Dog training coordinator jobs

Job Purpose: 

1. Volunteer Assessment and Support - To assess, train, and support volunteers prior to and throughout the placement of a dog or puppy in training. This includes ensuring that the volunteer’s capabilities and home environment are suitable for the dog, with a thorough home environment check completed prior to placement.

2. Staff Professional Development - To support the ongoing professional development of all staff by delivering and contributing to workshops and training sessions that promote awareness, knowledge, and practical skills in relation to the handling and education of puppies and dogs in training. This ensures staff are equipped to adhere to Assistance Dogs International (ADI) standards and organisational best practices.

Specific Duties:

1. Home assessments for volunteers

• Conduct comprehensive home assessments for prospective volunteers to ensure suitability for hosting and supporting the training of our dogs.
• Evaluate the physical and emotional environment to align with the needs and welfare of the dogs.
• Provide feedback and recommendations for home preparation.
• Conduct pet dog/child assessment as required.
• When required, on ad-hoc basis arrange and oversee initial trial placements of dogs, with prospective volunteers

2. Training and development of volunteers

• Lead the design and delivery of volunteer training sessions, workshops and ongoing skills development.
• Support volunteers in addressing challenges and reinforcing best practices.
• Monitor and evaluate volunteer progress and adjust training plans when needed.
• Maintain strong communication and relationships to ensure positive volunteer retention and success.

3. Workforce learning & development and best practice

• Lead on keeping the Training Team updated with the latest, training methods, welfare standards and relevant legislation.
• Deliver general dog awareness and handling training to non-dog-based staff, ensuring safe and appropriate interactions with dogs. · Facilitate knowledge-sharing and continuous improvement across teams.

4. Collaboration and administration 

• Work closely with the volunteering and training teams, maintaining accurate records of assessments, placements, and training sessions.
• Provide regular progress updates and feedback to relevant team members.
• Attend events as required, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Any other duty as required by the Senior Leadership team.

Essential Qualities: 

• Previous experience of working with animals.
• Knowledge of canine behaviour and welfare.
• Natural rapport with dogs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and support volunteers.

Desirable Qualities: 

• Recognised qualification in canine training/behaviour.
• Previous experience of conducting behavioural assessments on dogs.
• Previous experience of working with volunteers.
• Relevant qualifications in volunteer management.
• Previous teaching experience.
• Experience in the charity sector or working with assistance dogs.

JOB TITLE:HR Coordinator

LOCATION:                        Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire (minimum 4 days in office per week)

SALARY: £35 - £40k per annum, depending on experience

JOB TYPE: Permanent, 5 days per week (37.5 hours)

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease with our Bio Detection Dogs.  We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small, but ambitious charity that is a world leader in its specialist innovative field.

MAIN PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

The HR Coordinator will provide specialist and proactive support to other departments within the charity to ensure organisational compliance in all relevant areas relating to HR.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

Reporting to the People Engagement Manager, you will be supporting the Charity to set and deliver on its People Strategy. You will be responsible for providing operational HR services, advice, and guidance with a primary focus on HR transactions, employee relations management, engagement, recruitment and performance management.  You will identify, analyse and utilise HR data to inform decision making and identify more efficient ways of working.

Reports to: People Engagement Manager

ABOUT THE ROLE

• You will lead the development and implementation of a best practice approach to recruitment.
• You will advise managers on best practice techniques for monthly one-to-one meetings and annual appraisals to ensure staff feel confident to openly discuss challenges as well as successes.
• You will review and update our existing HR policies and procedures, ensuring they not only comply with current HR law but importantly promote best practice.
• You will also work with the senior leadership team to develop a set of organisational values that prioritise equality, diversity and inclusion and reflect best practice, ensuring these are then communicated to all staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• This is a rare opportunity to join a charity that wants to strengthen the support it provides to its staff and volunteers.

