Team Leader Guide and Assistance Dog Services
Organization: Guide Dogs Victoria
Location: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Job Type: Full time
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Job Description
Contact at organisation: Aaron Horsington, Guide Dogs Victoria
Phone: 0420961302
Team Leader – Guide & Assistance Dog Services (Training & Client Delivery)Guide Dogs Victoria – Kew, Melbourne
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 opportunityThis 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
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.
How to Apply
Send expressions of interest and CV's to hr@guidedogsvictoria.com.au
Guide dogs make an enormous difference to the lives of blind and visually impaired people. Not only do they bring the gift of independence, they also bring support, companionship and joy to people who really need it. The International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) relies solely on member contributions to continue our work. Help us give the gift of a guide dog to a blind or visually impaired person today!
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