Police Dog School Manager in Guildford

This role is within a unit where Surrey Police and Sussex Police work in collaboration, whilst remaining two separate legal entities/employers with different terms and conditions. Both Surrey Police staff and Sussex Police staff are employed in this unit on their own force terms and conditions. Successful candidates may be appointed on the terms and conditions of employment of either Surrey Police or Sussex Police, depending on organisational requirements. A discussion will be held with the successful candidate to confirm the details of location, salary, allowances and hours.

Division / Department - Operations Command

Grade - Surrey Police Level 1 / Sussex Police M1

Status - Full Time

Contract Type - Permanent

Salary Grade Range - Surrey Police £44,053 - £57,478 / Sussex Police £49,716 - £54,696

Working Hours - 36.0 Hours per Week

Shift Allowance - No

Politically Restricted - No

Location - Surrey Police Headquarters, Guildford

The starting salary for this role will usually be at the bottom of the salary range and will be pro-rata if the working hours are less than full time.

Chief Constables' Message: We really welcome your interest in joining our Police Force. It is a privilege to lead the teams in Surrey Police and Sussex Police who continuously work selflessly and tirelessly in order to keep people in our counties safe. We are looking for talented and inspirational people who put the needs of the public at the heart of everything that they do and who want to make a difference. If you feel you are that person then we want to hear from you. We wish you all the very best with your application.

The Role & Key Responsibilities: 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, 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? Why Join 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.

We are only as good as our people. It’s important that our officers and staff can be themselves in the workplace and we know that as an organisation we’ll grow from the variety of thinking, approach, and the skills that diversity brings; all of which help us to deliver a better policing service. We strive to ensure how we deliver our services, provide information and how we recruit is open and accessible to all. We have multiple staff support groups who help to improve our understanding of minority issues and ensure they are reflected in our work. We are proud members of Disability Confident, hold Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status, are a signatory of the Race at Work Charter and are aligned with the Armed Forces Covenant and the HeForShe movement. We are committed to being an anti-racist police service. We promise to challenge injustice, ensure fairness and to uphold anti-racist principles in both our organisation and our communities. We value the differences that people bring from all backgrounds and communities. Regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, disability, social status, or religious belief, we would love to hear from you.

This post is being advertised in parallel with Force redeployment processes. Any redeployees who are identified will be given preference. This may result in the post being withdrawn at any point during the recruitment process. Please note that not all jobs are available for internal candidates across both Forces, the current agreed recruitment principles are; vacancies in collaborated units are available to all officers and staff across both Forces, vacancies in non-collaborated units are only available to officers and staff within the Force with the vacancy unless it is advertised externally. If the vacancy is advertised externally and an officer or member of staff from the other Force is successful it will result in a transfer of employment. Surrey Police and Sussex Police Special Constables, Volunteers and Agency Staff (excluding self-employed workers) covered under the Agency Worker Regulations (AWR) are eligible to apply for internal advertised posts.

Reference number SYSX STAFF04799 Date posted 09/03/2026