At a Glance
- Tasks: Transform lives of children with visual impairments through dog partnerships.
- Company: Guide Dogs, a compassionate organisation dedicated to supporting those with sight loss.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team committed to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in young people's lives while working with dogs.
- Qualifications: Experience in dog behaviour, training, and a person-centred approach.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
About The Role
This role covers the Midlands region, with regular travel across Warwickshire and Oxfordshire, and occasional travel to Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, as well as some national trips. You will be primarily connected to our Leamington office, with a hybrid working arrangement that offers flexibility while maintaining strong collaboration with colleagues and teams. The position is full-time, 35 hours per week, typically worked Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. There may be a requirement to work occasional evenings and weekends, and due to the travel involved, some overnight stays may be necessary.
Imagine playing a key role in transforming the lives of children and young people with visual impairments through the power of a dog. As a Buddy Dog Partnership Specialist, you'll help them gain confidence, independence, and joy through the unique and powerful connection with a well-matched, well-trained dog. If you have a person-centred approach to care, and the ability to build relationships that truly matter, this is your opportunity to be part of something deeply rewarding.
In this role, you'll work closely with children and their families, understanding their individual needs and aspirations to deliver tailored training, support, and guidance throughout their Buddy Dog journey. From delivering engaging workshops to conducting home visits and offering ongoing aftercare, your insight and empathy will be essential to making every partnership a success. You'll see the opportunity to develop young people's skills through animal assisted interventions and empower families to reach their goals with your support.
Your expertise in dog behaviour and training will also be vital. You'll assess dogs for temperament and suitability, develop their skills through positive reinforcement techniques, and match each one thoughtfully with the right person or family. You'll consider not just the dog's capabilities but also the lifestyle, home environment and emotional needs of each service user, ensuring a safe, lasting, and enriching bond.
As a trusted advisor, you'll provide professional reports, risk assessments, and progress reviews that guide key decisions. You'll be a valued part of a collaborative, compassionate team, working across departments to continually improve how we support people living with sight loss. This is more than a job — it's a chance to bring meaningful change to people's lives every single day, by creating partnerships that heal, uplift, and inspire.
If you're ready to combine your love of dogs, people, and purpose into a truly fulfilling career, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
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.
As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.
If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.
Every day is different at Guide Dogs. And no person with sight loss is the same. We work side by side, on our sites and in the community, in schools and on our streets, supporting people to live the life they choose. Our staff therefore also work in different ways to support the delivery of our life changing work.
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.
Buddy Dog Partnership Specialist employer: Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
At Guide Dogs, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that empowers our employees to make a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people with visual impairments. With a hybrid working arrangement based in Leamington, our team enjoys flexibility while collaborating closely to deliver tailored support and training, fostering both personal and professional growth. Join us to be part of a compassionate community dedicated to transforming lives through the unique bond between dogs and their partners.
Contact Details:
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Buddy Dog Partnership Specialist
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Buddy Dog Partnership Specialist
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Buddy Dog Partnership Specialist, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
