Care and Breeding Manager with the recruitment, training and management of volunteers and day-to-day operations and activities of the Dog Care and Welfare Team to ensure the mental and physical welfare needs of dogs in training are being met.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Recruit, train, support, mentor and coach the Dog Care and Welfare team to ensure they deliver high quality care and management to our dogs.
2. Ensure our dogs have their needs met via the provision of the five welfare domains (nutrition, environment, health, mental state and behavioural interactions).
3. Robustly manage staff learning and training outcomes during onboarding.
4. Conduct regular performance management and staff training activities within the team.
5. Provide relevant and appropriate CPD opportunities for staff.
6. Provide expertise and knowledge in relation to the diagnosis and treatment of the medical care of our dogs. Ensuring required medical interventions are quickly diagnosed and access to care is provided via external partners, including veterinary services.
7. Maintain disease control, disinfection and cleaning standards and regularly review the performance of processes.
8. Facilitate the logistics and movements required when accommodating training dogs or other dogs on site.
9. Identify and flag temperamental and behavioural issues in dogs and work with appropriate staff to manage and modify these behaviours.
10. Support the recruitment, training and management of volunteers who support dogs in homes or work on behalf of the Dog Care and Welfare team.
11. Oversee, monitor and improve processes and procedures operated by the team to ensure required welfare standards are met.
12. Propose, support and drive the implementation of change initiatives to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Dog Care and Welfare department.
13. Efficiently maintain and order stock and supplies in line with processes.
14. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records on our database system, PAWS.
15. Ensure the effective deployment/rostering of staff to ensure the efficient running of the kennels.
16. Provide scheduled reports to the Dog Care and Breeding Manager such as welfare statistics, dog numbers etc.
17. Prepare selected dogs according to the pre-determined training programme to ensure dogs are supplied within the desired time frame and quality.
18. Assist in dog care elements of training for other departments, clients, Puppy Raisers, Apprentice Guide Dog Mobility Instructors and others when required.
19. Report and document all accidents and incidents relating to dogs, and also with third parties, in line with current health and safety policies.
20. Work as part of a team to support each other and, from time to time, other teams, such as fundraising, to ensure the efficient and effective operations of the organisation.
21. Implement effective infection control and preventative initiatives.

Any other duties as outlined by your manager from time to time.

In addition to these key accountabilities, you may also have ownership for one or more key processes that will be communicated to you via your manager and/or the performance management framework.

You may be required to be on call, outside of normal business hours which may include coming on site to deal with any breeding or dog related issues which arise.

All employees are expected to comply with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind’s terms and conditions, rules, policies, procedures, codes of conduct, quality standards, authorisation processes, risk management policies, etc. and any relevant external regulations.

Values and Behaviours:
IGDB places great emphasis on how people get the job done. For example, we need people who are passionate about enabling people who are vision-impaired and families of children with autism to lead better lives and become more mobile and independent. Employees are expected to achieve these standards to fully meet the expectations of their role.

Values and Behaviours Description:

1. Respect: Treats clients, colleagues, and volunteers with equal respect. Is open-minded and tolerant of different views.
2. Teamwork: Supports a team environment which promotes wellbeing and maximises personal effectiveness. Communicates clearly and effectively with others. Strives to be supportive, consistent, and professional with clients, colleagues, and volunteers.
3. Optimism: Is solution-focused and looks to bring a positive attitude to challenges. Celebrates wins and encourages others to do the same. Does not fear failure – believes we can all learn lessons for the next time together.
4. Conscientiousness: Takes pride in what is done and how it is done. Always presents a professional and capable manner in all tasks that are completed. Has a clarity of purpose, sets a good example for others. Is accountable for what is done and takes ownership for achievement.
5. Integrity: Leads by example. Is fair and consistent when working with clients, colleagues and volunteers. Takes ownership of achievements and responsibility for failure.
6. Excellence: Strives to continuously improve own performance.

Person Specification:

1. Veterinary nursing or animal care qualification and experience.
2. Experience supporting canine welfare and a good working knowledge of up-to-date ethics and practises.
3. Excellent people management skills, including coaching and teaching.
4. IT skills which cover most Microsoft applications.
5. Resilient, optimistic and positive attitude.
6. Experience taking people through changes in ways of working and culture.
7. Knowledge of dog training and methods behaviour modification approaches.
8. Good evidence of working with others to resolve issues and problems.
9. Experience and exposure to working with service dogs and their users.
10. Experience working with and supporting volunteers.
11. Evidence of continued professional development to enhance knowledge and experience relevant to the role.

Special Conditions:

1. Full clean driving licence essential.
2. Must be eligible to work in Ireland and the EU.
3. Subject to full Garda vetting.
4. You will be required to be on call outside of normal business hours which may include coming on site to deal with any breeding or dog related issues which arise.
5. You will be required to be on call every two weeks.
6. Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays as required on an ad hoc basis and acceptance of the need to travel.
7. Cover letter highlighting your specific areas of interest and skill sets.

The closing date for applications is 24/01/2025.
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is an equal opportunity employer.

Guide dogs make an enormous difference to the lives of blind and visually impaired people. Not only do they bring the gift of independence, they also bring support, companionship and joy to people who really need it. The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) relies solely on member contributions to continue our work. Help us give the gift of a guide dog to a blind or visually impaired person today

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