Job Description

At Guiding Eyes for the Blind, we are passionate about connecting exceptional dogs with individuals seeking greater independence. We are dedicated to creating and supporting life-changing partnerships between people and dogs.

At our facilities, we breed, raise, and train exceptional guide dogs – and match them with individuals ready to embrace a life of greater freedom, confidence, and possibility. Together, they embark on incredible life adventures. Are you ready to play a role in that journey? Join us and help be a part of transforming lives.

Our incredible dogs make our mission possible – and working with them will inspire you! We put our clients first, striving to exceed their expectations by providing exceptional dogs trained to meet their unique needs and empower them to live the lives they choose.

It all begins in our Whelping Kennel, where our compassionate and dedicated Technicians play a vital role in caring for the moms and supporting the healthy early development of their puppies as they embark on their journey toward potentially becoming guide dogs for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.

As the Whelping Kennel Manager, you will lead the care and management of all pregnant broods, whelps, neonates, and puppies up to six (6) weeks of age. This role is responsible for upholding the highest standards of animal husbandry, enrichment, socialization, and medical support throughout pregnancy, whelping, and the early development stages.

This is a working manager role, where you will be an active member of the kennel team, regularly participating in daily animal care responsibilities while leading and supporting staff.

You will work closely with your team in a hands-on environment, supporting daily care and ensuring each dog receives consistent, attentive care. As a working leader, you will actively contribute to day-to-day kennel operations while guiding team practices in real time to maintain quality, consistency, and strong collaboration across the kennel.

In addition, you will support your team side-by-side in the day-to-day work – reinforcing expectations through example, helping ensure care routines are followed effectively, and contributing to a well-coordinated, team-driven environment. You will also coordinate with cross-functional partners as needed to support the health, safety, and well-being of every dog in our care.

This role blends hands-on animal care, team leadership, and operational support. Success in this role requires a leader who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves and working alongside their team each day.

We encourage you to apply if you enjoy being physically active, working closely with animals and people, and contributing to a mission-driven environment where daily care directly supports a life-changing mission.

The Role

Whelping Kennel Operations & Animal Care

• Oversee daily kennel operations, including care, management, enrichment, and socialization of pregnant broods, whelping mothers, neonates, and puppies.
• Direct and support the kennel team to ensure appropriate coverage across all areas of care, including feeding, cleaning, enrichment, whelping support, medication administration, and critical care cases.
• Provide hands-on animal husbandry oversight by actively participating in Kennel Technician duties, including feeding, bathing, health checks, grooming, medicating, medical treatments, and quarantine procedures, ensuring consistent standards of care and animal well-being.
• Monitor the birthing process to ensure the health and safety of broods and neonates, utilizing triage, critical thinking, and clinical judgment during normal and emergency situations, including dystocia and emergency C-sections. Oversee all post-whelp care, cleanup, and recovery support.
• Ensure strict adherence to disease control, biosecurity, and quarantine protocols, maintaining a safe, clean, and controlled kennel environment that protects animal health and prevents disease transmission

Medical Care & Clinical Support

• Provide clinical oversight in coordination with veterinary staff to ensure all medical care aligns with established protocols, treatment plans, and animal welfare standards.
• Maintain compliance with medical documentation, medication handling, and treatment protocols.
• Perform and support medical treatments including vaccines, preventatives, subcutaneous fluids, oral/topical/IM/IV medications, tube feeding, and ICU-level care.
• Support diagnostics and clinical procedures including sample collection, testing, x-rays, ultrasound, and DNA sampling.
• Utilize triage and clinical judgment to identify pain, illness, stress, medication reactions, and urgent medical conditions, escalating care appropriately.
• Provide advanced clinical and surgical support including anesthesia monitoring during C-sections, post-operative care, wound care, suture and staple removal, sterilization of surgical equipment, laser therapy, vaginal flushes, and treatment planning in coordination with veterinary staff.
• Support neonatal and emergency care including rescue drug administration, neonatal CPR, ICU monitoring, and humane euthanasia of neonates under DVM direction.
• Maintain ongoing health monitoring and support overall medical continuity of care in alignment with veterinary guidance.

