Academy Guide Dog Trainer

The Guide Dogs Academy is home to our world-class training programmes and aims to recruit, train and develop our expanding specialist workforce of Guide Dog Trainers (GDT) and Guide Dogs Mobility Specialists (GDMS).

The Academy is currently recruiting for an Academy Guide Dog Trainer (AGDT) at our Nottingham site to join our training programme starting in September 2023.

What is a Guide Dog Trainer?

A Guide Dog Trainer (GDT) is responsible for developing the skills and behaviours in a Guide Dog that are needed to support someone living with sight loss live the life they choose.

A GDT not only ensures dogs are trained to the correct Guide Dogs’ standards but also has a thorough understanding of our service user matching process and will meet and help assess and support the needs of our service users through close working relationships.

The GDT also works collaboratively with other specialists across a variety of areas including dog wellbeing teams, training and behaviour advisors, volunteers, puppy development advisors and many more, so the ability to work in a collaborative, positive and supportive way is essential.

In the following video Chris and Jane, Guide Dog Trainers, explain their roles and why they love their job: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7al7nXvK7w


What does the training involve?

The Academy GDT (AGDT) role offers full training in becoming a Guide Dog Trainer. Using our industry leading learning platform ‘Guide Dogs Learning’ you will work under one of our Technical Learning Specialists to become proficient in every aspect of the GDT role.

This is not your normal 9 to 5 role, and no two days are the same. For example, one day you may be in planning meetings, another day walking in all weathers training dogs.

As an Academy GDT your starting salary will be from £22,660 to £26,000 per annum dependant on experience. Throughout your training you will receive competency-based gradual salary increments. Once you are fully competent and graduate from the Academy (usually within 2.5 years of starting training), your salary will increase to £27,025.

What are we looking for?

We’re looking for people with a determined and positive mindset who have a passion for supporting and empowering people – and of course, you also need to love dogs! You’ll be active, professional, and committed to providing the best service to our service users. A commitment to learning is important as we take your professional development seriously and you’ll be working with world-leaders in the dog behaviour space, so you must be prepared to learn and add to your current skills.

Should you be shortlisted you’ll be required to attend an initial virtual online interview to take place week commencing 26th June 2023 and may subsequently be invited to attend our Assessment Day in Nottingham due to take place week commencing 10th July 2023.