National Therapy Dogs Manager

Manage the Therapy Dogs program nationally. Provide hands on strategic and operational management of the program, enabling our 1000+ volunteers and their Therapy Dogs bring joy to people around Australia.

• National charity
• Help guide and develop a growing program to the next level
• Both strategic and operationally hands on role

We are a national non-profit organisation whose purpose is to help animals bring joy to people.   Our work focuses on bringing the social, physical and emotional benefits of therapy animals to people who need it most.  Teams visit sick children and adults in hospitals, residents in aged care facilities, rehabilitation centres, mental health services, prisons and any other facilities where building connection with a therapy animal can enhance quality of life. 

We are looking for a strong values driven leader, with a depth of strategic and operational experience to manage our Therapy Dogs program nationally.  This role will give a highly experienced program manager the opportunity to develop systems and processes and create a high performing results oriented culture, while offering day to day support and guidance to our State Co-ordinators working closely with volunteers and host facilities to help our Therapy Dogs bring joy to people.

Location: Sydney NSW (Summer Hill)

Duration: Full time 37.5 hours/week

Key Responsibilities:

Provide Strategic & Operational Direction:

• Develop and deliver the Therapy Dogs program strategy in line with organisational strategy.
• Develop and deliver the Therapy Dogs program operational plans.
• Support the State Therapy Dogs Co-ordinators to develop and deliver local operational plans.

Financial Planning & Management:

• Develop the annual Therapy Dogs budget.
• Achievement of annual Therapy Dogs budgeted revenue.
• Program delivery within approved budgeted expenses.

Volunteer Management:

• Oversight of volunteer recruitment, assessment, training and placement.
• Develop and deliver volunteer marketing, engagement and management strategies.

Host Facility Management:

• Oversight of facility recruitment, orientation, placement and ongoing relationship management.
• Develop and deliver host facility engagement and management strategies.

Systems & Processes:

• Ensure all Therapy Dogs policies and procedures are current and relevant.
• Ensure all Therapy Dogs systems and processes are designed to support achievement of the strategic direction, offering suggestions and solutions for continuous improvement.

Program Measurement & Evaluation:

• Develop and deliver program measurement and evaluation strategy, including process for ongoing feedback from key program stakeholders.
• Manage volunteer reporting process.
• Monitor program outputs and impact, tracking against targets.

People & Culture:

• Create a high performing and supportive culture in the Therapy Dogs team.
• Provide support, guidance, supervision and development opportunities to the NSW, VIC and QLD State Therapy Dogs Co-ordinators.
• Provide support, guidance, supervision and development opportunities to the Adelaide and Devonport Volunteer Co-ordinators.
• Be the direct Co-ordinator for smaller Therapy Dogs teams including Perth and Hobart.
• Be an active participant of the Leadership Team.

Safeguarding children and vulnerable people:

• Develop and deliver safeguarding children and vulnerable people policies, practices and culture.
• Oversight of Working with Children and National Police Clearance processes.

Risk & Compliance:

• Develop and maintain the Therapy Dogs program risk register and framework.
• Oversight of program WH&S issues and obligations.

 To be successful in this position you will need to:

• Have extensive program management experience (minimum 5 years).
• Tertiary qualification in business management or other relevant field.
• Experience managing large numbers of volunteers.
• Experience working with health care facilities such as hospitals, aged care, disability care etc.
• Experience managing a geographically dispersed team.
• Experience working strategically while managing day to day operations.
• Strong financial management skills and ability to create budgets.
• Results orientation.
• Able to work some weekends as needed.
• A love for dogs and animals, and passion for our purpose.
• Be willing to undertake a Working with Children Check and National Police Check.