As Community Engagement Officer (Scotland), you will help grow Dogs for Good’s impact across the central belt, building strong relationships with communities, partners and volunteers. You’ll support the delivery and promotion of high-quality animal assisted interventions and activities, helping more people with disabilities benefit from the life-changing power of the human–dog bond.

This is a 12-month fixed term contract with the intention to extend, subject to funding.

While this is a remote role, there will be regular travel across the central belt. Occasional travel to our Banbury HQ is required. Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.

About You

• You’re a confident and approachable relationship-builder who is motivated by supporting people, communities and volunteers to make a positive difference.
• You value the vital role volunteers play and enjoy recruiting, motivating and supporting them to feel confident, informed and appreciated in their role.
• You’re passionate about inclusion and understand the impact animal assisted interventions can have for people with complex health and social care needs.
• You’re comfortable working across communities and professional settings, building strong partnerships with health, social care and third-sector organisations to help grow opportunities for volunteer-led delivery.
• You bring a collaborative, organised and outcomes-focused approach, balancing hands-on engagement with planning, coordination and promotion.
• You’re open to new ideas, confident in representing the charity and committed to helping shape and expand Dogs for Good’s presence in Scotland.
• Above all, you believe in the power of the human–dog bond and the difference that well-supported volunteers can make in changing lives.

Skills & Experience

We are looking for someone with the following key skills and experience:

• Community Engagement: Building connections with local public, voluntary, and community sector organisations, especially in Bristol
• Volunteer Management: Recruiting, training, developing, and managing volunteers
• Project Assessment: Objectively assessing and reporting on project progress, issues, and risks
• Communication: Excellent skills in communicating with clients, families, professional service providers, and the public
• Welcoming Environment: Creating a warm and inclusive community
• Client Support: Experience in supporting a diverse range of clients, with a focus on listening to their needs
• Health and Social Care Knowledge: Understanding the support landscape, particularly in Bristol
• Project Adaptability: Comfortable handling change, reporting progress, and adapting as new information arises
• Organisational Skills: Highly organised, experienced in data collection and input, using data to inform decisions
• Time Management: Ability to manage and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
• Innovation: Open to new ideas and confident in suggesting improvements to colleagues
• Teamwork: Self-motivated and effective in a dynamic team with diverse skills and experience
• IT Proficiency: Skilled in using technology to support service delivery and ensure easy access to data and records

Other knowledge and experience that would be beneficial in this role includes:

• Understanding of the services of Dogs for Good.
• Occupational therapy or social care related skills and experience

Other Requirements

• You must be over 18 years of age.
• You must have the right to live and work in the UK.
• You must be comfortable working around dogs.
• This job will involve regular travel so a UK driving license and use of your own car is preferable. However, we will work with the chosen candidate to find alternative solutions in those instances where reasonable adjustments are required.
• As you will be working with vulnerable people, you will be required to undergo a PVG (Disclosure Scotland) check. This will be renewed every 5 years.
• You’ll be expected to have a good understanding of safeguarding issues and how they should be applied to the work of the charity and its partner organisations. Full training on this will be provided during your induction.
• Flexible working hours will be required in some instances to facilitate the effective delivery of services.
• You may occasionally be required to work and stay away from home for short periods of time.

We are looking for an experienced Practitioner to join our team in Scotland to bring people with disabilities and dogs together, enabling life changing differences. The right candidate will:

• Carry out Animal Assisted Interventions and Activities alongside partnered health and social care professionals.
• Provide training and advice to people to develop a relationship and strong bond with a pet dog, to ease specific challenges.
• Support with training and placement of assistance dogs
• Recruit, train and support volunteers with their pet dogs to deliver Animal Assisted Activities in line with Dogs for Good’s standards and processes

This is initially a 3-year fixed term contract, and we have the intention to extend, subject to funding.

Ideally we are looking for someone in the Lothian area, but will consider applications from candidates within a reasonable commuting distance (60mins) for this role.

While this is a remote role, occasional travel to our Banbury HQ is required (reasonable expenses for this will be reimbursed).

About You

You’re someone who thrives on building meaningful relationships between people and dogs, and you’re motivated by the life-changing impact those connections can have. You bring sound judgement and confidence in dog handling, education and behaviour, using positive, non-coercive approaches to support both individual dogs and the people they work alongside. You’re experienced in working with people with disabilities and additional needs, and you understand how to tailor Animal Assisted Interventions and Activities to meet clear, person-centred goals while safeguarding the wellbeing of everyone involved – including the dog. You’re organised and reflective, comfortable planning, delivering and evaluating sessions, and you value evidence, learning and continuous improvement. You enjoy working independently but are also a strong team player, able to collaborate with health and social care professionals, colleagues and volunteers. Supporting, training and encouraging volunteers is something you do with care and clarity, helping them feel confident, valued and able to deliver to a high standard. You’re open to new ideas, adaptable in your approach and willing to think creatively to help Dogs for Good’s services grow and evolve. Above all, you believe in the power of the human–dog bond and are committed to turning that belief into high-quality, impactful support for people and communities.

Skills & Experience

For full details of the role and what's required, please visit our careers page to view the full job information pack.

Other Requirements

• You must be over 18 years of age.
• You must have the right to live and work in the UK.
• You must be comfortable working around dogs.
• Accompanying dogs in the charity’s vehicles is part of the role so a full driving licence is preferred but, where applicable, we will work with the chosen candidate to find alternative solutions in those instances where reasonable adjustments are required.
• The jobholder will be required to work to Dogs for Good’s standards of Animal Assisted Intervention, which embrace the standards of Animal Assisted Intervention International (AAII).
• As you will be working with vulnerable people, you will be required to undergo a PVG (Disclosure Scotland) check. This will be renewed every 5 years.
• You’ll be expected to have a good understanding of safeguarding issues and how they should be applied to the work of the charity and its partner organisations. Full training on this will be provided during your induction.
• Flexible working hours will be required in some instances to facilitate the effective delivery of services.
• You may occasionally be required to work and stay away from home for short periods of time.
• You may be required to accommodate a Community Dog in your home.