Lead with purpose. Deliver outcomes that change lives.
At Guide Dogs Victoria, we’ve spent nearly 70 years breaking
down barriers so people can live life without limits. Our Guide Dog
program remains strong, established and central to who we are — supporting
people with low vision or blindness to travel safely and confidently.
Building on this foundation, we are expanding the careers of
our dogs through Assistance Dog programs, supporting people with a broader
range of disabilities, trauma-related conditions and complex needs. This
expansion is about creating more opportunities for our dogs to do life-changing
work, while continuing to strengthen and grow our Guide Dog program.
To deliver on this, we are seeking a Team Leader to
coordinate our training pipeline, lead a skilled team, and ensure every dog and
client achieves the best possible outcome.
The opportunity
This is a people leadership and operational coordination
role, responsible for the day-to-day delivery of our dog training and client
programs.
You will lead a team of:
- Guide
Dog Mobility Instructors
- Guide
Dog & Assistance Dog Trainers
- Puppy
Development Trainers
- Cadets
And oversee the end-to-end dog development and client
delivery lifecycle:
early development → training → matching → handler training → placement →
aftercare
You will ensure the pipeline flows effectively, the team is
supported and performing, and clients receive a high-quality, consistent
experience.
A collaborative leadership model
You will operate within a collaborative leadership team,
working closely with peers across:
- Technical
quality and training standards
- Client
pathways and demand management
- Kennel
intake and training readiness
Together, this group ensures alignment between client
demand, training standards and operational delivery — so that every dog and
every client is set up for success.
You will also be supported by an experienced Manager, Dog
Training & Client Services, providing guidance, coaching and oversight.
What you’ll be accountable for
Team leadership
- Lead,
coach and support a multidisciplinary team
- Build
capability, engagement and performance
- Foster
a positive, accountable team culture
Planning, scheduling & coordination
- Manage
caseload allocation, scheduling and training programs
- Ensure
smooth coordination across teams and training stages
- Keep
the pipeline flowing and proactively address bottlenecks
Dog training & development delivery
- Oversee
progression from early development through to placement
- Maintain
high standards of training quality and dog welfare
- Support
consistency across training approaches and outcomes
Client delivery
- Coordinate
matching and handler training programs
- Support
high-quality client experiences and outcomes
- Ensure
effective follow-up and aftercare support
Operational performance
- Monitor
throughput, timelines and utilisation
- Contribute
to continuous improvement and efficiency
- Deliver
within budget and resource parameters
About you
You are an experienced practitioner with strong technical
capability and the confidence to step into — or continue — leading others.
You may be a senior instructor or trainer who:
- Has
built credibility through hands-on delivery and client outcomes
- Is
ready to take on team leadership responsibilities
- Enjoys
working as part of a collaborative leadership group to deliver coordinated
outcomes
You bring:
- Qualification
as an International Guide Dog Federation Guide Dog Mobility Instructor (or
equivalent)
- Strong
interpersonal skills and the ability to guide, coach and support others
- Demonstrated
capability in planning, scheduling and coordinating work across a team
- A
practical understanding of the end-to-end dog development and client
delivery lifecycle
- The
ability to work collaboratively across technical quality, client pathways
and kennel operations
You are someone who:
- Leads
through relationships, clarity and follow-through
- Is
organised and proactive in keeping the team and pipeline on track
- Gets
the best out of people by creating structure, support and accountability
- Works
effectively within a shared leadership model
- Is
motivated to grow and develop as a leader, with the support of an
experienced Manager
Why join Guide Dogs Victoria?
- Be
part of an organisation with a strong legacy and ambitious future
- Contribute
to the expansion of assistance dog services
- Work
from our state-of-the-art Kew campus
- Be
supported to grow your leadership capability within a collaborative
environment
- Make
a meaningful difference in the lives of people and their dogs
Apply now
If you’re ready to combine your technical expertise with
leadership and help shape the future of Guide & Assistance Dog services —
we’d love to hear from you.
