Guiding Eyes for the Blind, Inc. Careers

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.  As the Director of Genetics, you will play a part in making that happen!  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.

The Director of Genetics leads the strategic direction of Guiding Eyes' canine genetics and breeding program.  This role is responsible for developing and implementing data-driven breeding strategies that improve guide dog success, health, temperament, and genetic diversity across the breeding colony.

Working closely with veterinary, training, and development teams, as well as external researchers and industry partners, the Director ensures the breeding program meets current and future organizational needs while advancing knowledge and best practices within the guide dog industry.

This role balances genetic improvement, colony sustainability, and operational needs to ensure a consistent supply of dogs with the characteristics necessary for guide dog work.

At Guiding Eyes, you'll work alongside passionate, caring professionals who are united by a love of dogs and a shared commitment to our mission.  Together, we help provide each dog with the foundation needed to succeed while supporting the individuals whose lives will be changed by their partnership.

If you're looking for meaningful work in a collaborative and purpose-driven environment, we'd love to hear from you.

The Role

Breeding Program Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead the long-term genetic improvement strategy for the breeding colony in alignment with organizational goals and guide dog program needs.
• Establish measurable breeding objectives and key performance indicators related to health, temperament, trainability, guide dog success, and genetic diversity.
• Monitor and evaluate breeding program outcomes and recommend adjustments to optimize results.
• Ensure sustainable genetic progress while maintaining appropriate levels of genetic diversity and managing inbreeding within the colony.
• Present breeding program results, recommendations, and strategic initiatives to organizational leadership as needed.

Colony Management

• Direct the selection and breeding processes of the Guiding Eyes breeding colony.
• Evaluate and select dogs to replenish and maintain an appropriate and sustainable breeding population.
• Develop breeding recommendations that balance genetic improvement, health outcomes, operational needs, and long-term colony sustainability.
• Ensure an appropriate number of dogs with desired health, behavioral, and working characteristics are available to support training program requirements.

Genetics, Data & Analysis 

• Develop, validate, and refine genetic evaluation models used in selection decisions.
• Calculate and interpret estimated breeding values using phenotypic, pedigree, and genomic data.
• Analyze health, behavioral, and performance data to inform breeding decisions and improve breeding outcomes.
• Collaborate on software development and data management initiatives to ensure data integrity and maximize the effectiveness of breeding program analytics.
• Translate complex genetic and performance data into actionable recommendations for stakeholders across the organization.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with veterinary teams to collect and interpret accurate, complete phenotypic data for health and performance traits.
• Collaborate with the training department to understand changing program needs and continuously improve guide dog suitability.
• Work with organizational leadership to align breeding program priorities with strategic goals.

Research & Industry Leadership

• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with universities, researchers, specialists, geneticists, and other guide dog organizations.
• Identify, initiate, and contribute to research opportunities that advance canine genetics, reproductive health, and guide dog success.
• Represent Guiding Eyes within the guide dog and scientific communities through collaboration, presentations, publications, and knowledge sharing where appropriate.
• Partner with Development and Communications teams to identify grant opportunities and research funding sources that support the breeding program and broader guide dog industry.

Stakeholder Engagement & Representation

• Serve as a representative of the Genetics team during tours, donor visits, and organizational events.
• Communicate the mission, impact, value, and contributions of the Genetics team's programs and operations to internal and external stakeholders.

Additional Responsibilities

• Lead or support special projects and organizational initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of Guiding Eyes.

What Success Looks Like

• Continued improvement in guide dog suitability and training success rates.
• Improvements in health, temperament, and performance outcomes among breeding program offspring.
• Maintenance of a genetically diverse and sustainable breeding colony.
• Data-driven breeding decisions that contribute to improved health, temperament, and guide dog suitability.
• Development of meaningful research partnerships and industry collaborations.
• Consistent production of dogs that meet organizational needs for training and placement.
• Advancement of breeding program goals through innovative, evidence-based practices

Qualifications You Will Need

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree or equivalent advanced education in Animal Breeding, Quantitative Genetics, Population Genetics, Animal Science, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience applying quantitative genetics principles and animal models to breeding program management.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting complex genetic, health, and behavioral data to support decision-making.
• Working knowledge of statistical programming, coding, database management, or query-building tools.

Professional Skills

• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate scientific concepts for a variety of audiences.
• Strong judgment and critical thinking skills, with the ability to assess situations, prioritize needs, and make sound decisions in a timely manner.
• Experience establishing priorities, managing multiple projects, and balancing competing demands.
• Demonstrated flexibility and adaptability, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
• Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills.
• Commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Ability to analyze data, assess program performance, and make informed operational decisions.

Communication & Collaboration

• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills with the ability to find a common purpose, build consensus, and foster collaboration across teams.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams to achieve organizational goals.
• Ability to engage effectively with employees, volunteers, donors, and other community stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with professionalism, empathy, integrity, and accountability.

Technical & Physical Requirements

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office programs; Salesforce savvy a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD, DVM, or equivalent advanced degree in Animal Breeding, Genetics, Population Genetics, Animal Science, or a related discipline.
• Five (5) or more years of progressive experience in animal breeding, quantitative genetics, population genetics, or a related field.
• Experience managing breeding populations while balancing genetic gain, health outcomes, and genetic diversity.
• Background in canine, working dog, service dog, livestock, or companion animal breeding programs.
• Experience developing long-term breeding strategies and performance metrics.
• Strong analytical skills, including the use of data, metrics, and performance indicators to evaluate operational effectiveness and program outcomes.
• Familiarity with R, Python, SQL, genomic prediction models, quantitative genetics software, or related analytical tools.
• History of leading research collaborations, publishing scientific findings, securing grant funding, or managing research initiatives.
• Previous people leadership, coaching, or team development experience.

Better Together: Why In-Person Matters at GEB

At Guiding Eyes, we believe our best work happens when we’re together.  In-person collaboration strengthens relationships, sparks meaningful conversations, and helps us achieve greater impact – bringing our core values to life every day.  Being on campus fosters a true sense of community and shared purpose, reminding us that we’re all part of something bigger as we work side by side toward our mission.

Annual Salary Range: $145k - $170k, commensurate with experience.  Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as internal equity, relevant experience, job-related knowledge, skills, and market considerations.

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

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed in this role.  It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications.  Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as assigned in support of Guiding Eyes for the Blind's mission and operational needs. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M/F, D/V 

Must be authorized to work in the United States.