Dog School Manager in Guildford

From your first day with us you will be part of a policing family making a real difference. It is our mission to identify and protect vulnerable people, prevent and respond to harm and keep people safe. Shape the future of policing excellence – through world‑class dog training. Do you have the leadership confidence, commercial mindset, and passion for policing standards needed to drive one of the UK’s most respected Police Dog Training Schools? Surrey & Sussex Police are looking for an exceptional manager to lead our Dog Training School ensuring it remains a viable, high‑performing, and nationally reputable centre of excellence.

Unique opportunity to combine operational policing support with strong business acumen, customer engagement, and strategic influence across the wider policing landscape.

About the Role

As the Police Dog Training School Manager, you will lead the day‑to‑day operations of the School, ensuring that every element of training delivery is NPCC‑compliant, customer‑focused, financially sustainable, and aligned to the needs of our operational Dog Unit. Working closely with the Operational Dog Unit Inspector and national policing partners, you will play a pivotal role in maintaining the School’s reputation for exceptional training standards, innovation, and ethics while also driving income generation and sound commercial decision‑making.

What We’re Looking For

• A confident leader with experience managing specialist training, or commercial services.
• Strong business acumen and a track record of income generation and service development.
• Excellent communication and partnership‑building skills.
• Passion for high standards and continuous improvement.
• Ability to influence nationally, innovate locally, and work collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.

Skills & Experience

Candidates must have the Skills and Experience to Deliver:

• Leadership & Business Management
  • Ensure the Dog Training School remains a viable and sustainable asset for Surrey and Sussex Police.
  • Oversee course pricing, commercial opportunities, and income generation to support long‑term financial stability.
  • Engage with customers and partner organisations to maintain high‑quality training provision and respond proactively to feedback and improvement opportunities.
• Excellence & Compliance
  • Manage day‑to‑day activity, ensuring full compliance with National Training Standards and Surrey & Sussex Police policies and procedures.
  • Prioritise training for Surrey & Sussex operational dog teams in partnership with the Dog Unit Inspector, ensuring a cohesive and efficient course programme.
  • Act as the SPOC for all matters relating to Police Dog training and licensing for both forces.
  • Ensure Compliance with animal welfare standards and care.
• Partnerships, Quality & National Influence
  • Actively contribute to the NPCC Police Dog Working Group and implement new recommendations to keep the School at the forefront of national best practice.
  • Promote the work of the Dog School and Dog Unit through corporate communications and media engagement.
  • Ensure all dog breeding and procurement processes are ethical, transparent, and legitimate.
• Culture, Learning & Innovation
  • Work with operational colleagues to ensure real‑world learning informs future training delivery.
  • Champion a positive, progressive culture within the School and wider Dog Unit.
  • Support consistent delivery of NPCC‑compliant, customer‑focused training for police, partner agencies, and individual learners.

Other essential

• Full Drivers licence
• Competent use of Microsoft applications

Why Work With Us?

This is a rare leadership role offering the chance to shape the development of police dogs and handlers across two forward‑thinking forces. You’ll help safeguard communities, support frontline policing, and lead a team dedicated to specialist excellence. If you’re ready to inspire, innovate, and drive the future of police dog training, we want to hear from you.

Policing is an exciting 24/7 business and we all have commitments outside work. We’re invested in supporting people to balance their life with work and we encourage flexible working. We encourage agile working, giving you the opportunity to manage your own diary and work wherever you give the best service to the public. This may include flexi-time and home working.

We take pride in looking after our people and offer a variety of benefits; career progression, contributory pension scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave allowance, discounts for everyday spend, on-site gyms and a range of sports clubs, generous and supportive parental leave, financial and mental wellbeing guidance and support, discounted contributory healthcare scheme.