Job Description
Contact at organisation: Joseph Shiarappa, The Seeing Eye
Phone: 973-539-4425
Email: jshiarappa@seeingeye.org
The Seeing Eye, the pioneer of guide dog schools, is seeking candidates for the position of Director of Canine Development to join our team. For 96 years, The Seeing Eye, based in Morristown, NJ enhances the independence, dignity, and self-confidence of blind people through the use of Seeing Eye® dogs.
Scope of Responsibility: The Director of Canine Development is a senior member of the The Seeing Eye (TSE) leadership team responsible for strategic direction and oversight of the canine development pipeline, which at any given time includes 600-1,000 dogs. The Director actively participates in genetic/breeding decision making and is responsible for the welfare of each dog in the TSE colony from the age of seven-weeks through training and, ultimately placement as a Seeing Eye guide or private adoption. The Director oversees a staff of 39, in three functional areas: Puppy Development, the Washington Valley Kennels and Canine Development.
Essential Duties:
Puppy Development
- Oversee all Puppy Development communications and activities, with one direct Manager-level report, 7 Area Coordinators and 2 administrative personnel.
- Set and maintain standards with respect to volunteer puppy raising, shaping a standardized curricula for proper socialization, house manners and basic obedience training.
- Possess a strong working knowledge of the puppy raiser experience to inform volunteer recruitment and retention strategies, club expansion plans and future direction/growth.
Washington Valley Kennels
- Oversees kennel housing for approximately 250 dogs in training, maintaining an even flow of dogs in and out of the program. Monitors dogs through training cycle, assessing progress and status.
- Oversees one direct kennel Manager, 2 supervisors and 22 kennel staff who are responsible for the day-to-day health and wellness of the kennel-ed dogs.
- Close collaboration with the Director of Veterinary Medicine & Genetics with respect to any medical issues/releases from the program.
Canine Development
- Partner with the Jane H. Booker Chair of Genetics in breeder selection/mating matches.
- Responsible for breeder selection from the canine training pool, supervising a Senior Specialist dedicated to the selection effort.
- Supervise enrichment activities of the breeding colony at the TSE Chester campus.
- Liaise with Instruction and Training and Veterinary Medicine and Genetics departments to assess the needs of individual dogs and total dogs for the program.
- Responsible for final decisions on temperament rejections.
- Oversee the Adoption program for dogs released from the Training program.
General Administration
- Recruit employees, set salaries, and develop and manage departmental budgets.
- Prepares or supervises the preparation of division reports and supervises division record-keeping.
- Work with President & CEO and the Donor and Public Relations team on dog related events and donor stewardship as requested.
- Participates in media/press opportunities and serves as a public spokesperson for the organization as requested.
Education and Experience:
- Requires a B.A. or B.S. degree. Relevant advanced degree a plus.
- 10+ years of progressively responsible experience with guide dog school or related canine organization required.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills required.
- Microsoft Office suite proficiency required. Comfort with social media and databases a plus.
How to Apply
For further consideration, please apply directly with resume and cover letter using the link below:
The Seeing Eye is an Equal Opportunity Employer
The Seeing Eye does not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected class, including but not limited to race, color, or national origin, religion, gender, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, or marital status in the administration of its hiring, admissions policies, loan programs, and other school-administered programs. The Seeing Eye is committed to equal opportunity, hires individuals, admits students without consideration of legally protected class, and affords all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally made available to employees and students at the school.
