Team Leader – Assessment & Training Kennels
Guide Dogs Victoria | Kew, Melbourne
Lead people. Coordinate operations. Support life-changing
outcomes.
At Guide Dogs Victoria, our work changes lives. For
nearly 70 years, we’ve supported people with low vision or blindness to live
independently and confidently. Today, we are building on that legacy, expanding
the careers of our dogs to support people with a broader range of needs,
including assistance dogs for other disabilities including complex and
trauma-related conditions.
Behind every successful dog is a well-run, high-quality
kennel environment—and that’s where this role comes in.
About the role
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys
bringing structure, coordination and people together in a dynamic,
purpose-driven environment.
As Team Leader – Assessment & Training Kennels, you will
lead the daily operations of our kennel facilities, ensuring every dog entering
the training pipeline is supported with the highest standards of care,
preparation and consistency. You will lead a team of staff and volunteers
while coordinating the critical transition point between puppy raising and
formal training. You will work as part of a collaborative senior
leadership team in Dog & Clients Services.
This role is ideal for someone who:
- Enjoys leading people
and building strong team culture
- Thrives on planning,
coordination and operational flow
- Wants to work in a role
where people, dogs and purpose intersect
What you’ll be responsible for
People Leadership & Team Culture
- Lead, coach and develop
kennel staff and volunteers
- Build a positive,
engaged and high-performing team environment
- Manage rosters, workflow
and day-to-day operations
Operational Coordination
- Oversee kennel
operations to ensure smooth daily running
- Coordinate dog intake,
transitions and readiness for training
- Ensure strong alignment
between raising, assessment and training teams
Dog Welfare & Standards
- Maintain exceptional
standards of dog care, wellbeing and behaviour monitoring
- Ensure accurate record
keeping and reporting
- Support cooperative care
practices and consistent handling
Planning & Pipeline Flow
- Manage kennel capacity
and workflow across intake and assessment
- Minimise delays and
support seamless progression into training
- Work closely with
cross-functional leaders to align demand and delivery
Compliance & Quality
- Ensure adherence to
welfare, safety and accreditation standards (IGDF/ADI)
- Support audits and
continuous improvement initiatives
What you bring
We’re looking for a people-focused operational leader who is
as comfortable coordinating logistics as they are leading a dynamic team
environment.
You will bring:
- Experience in team
leadership or supervisory roles
- Strong planning,
coordination and organisational skills
- Ability to manage
competing priorities and operational flow
- Confidence working in
hands-on, fast-paced environments
- A genuine interest in
working with dogs and contributing to meaningful outcomes
Experience in animal care, kennels, training environments or
similar operational settings is highly regarded—but not essential.
Why join Guide Dogs Victoria?
- Work in a purpose-driven
organisation with real community impact
- Be part of a
collaborative leadership model across Dog & Client Services
- Contribute to an iconic
program while supporting the future of assistance dogs
- Join a workplace that
values people, development and shared success
- Based at our
state-of-the-art Kew campus
Ready to lead and make a difference?
If you’re a people leader who enjoys planning, coordination
and working in a hands-on environment, we’d love to hear from you.
Apply now via SEEK.