Responsibilities of the Role

• Maintain all HR policies and procedures ensuring they are regularly reviewed and updated to reflect relevant legislation and best practice.
• Ensure managers and staff are aware of and understand policies and procedures, communicate changes, and provide support to managers when interpreting policies as required.
• To work in collaboration with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team in leading Medical Detection Dogs towards our vision of becoming a staff-centric charity.
• Provide an efficient service to deliver HR transaction activities throughout the employment lifecycle, from offer to off-boarding.
• Provide support, guidance, and advice for managers in conducting and concluding employee relations cases, including absence, performance management, disciplinary and grievance cases, ensuring adherence to policy.
• Manage, maintain, and deliver the charity’s onboarding induction to new members of staff.
• Always maintain the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality.
• Be a role model within the charity demonstrating MDD’s values and behaviours at all times.
• Monitor completion of performance appraisals and one to one meetings, issuing reminders and offering support to managers as required.
• Coordinate and support the delivery of employee engagement surveys, including planning, analysis, reporting and follow up actions.
• Produce regular HR reports and people data metrics for the Senior Leadership Team (e.g. turnover, tenure, sickness absence trends, performance outcomes).
• Maintain and update the HR system (Breathe HR), ensuring employee records are accurate and up to date.
• Prepare and submit monthly payroll changes to the finance team in line with payroll deadlines.
• Manage staff benefits including the health cash plan, life assurance, pension scheme and long service awards.
• Produce and circulate internal HR communications such as staff newsletters, HR updates and policy changes.
• Coordinate and support learning and development activities, including booking and maintaining training records and delivering HR related training for managers and staff (e.g. one to ones, appraisals, HR systems).
• Assist in developing employee engagement initiatives.
• Contribute to wellbeing and inclusion initiatives.

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• CIPD Qualified and a minimum of 3 years’ experience in a similar role or currently undertaking the qualification.
• Employee relations (e.g. performance, absence, disciplinary, grievance, redundancy, etc) case management in line with current UK employment legislation
• Management of end-to-end recruitment activity, supporting hiring managers and focussed on candidate experience
• Excellent interpersonal, networking and communication skills
• Experience of managing relationships with staff at all levels

Desirable

• Experience of reward and recognition practices
• Experience of managing and inspiring staff, including encouraging innovation and improving ways of working to build a resilient and high performing team culture that delivers results
• Effective organisation and administrative skills gained within HR
• Experience on use of HR database (BREATHE)

Knowledge & Skills

DESIRABLE

• Ability to work independently and under minimal supervision in a fast paced and demanding environment, exercising good judgement, and using own initiative.
• Ability to work supportively and effectively within and across teams and build good working relationships
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when appropriate
• Proficiency in using Microsoft Office
• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills
• Good influencing and negotiation skills
• Strong people management skills with the ability to train and develop individuals and create a ‘one team’ ethos

Other Requirements

• A full current driving license
• Comfortable with dogs in the workplace/office

DIVERITY, EQUALITY & INCLUSION

We are a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive Charity. Medical Detection Dogs thrives when everyone feels comfortable bringing their best self to work. We celebrate difference, whilst striving to create an environment where colleagues feel respected and valued for their unique potential. We are committed to our values on equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Charity Values

All employees are expected to uphold the charity’s core values in their daily work. This includes demonstrating respect through open and considerate communication, fostering cooperation by working collaboratively, maintaining honesty in all interactions and ensuring fairness through just and transparent decision-making.

Benefits

• Sick Pay
• Health Cash Plan
• 26 days holiday, increasing with service
• 5% Employer Pension Contribution
• Free On-site parking
• Life Insurance   

Contract length: Permanent

Location: North West London

Hours per week: 35

Salary:  up to £33,700 pa depending on experience

Closing date for applications:  Monday 6 April 2026 , midnight, interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible

Every dog and cat in need deserves expert, personalised care and support, and to be loved. When you work for Mayhew, you understand that better than ever.  We’re a passionate, committed and diverse team of c80 staff and c150 volunteers, here for dogs, cats and communities in the UK, in Afghanistan and in Georgia. We offer expert veterinary care, rescue and rehoming services, programmes in the community and guidance and support to improve the lives of dogs and cats in need.

This is a challenging climate for pet owners; we are contending with a significant increase in demand for all areas of our work. We can only rise to meet this challenge by cultivating and sustaining a diverse volunteer base, including of foster carer volunteers – they make it possible for us to scale our reach at pace so we can be there for many more dogs and cats who need us, and more pet owners who rely on our support.

