Technical Learning Specialist (GDMS)

About The Role

The Technical Learning Specialist provides the pivotal role of training our Guide Dog Trainers and Guide Dog Mobility Specialists of the future.

If you want to inspire others through your knowledge, experience and passion then becoming a TLS allows you to make a bigger difference than ever before.

Once you have been fully inducted and trained as a TLS you will receive your first cohort of learners (normally three). You will use a blended learning approach to train your learners with a mixture of classroom and practical lessons. And you'll be supported in doing this by our learning experience platform 'Guide Dogs Learning' as well from our highly experienced, collaborative wider Academy Team who will also help you further your own professional and technical expertise.

Think this may be the role for you?

Hear more from Emma, one of our TLSs:

Here's an overview of what we're looking for in a potential candidate:

• GDMS qualified (including active practice within the last 5 years).
• Proven success in mentoring & coaching people in technical skills and theoretical knowledge.
• Confident in Guide Dogs training behaviour & welfare modules (STEP):
• Knowledge of a range of resources and support available to visually impaired people.
• The ability to demonstrate emotional intelligence, tact and empathy (including during difficult or challenging conversations).
• A full UK driving licence.

This is a fulltime role, for two years initially. We are able to consider a 30 hour week too.

We understand that thinking about becoming a TLS could mean you have lots of questions. For an informal discussion about this role please contact Allison Rowles, Regional Academy Manager.

Guide Dogs Academy is a pioneering centre of learning that’s constantly enquiring, innovating, improving. There’s a culture of curiosity that runs through our whole organisation and it’s why many people have long and varied careers with us.

For the staff who train our dogs and create our Guide Dog partnerships, working life begins in our Academy.

In small teams all around the country our future Guide Dog Trainers (GDTs) and Guide Dog Mobility Specialists (GDMSs) will learn the skills and knowledge needed for their roles. They learn from the best – people who have done the job themselves – including world-class dog trainers, behaviourists, and experts in working with people with vision impairment, and we combine this with a bespoke package of learning and career-development materials.

Our learning programmes are a combination of hands-on practical work with dogs and people, and a thorough grounding in the theory, practice, and reality of a job that you really can’t do anywhere else. And it’s a two-way process, as we value the experiences and talents people bring to the role from a wide variety of backgrounds. What unites them is the desire to really change lives.

This is why we’re all here.

Find out more about Guide Dogs Academy on our website: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/about-us/careers/guide-dogs-academy/

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

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 people with disabilities as they are currently under-represented in the organisation and guarantee an invitation to interview for all applicants with disabilities who demonstrate, within their application form, sufficient evidence to meet the essential criteria for the job.

If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Safeguarding

Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.

At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.

Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.

How to apply

You may have particular needs to be able to complete your application, If you would like support please contact our Recruitment Team on 0118 3540345 or ***email_hidden***

As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description.