Head of Breeding Operations

Contact at organisation: Helen Whiteside, Guide Dogs UK

Phone: 01926892082

Email: helen.vaterlawswhiteside@guidedogs.org.uk

The Head of Breeding Operations helps people with sight loss to live the life they choose by leading the Breeding Operations Team, managing all breeding dogs and ensuring the delivery of puppies to puppy raising in accordance with agreed operations plans. The role is accountable for ensuring all aspects of breeding operations are managed effectively and efficiently, including breeding dog supervision, development and socialisation of puppies in nest, breeding volunteer engagement, experience and management and the care and welfare of all dogs and puppies at the National Centre. The role also supports the Assistant Director to execute plans to ensure consistent and well-functioning dog supply to puppy raising/training and that all staff in the National Centre adhere to the organisations policies, reporting requirements, and procedures.

This role will be based on site at our National Centre, working closely with the Breeding Operations team. You’ll be working 35 hours per week, worked 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

We offer a generous pension scheme, annual leave, life assurance and enhanced pay for parenting and sickness leave. In addition, we provide an Employee Assistance Programme, flexible benefits package and discounts and cashback scheme to care for our people.

More details can be found in the attached candidate pack and job description.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.

Diversity
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality.

We encourage applications from people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.

Safeguarding
Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

Candidate profile
To be able to fulfil this role, the skills and experience we are looking for in a potential candidate include;

Essential

• Management qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
• Six sigma and/or knowledge of continuous improvement methodology.
• Proven track record of senior level management in an organisation of comparable size and complexity.
• Experience of introducing major new initiatives which affect organisational change.
• Ability to lead on internal and external communications with effective public speaking and presentation skills.
• Ability to discuss complex concepts with technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience in working with the media with a range of communication techniques.

Desirable

• Experience with breeding dog management, kennel facilities and volunteer programmes.
• Experience of working in the third sector.
• Theoretical and practical knowledge of breeding operations, genetics and canine health and welfare.
• Experience of strategy implementation and supporting organisational and cultural change initiatives.

For the complete list of essential and desirable criteria necessary to be successful in this role please see the Person Specification within the Job Description below. The candidate pack contains more information about this role & the recruitment process at Guide Dogs.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK. We cannot provide sponsorship for this role.