Volunteering and Foster Caring Manager is a new role at Mayhew, reflective of the importance of volunteering and foster caring in our ability to deliver our onward strategy and direction. This is a highly visible and important role for Mayhew. The postholder will be working across all teams with staff and volunteers, supporters, partners and members of the public.

This role requires an effective leader and manager, with practical subject matter expertise in volunteering good practice, strong organisational skills, and a drive, rooted in passion for both animal welfare and volunteering, to enable Mayhew to reach many more dogs and cats and pet owners who need us by cultivating a thriving, engaged and diverse volunteer base.

Staff and volunteers at Mayhew, particularly in animal facing and public facing roles have duties that can be physically and emotionally demanding, sometimes interfacing with dogs and cats and pet owners who are in distress and facing heart-breaking situations. Yet our work is hugely rewarding; you can view some of our amazing rescue stories here.

We offer a caring and supportive team and the chance to make a lasting difference to the lives of dogs and cats who rely on us.

While we embrace hybrid and flexible working models, interested applicants should note this role requires at least three working days in five to be worked at Trenmar Gardens, NW10 6BJ.

Generally, you will:

• Lead on developing our onward volunteering strategy and plan
• Provide leadership and management of volunteering and foster caring at Mayhew
• Provide support, training and guidance to staff managing volunteers
• Lead on volunteer engagement and communication
• Engage a range of internal and external stakeholders including staff, volunteers, supporters and partners
• Collaborate with the Senior Management Team to ensure delivery of our strategic and operational goals
• Be self-driven and resilient, having a professional, friendly, calm and caring manner

To be successful in this role, you need relevant experience:

• Working in a volunteering management role in a charity or other organisation of comparable breadth and scope
• Leading and living volunteer management best practice, including overseeing policies, procedures and guidance
• Owning and improving volunteering management processes

Please note that successful candidates will be asked to evidence their Right to Work in the UK post-job offer – we do not hold a sponsor licence therefore we are unable to provide Visa sponsorship.

We reserve the right to close this post at any time, should we receive a high volume of applications.

RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer to guide us through an exciting period of growth, transformation and renewed strategic ambition.

At Little Valley, our purpose is clear: to promote kindness, prevent cruelty, and provide outstanding welfare for the animals who rely on us. Our next Chief Executive Officer will inspire staff and volunteers, strengthen community partnerships, and lead with clarity, compassion and courage.

About the role

Our team is united by our compassion, collaboration, integrity, excellence and deep connection to our community - values that guide every decision we make. We are looking for a Chief Executive Officer who will champion these values in everything they do.

We are in a pivotal moment of investment and cultural renewal, with major developments underway - including improved facilities, modernisation of systems, strategic income growth and strengthened community engagement. This is your opportunity to lead an ambitious and much‑loved charity into its next chapter.

Key Responsibilities

(Full Job Description and Person Specification attached.)

• Lead the organisation’s strategic direction, ensuring alignment with our mission, values and long‑term goals.
• Drive high‑quality, compassionate animal welfare services across all operational areas.
• Provide visible, empathetic leadership that supports a positive culture for staff and volunteers.
• Ensure strong financial stewardship, diversifying income and securing long‑term sustainability.
• Strengthen partnerships, community profile and external relationships across the region.
• Champion innovation, operational excellence and continuous improvement at every level.

About You

You’ll bring proven senior leadership experience, exceptional communication skills, strong financial and governance capability, and the emotional intelligence needed to lead a complex and values‑driven organisation. Above all, you’ll bring a genuine passion for animal welfare and a commitment to ensuring values remain at the heart of everything we do.

Why join us?

As our Chief Executive Officer, you will lead a dedicated team, steward an organisation with strong foundations, and be at the forefront of shaping a more compassionate future for animals across Devon. This is more than a leadership role - it’s a chance to create lasting impact.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a supporting statement (maximum two pages) outlining how your experience, leadership and values make you the right person to become our next Chief Executive Officer.

Application deadline: Tuesday 7 April, 5pm

We encourage applications from leaders who are motivated by purpose, committed to impact and inspired by the opportunity to shape the future of Little Valley Animal Shelter.

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