Dog Welfare and Breeding Manager

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 Welfare and Breeding Manager

Department: Dog Care and Breeding team

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

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

Contract Term: Full-time – Permanent

Purpose of Role
This leadership and managerial role is critical to the delivery and welfare of our service dogs. This position oversees our Dog Care and Welfare and Breeding departments. You will be responsible for the breeding stock, the well-being of our puppies, dogs in training, working assistance and retired dogs, as well as managing, developing and executing our Breeding Programme with an ethical and science-driven approach.

Key Responsibilities

- Manage and develop staff and activities within the Dog Care and Welfare team.
- Ensure the well-being needs of all dogs within our dog programmes are met.
- Drive and support change initiatives and projects which promote efficient ways of working and improved welfare for our dogs. This will include, but is not limited to, areas supporting the five welfare domains (nutrition, environment, health, mental state and behavioural interactions).
- Implement and monitor effective infection control and preventative initiatives to ensure our dogs are free from diseases.
- Maintain and develop robust processes and external relationships to ensure our dogs are effectively treated and supported when medical interventions are required.
- Plan and deliver Breeding Programme outputs ensuring they align with organisational objectives and annual operational plans.
- Recruit, manage and support the team of technical staff (five direct reports) who support dog care and breeding activities. Performance reviews and the identification of CPD activities are essential components of this responsibility.
- Develop breeding policies, SOPs and processes to ensure the production of high-quality puppies (health and temperament).
- Manage the size and diversity (genetic and breed) of our breeding colony to ensure delivery of operational requirements.
- Collaborate with our multiple international business partners to further bolster our impact on and presence in the international assistance dog field (IGDF, ADI, IBN, IWDR etc.), and to support our efforts for improvements and efficiency.
- Drive a continuous improvement mindset through research and development activities and projects, improving processes through consultation and feedback with staff, volunteers and other stakeholders.
- Support the recruitment, training and engagement activities of volunteers who provide day-to-day care to our breeding dogs, whelp litters, and puppy socialisation.
- Devise strategies and working relationships with external providers to help source dog supply from outside of the organisation, when required.
- Complete data entry requirements and report accurately and on time (data capture systems, board reports, leadership meetings).
- Ensure stock control activities are effective and operate within budget limits.
- Comply with and uphold all HR and health and safety processes for incidents and accidents with our people and dogs.
- Work as part of a team to support other departments and individuals to ensure the efficient and effective operations of the organisation.

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

As a department manager, you will be required to be on call to support emergency events or incidents, outside of normal business hours.

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

- Respect: Treats clients, colleagues, and volunteers with equal respect. Is open-minded and tolerant of different views.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Integrity: Leads by example. Is fair and consistent when working with clients, colleagues and volunteers. Takes ownership of achievements and responsibility for failure.
- Excellence: Strives to continuously improve own performance.

Person Specification

- A qualification in veterinary nursing or training to a similar or higher standard.
- Formal training or qualifications in canine breeding/genetics.
- Ability to engage with and manage individuals and teams within an operational setting.
- Experience delivering change within an organisation or workplace.
- Excellent planning and organisational skills.
- Excellent IT skills, including the ability to work with and integrate databases.
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, presentation and communication skills.
- Ability to achieve results working collaboratively and independently.
- Proven track record of consistently meeting and exceeding goals and delivering a superior level of job performance.
- Relevant degree and 3rd level qualifications.
- Previous experience in the not for profit sector.
- Experience within assistance animal organisations, preferably those who work with dogs.
- Evidence of continued professional development to enhance knowledge and experience relevant to the role.
- Experience managing a team.
- Certificate in animal welfare, dog handling or equivalent. Registration with the Veterinary Council of Ireland.
- Ability to demonstrate aptitude for puppy or dog handling.
- Experience working directly with volunteers.

Special Conditions

- Full clean driving licence essential.
- Must be eligible to work in Ireland and the EU.
- Subject to full Garda vetting.
- 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.
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays, as required on an ad hoc basis, and acceptance of the need to travel nationwide to meet with key stakeholders, also on an ad hoc basis.
- Up-to-date CV and 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

#J-18808-Ljbffr