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SalaryDog A.I.D. is recruiting for the exciting new role of Programme Support and Engagement Officer. The post holder will play a key role across client support and volunteer engagement functions within the charity. They will work alongside our operations and training teams to support and engage our existing network of volunteer trainers and support them effectively to ensure their long-term retention. As well as providing administration for our existing volunteer CPD offer, the post-holder will support the roll-out, administration and evaluation of two crucial new projects, a trainer mentoring programme and an in-house assessor’s course.
The Programme Support and Engagement Officer will also develop trusting and empathetic relationships with our clients, engaging and supporting them as they navigate the Assistance Dog training programme.
This role is person-centred and focused on building great relationships with clients and volunteers. You will often be the first point of contact for volunteers and clients contacting the charity, so an empathetic, diplomatic and professional approach is essential, as well as excellent inter-personal and communication skills. The role post-holder will be expected to undertake a wide array of administrative tasks related to programme support, so it is essential that the right candidate is able to manage and work through a heavy and varied workload efficiently and effectively.
Dog A.I.D. has a small staff team so it is essential that the post-holder is a strong team member who is proactive and self-motivated. They need to be able to see “the bigger picture”, identify priorities and use their initiative to “get on and do” what needs to be done. These are exciting times for our charity so we would want someone who is passionate about what we are trying to achieve and comes with us on the journey.
This role is full time (37.5 hours per week).Our team works a hybrid model, predominantly home working with regular travel to our office in Shrewsbury and other locations for workshops and meetings
Dog Assistance in Disability (A.I.D.) is a unique organisation, empowering disabled people to train their own pet dogs, supported by professional dog trainers as volunteers.
Dog A.I.D. was established in 1992 to assist people with physical disabilities, improving their quality of life by helping them train their own pet dogs to provide assistance with day-to-day tasks.
In 1996, the Dog A.I.D. Scheme was launched nationally at Crufts and today has a team of staff, volunteer trainers and assessors based across the country supporting over 168 Assistance Dog partnerships, both in training and fully qualified, with our office base in Shrewsbury, Shropshire.
As of May 2024, there are currently 98 fully qualified Dog A.I.D. dogs throughout the country, with 70 more in training with 95 voluntary Dog A.I.D. Trainers. The training takes up to two years with both dog and disabled owner (‘client’) receiving specialist education from our network of trainers and attaining fully accredited Assistance Dog status through three distinct stages.
Dog A.I.D. is a member of Assistance Dogs UK, a voluntary coalition of Assistance Dog charities that aims to promote the freedom, independence and rights of people with assistance dogs across the UK. All Assistance Dogs UK dogs adhere to the highest training and welfare standards as set out by Assistance Dogs International and the International Guide Dogs Federation.
This is an exciting time for the charity which has a strong team in place led by a new CEO who took up post in October 2023. Last year, the charity developed and launched its new 3-year strategic plan which has an ambitious plan for growth to meet the incredible demand for its life-changing services.
