Accessibility Specialist

Are you passionate about creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive? Guide Dogs is looking for an Accessibility Specialist to join our team and make a meaningful impact on the lives of people with sight loss. In this role, you will play a key part in ensuring that Guide Dogs continues to foster a culture of accessibility, inclusivity, and support for all.

As the Accessibility Specialist, you will work closely with the ADE&I team and other key stakeholders to enhance accessibility across our organisation. You will provide expert advice and guidance to stakeholders, helping us to improve our workplace inclusive culture, technology, environment, and processes. Your efforts will be integral in supporting the Trustees, Executive Leadership, and Senior Leadership Team as they work to drive tangible, cultural change at Guide Dogs.

This role will require you to demonstrate a strong understanding of the unique needs of Guide Dogs and to actively engage with your team and colleagues to ensure the successful delivery of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy. You will support managers and staff to build accountability for creating an accessible workplace, focusing on areas such as the physical environment, technology, working practices, and cultural inclusivity.

Collaboration will be key as you partner with experts from various departments, including Communications, HR, IS, and Workplace Services, to ensure accessibility is embedded across all policies, workplace practices, and service developments. You will also amplify the voices of those from minority communities, particularly individuals with disabilities or neurodivergent experiences, and support them in ensuring their needs are heard and addressed.

Additionally, you will support the awareness and education around accessibility matters, helping Guide Dogs staff to recognise the importance of inclusion and actively work to dismantle barriers. Your contributions will extend to supporting individual projects, from technology initiatives to property investments, ensuring accessibility remains a fundamental consideration in both internal and external services.

You will play a vital role in the ongoing development of our Accessibility Group, collaborating closely with the chair and the Head of ADE&I to ensure that meetings and initiatives align with our DEI Strategy and that participation remains inclusive. Furthermore, you will work collaboratively with the wider ADE&I team, offering support where needed and contributing to major projects and programmes.

If you are excited about the opportunity to drive accessibility and inclusion within a purpose-driven organisation, we’d love to hear from you. Join us at Guide Dogs and help us ensure a more accessible future for all.

• How to apply 

  Further details on the full role are attached below. When you are ready to apply, submit an online application form via this page.

  If you require any accessibility support to apply, our friendly recruitment team is ready and waiting to help. Call them on 0118 3540345 or drop an email to [email protected].

  As part of your application ensure you provide evidence and examples of how your skills & experience meet the criteria as set out in the attached job description.  

  If you want to know more about the teams who work at Guide Dogs, you can find it on our Careers Page.

  Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

  Guide Dogs welcomes applications from all sections of the community and actively encourages diversity to maximise achievements, creativity and good practice. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment, regardless of age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability or nationality. 

  As a Disability Confident Employer, we are proud, whenever possible, to offer an interview to all candidates that meet our selection criteria, and who indicate they wish their application to be considered under our Disability Confident interview commitment. For more details, visit our careers site.

  If you are successful you will need to provide evidence of your right to work in the UK via our digital ID checking supplier; in addition, we cannot offer visa sponsorship at this time.

  Safeguarding

  Guide Dogs is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk of harm with whom we work. We expect all our employees and volunteers to fully share this commitment.
  
  At Guide Dogs, we believe in fair and equitable hiring practices. A criminal record will not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for a position. Each case will be evaluated individually, taking into account the nature of the offense, its relevance to the role, and the time that has passed since the incident. We encourage all candidates to disclose relevant information, and we assure you that it will be handled confidentially and fairly.

  Guide Dogs follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we are safeguarding the vulnerable people we work with. As part of this, we require a full work history with any gaps accounted for & a minimum of 2 professional referee details fully covering the past 5 years. If you are applying for a disclosure role, please note that you will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check and sign up to the DBS update service.