Guide Dogs is one of those organisations that needs no introduction. Most of us grew up knowing their name, understanding their mission, and quite possibly stopping in the street to admire one of their remarkable dogs at work. But behind every guide dog partnership is a vast, complex operation, and leading that operation requires someone quite exceptional.

When Guide Dogs came to Charisma, they needed a Director of Guide Dog Service. Not just a capable senior leader, but someone ready to take on one of the most layered and meaningful roles in the UK charity sector.

About Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs is one of the UK's leading sight loss charities, with a mission to help people with sight loss live the life they choose. While their guide dog partnerships are what most people know them for, the organisation delivers a much broader range of services for adults, children, and families affected by vision impairment, with or without a dog involved.

The support they offer is lifelong. From practical guidance to emotional and social assistance, Guide Dogs walks alongside people at every stage of their sight loss journey. At the heart of that support sits their guide dog service, and it was this flagship programme that needed a strong new leader at the helm.

A role with real breadth and responsibility

The Director of Guide Dog Service is a senior leadership position with genuine reach across the organisation. The successful candidate would be responsible for the direction, delivery and development of the entire guide dog service, from breeding and puppy raising through to dog training, rehoming, dog health, and the creation and support of partnerships.

Alongside that operational accountability sits a wider strategic responsibility: building a high-performance culture, meeting the needs of service users, and turning long-term strategic goals into reality. It is, in short, a role that demands both operational grip and genuine vision.

Guide Dogs needed someone with a substantial track record of senior leadership in an organisation of comparable size and complexity. They also needed a proven ability to plan for the long term, support organisational change, and build the kinds of relationships that produce lasting results.

Why Charisma was appointed

Charisma has a strong track record working with members of Assistance Dogs UK, the coalition of assistance dog organisations accredited by Assistance Dogs International and the International Guide Dog Federation. That experience meant we understood the landscape, the expectations, and the kind of leader this world requires.

Guide Dogs placed their trust in us to find someone who could truly do this role justice. That trust is something we never take lightly.

The search

A role of this calibre calls for a thorough and thoughtful approach, and that is exactly what we delivered.

Our team engaged with over 160 candidates across an extensive headhunting and outreach campaign. From that pool, 36 vetting interviews were conducted, giving us a detailed picture of each candidate's experience, values, and leadership style. Fourteen candidates were longlisted, and through a collaborative shortlisting session with the Guide Dogs team, the field was narrowed to the top eight candidates for formal interview.

Over 160 candidates engaged. 36 vetting interviews. One exceptional appointment.

The interview process ran across two stages, including an on-site visit and a stakeholder panel, ensuring that the successful candidate was not only assessed on their skills but on their fit with the people and culture of the organisation. Charisma managed the negotiations, and the successful candidate took up the role the following month.

What this appointment means

Finding the right Director of Guide Dog Service matters far beyond the organisation itself. The people who rely on Guide Dogs, those navigating life with sight loss, depend on the quality, consistency and compassion of the service this leader will shape. Getting this appointment right is not just good for Guide Dogs. It is good for the thousands of individuals and families they support.

That is the kind of responsibility that sharpens our focus at every stage of a search.

Charisma's expertise in the sector

This appointment is a reflection of the specialist knowledge Charisma has built over years of working with charities, social enterprises, and purpose-driven organisations. We understand that senior recruitment in this sector is rarely straightforward. The best candidates are not always the most obvious ones, and the most important qualities are not always the easiest to assess from a CV.

We bring rigour, care and genuine sector knowledge to every search, and we are proud to have supported Guide Dogs in securing a leader who is ready to take their flagship service forward.

Work with us

If your organisation is looking for senior leadership talent, we would love to hear from you. Whether you are a large national charity or a specialist organisation with a niche brief, Charisma has the experience, the network, and the commitment to find the right person for your role.

Get in touch with Charisma today