Leadership & Team Management

• Supervise, train, and mentor kennel staff to support professional growth, independence, and critical thinking. Provide hands-on coaching and real-time guidance to reinforce standards of care, accountability, and teamwork.
• Oversee staffing operations including scheduling, performance management, hiring, onboarding, and ongoing development.
• Provide active, hands-on leadership in the kennel environment, working alongside staff to ensure consistent execution of care standards. Provide operational coverage as needed, including daytime or overnight shifts during emergencies, inclement weather, staff shortages, or call-outs.
• Maintain clear communication with foster homes regarding brood health, care status, and ongoing needs to ensure continuity of care.
• Participate in a rotating on-call schedule to support urgent issues and emergencies, including consultation, on-site response, and escalation management.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Program Oversight

• Collaborate with Veterinary, Genetics/Breeding, Breeding Kennel, and Home and Early Socialization teams to ensure alignment with organizational goals, animal welfare standards, and care continuity.
• Coordinate with external partner schools as needed to support singleton or abandoned puppies requiring specialized care or placement.
• Oversee participation in the Fit-Preg Study in collaboration with Virginia Tech, including fitness education coordination, data tracking, weight monitoring, sample collection (blood, urine, placenta), and compliance with study protocols.
• Provide subject matter expertise for internal committees, meetings, and special projects, including inventory management and maintenance of controlled drug logs in compliance with regulatory and organizational requirements.

Operations, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and implement strategies, policies, and procedures to continuously improve the health and well-being of puppies in care, in collaboration with and subject to approval from the DVM.
• Ensure consistent adherence to operational standards, supporting execution of care protocols across the kennel.
• Oversee disease control, biosecurity, and quarantine compliance to maintain a safe, clean, and controlled environment.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, consistency, and quality of care.
• Prepare and manage the department budget, monitor expenses, and operate within approved financial parameters.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and organizational mission.

Qualifications You Will Need

• Minimum of three (3) years of management experience, with demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop a team in a hands-on environment.
• Some whelping experience preferred, including exposure to caring for pregnant broods, neonates, and puppy development in a kennel, veterinary, or professional dog care setting.
• Hands-on experience performing Kennel Technician duties in a kennel, veterinary, or training setting; Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) welcome.
• Willingness to learn or experience with clinical and whelping equipment, including ultrasound, oxygen support, uterine monitors, surgical tools, breeding tools, and syringes.
• Strong ability to build relationships, foster teamwork, and create a positive, collaborative environment.
• Clear, confident communicator with the ability to coach staff and explain animal behavior and care concepts in a practical, approachable way.
• Sound judgment with the ability to assess situations quickly and make confident decisions regarding animal care and staffing needs.
• Comfortable adapting to changing priorities and thriving in a fast-paced, hands-on environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize effectively and keep daily operations running smoothly.
• Flexible availability, including overnight shifts, weekends, evenings, and holidays, as this is an essential personnel role.
• Solid understanding of dog behavior and puppy development, with the ability to recognize healthy behaviors and support appropriate care using positive methods.
• Dependable, punctual, and consistently demonstrates professionalism and personal integrity.
• Comfortable working with cleaning agents and maintaining a high standard of cleanliness and sanitation.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office; Salesforce experience is a plus.
• Physically capable of working in an active kennel environment, including lifting and controlling dogs up to 65–75 lbs and performing repetitive physical tasks on concrete surfaces.

Salary Range (annually) $70k - $80k

Please include a cover letter along with your resume telling us ' About You' and to share why you're excited about contributing to our mission. As a Guiding Eyes employee, you will enjoy knowing that every day you make a difference in the lives of people with vision loss!

While we appreciate your interest and application, only candidates under consideration will be contacted

Guiding Eyes for the Blind offers a comprehensive benefits package including the following:

• Competitive and generous healthcare (Medical/Dental/Vision)
• 403(b)
• Life Insurance
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• You are invited to bring your well-behaved dog to work

The above job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of this employee for this role.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M/F, D/V

Must be authorized to work in the United States