Senior Dog Wellbeing Technician / Dog Wellbeing Team Leader
- Guide Dogs
- Woodford, UK
- 20 Feb, 2026
Job Description
Senior Dog Wellbeing Technician / Dog Wellbeing Team Leader
Lead a dedicated animal care team delivering specialist dog wellbeing, husbandry and canine healthcare support within a kennel environment. This hands-on leadership role combines team management, safeguarding, health and safety, and positive reinforcement dog handling.
If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Animal Care Supervisor, Kennel Supervisor, Senior Animal Care Technician, Dog Care Coordinator, Animal Welfare Team Leader, Kennel Team Leader, Dog Care Supervisor
SALARY: £33,900 per annum (including weighting allowance) + Excellent Benefits (see below)
LOCATION: Woodford, Redbridge, Essex (IG8)
JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent
WORKING HOURS: 35 hours per week on a rota basis covering Monday to Sunday. Shifts between 7am and 9pm with 1 in 3 weekends required
JOB OVERVIEW
We have a fantastic new job opportunity for a Senior Dog Wellbeing Technician / Dog Wellbeing Team Leader to organise daily operations and support high standards of animal wellbeing within a busy dog care environment.
As a Senior Dog Wellbeing Technician / Dog Wellbeing Team Leader you will oversee rotas, supervise technicians and volunteers, and ensure routine husbandry, health monitoring and kennel management tasks are completed safely and efficiently.
The Senior Dog Wellbeing Technician / Dog Wellbeing Team Leader will also take an active hands-on role in canine care, supporting behavioural development, safeguarding, record keeping and health and safety compliance while working closely with internal specialists and volunteers.
APPLY TODAY
Ready to make your next career move? Apply Today for our Recruitment Team to review.
DUTIES
Your duties as the Senior Dog Wellbeing Technician / Dog Wellbeing Team Leader include:
- Team Leadership and Organisation: Manage rotas, allocate daily tasks and lead team meetings to ensure smooth site operations
- Line Management and Coaching: Provide supervision, mentoring and performance support to Dog Wellbeing Technicians and volunteers
- Kennel and Environment Management: Oversee cleanliness, infection control and safety within dog accommodation and treatment areas
- Dog Care and Husbandry: Manage routine feeding, grooming, exercise and welfare monitoring within a kennel environment
- Health Monitoring and Escalation: Identify health concerns, interpret wellbeing data and escalate issues appropriately
- Behavioural Support: Promote positive reinforcement handling techniques and support behavioural development
- Volunteer Supervision: Guide and support volunteers to maximise performance and confidence in dog care duties
- Training and Education: Deliver specialist knowledge and guidance in routine canine healthcare and welfare practices
- Record Keeping and Administration: Maintain accurate records using databases and Microsoft Office systems
- Transport and Logistics: Safely transport dogs for internal and external health-related appointments
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
ESSENTIAL
- A qualification in animal care or equivalent relevant work-based experience
- Previous experience in a kennel or animal care environment (paid or voluntary)
- Experience in a supervisory, coaching or team leadership capacity
- Proven understanding of animal wellbeing, dog care principles and common health conditions
- Ability to handle and walk a range of dog breeds, sizes and temperaments
- Computer literacy including Microsoft Office and database systems
- Strong communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and volunteers
- Ability to manage workloads, prioritise tasks and make sound decisions under pressure
- A flexible approach to working unsocial hours including weekends and bank holidays
- Ability to meet travel requirements, including transporting dogs across the region
- Eligibility to work in the UK
DESIRABLE
- A management qualification
- Experience of coaching and mentoring colleagues
- Experience of working with volunteers
- Knowledge of animal first aid
- Understanding of positive reinforcement dog training techniques
BENEFITS
- Generous annual leave: 26 days rising to 28 days after three years (pro rata), plus bank holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential wellbeing support
- Wellbeing Buddies offering confidential peer support
- Menopause Champions providing dedicated guidance and resources
- Cycle-to-work scheme with a wide range of bike options
- Eye care vouchers for free tests and VDU glasses contributions
- Hearing tests for colleagues working in kennel environments
- Discounts and cashback across retail, supermarkets, travel and more
- Pension scheme with employer matching plus 2%, up to 9% employer contribution
- Life assurance at four times salary, with options to increase cover
- Flexible benefits allowance (3% of salary) for gym memberships, health plans, dental insurance, travel insurance, critical illness cover, additional life assurance and the option to buy or sell annual leave
The Charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom they work. They expect all of their employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
Please note: we reserve the right to close any of our vacancies early.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
APPLY TODAY…
By submitting your job application to us you are hereby giving us your express consent to submit your details to our Client for this purpose.
JOB REF: AWDO-P14436
This job is being advertised by AWD online on behalf of Guide Dogs
Full-Time, Permanent Animal Care Jobs, Careers and Vacancies. Find a new job and work in Exeter, Devon. Multi-Job Board Advertising and CV Sourcing Recruitment Services provided by AWD online.
AWD-IN-SPJ
Job Ref:
Working at Guide Dogs
Working at Guide Dogs is much more than just a job. Through the values that guide our work, we make a real difference - and change lives.
If you feel that you are committed to our vision, purpose and values, and are dedicated to helping create a society in which blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else, then find out a bit more about us and the benefits of working with us.
Working at Guide Dogs
Working at Guide Dogs is much more than just a job. Through the values that guide our work, we make a real difference - and change lives.
If you feel that you are committed to our vision, purpose and values, and are dedicated to helping create a society in which blind and partially sighted people enjoy the same freedom of movement as everyone else, then find out a bit more about us and the benefits of working with us.
What we offer you
We believe that wellbeing at work is about creating an environment to promote a state of contentment which allows all employees to flourish and achieve their full potential for the benefit of themselves and for Guide Dogs.
As a member of staff we offer you a wide range of benefits to suit your individual needs:
- 35 hour working week
- 26 days’ holiday plus bank holidays - Rising to 28 days after three years' service
- Defined contribution group personal pension plan - Guide Dogs matches employee contributions plus 2% up to a maximum of a 9% employer contribution
- Life assurance - A core benefit of 4 times salary
- Flexible benefits - An amount equivalent to 3% of salary is given to employees to purchase benefits from a suite of well-being products
- Discounts and cash-back scheme - Access to discounts on goods and retail vouchers and cash back on purchases for supermarkets, clothing, electrical goods, travel, eating out, insurance and much more
- Employee assistance programme - A free-phone confidential helpline to provide unlimited access to advice, information and face-to-face counselling support, where appropriate
- Occupational sick pay - Enhanced above the statutory minimum
- Occupational maternity, paternity and adoption pay - Enhanced above the statutory minimum
- Child care vouchers - Enabling NI savings to be made on child care costs
- Eye care vouchers - Free eye tests and if needed specifically for VDU work, a contribution towards glasses
- Hearing tests - Free hearing tests for employees working in our kennels
- Dogalogue 10% discount - A 10% discount on orders from the Guide Dogs official shop
Diversity Statement
Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome, and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. We encourage applications from disabled people as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job.
Safeguarding Statement
Guide Dogs is committed to ensuring that children, young people and adults at risk who come into contact who come into contact with Guide Dogs staff and volunteers are treated with respect, and are free from all forms of abuse or mistreatment. We are also committed to ensuring that all staff and volunteers are aware of their responsibilities, and have the knowledge and skills necessary to promote and maintain the welfare and safety of those with whom they come into contact.
