Employee Access Assistant / Driver

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association; Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 23,000 - 27,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Travel expenses covered

Full training provided

Job summary

The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association in Stevenage is seeking an Employee Access Assistant and Driver to support a visually impaired employee and their guide dog. The role blends remote and in-person tasks, with local travel and occasional weekends.

You will handle administrative duties, travel arrangements, and ensure safe navigation at events. A full, clean driving license and comfortable interactions with dogs are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience with administrative tasks and document formatting.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and note-taking.
• Excellent communication and people-skills.
• Ability to travel locally and arrange travel.
• Comfortable working with dogs and guiding environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide sighted guiding and assist with navigation for the employee and guide dog.
• Arrange travel and transport to Guide Dogs sites; collect from home or train station.
• Perform in-person support in Stevenage once or twice a week.
• Assist with access to systems on a laptop and describe room layouts at events.
• Maintain clear, accessible documents and careful note-taking.
• Build trusting relationships through person-centred service.

Skills

Administrative skills

Microsoft Office

Communication skills

Travel coordination

Customer service

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Are you looking to apply your administrative skills in a role that truly makes a difference? We have an exciting opportunity for an Employee Access Assistant and Driver based near Stevenage, although the role benefits from hybrid working, networking and local travel will be required in a professional setting.

In this role, you’ll support a visually impaired Guide Dogs Employee and Guide Dog owner, helping them perform their duties effectively through a mix of remote and in-person support. In-person support will be required once or twice a week locally in Stevenage involving tasks such as providing sighted guidance to navigate unfamiliar environments, helping with access to systems on a laptop, or describing the layout of rooms at events.

Your Microsoft Office expertise will be put to great use as you assist with a variety of administrative tasks, including document formatting and note-taking. Your eye for detail will ensure that all documents are clear, accessible, and well-organised.

You’ll also help with travel arrangements as and when required, including collecting the employee and their guide dog from home and going to a train station or providing a travel from their home to various Guide Dogs sites. A full, clean driving license and access to a vehicle are essential, equipment to allow the guide dog in the car will be provided and travel expenses are covered. You’ll provide sighted guidance, ensuring the employee can navigate unfamiliar environments with confidence. As the employee is a Guide Dog owner, being comfortable with dogs and helping with their care, such as exercise, will be part of the role as well.

Your excellent communication skills and person-centred approach will be key in building a close, trusting relationship with the employee.

You will be fully trained in tasks such as sighted guiding and how to work confidently around a Guide Dog, ensuring that you feel supported and equipped, even if you haven’t had experience in this space before. We are committed to making sure you feel comfortable and encouraged in this unique role.

The role is 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Occasional flexibility will be required to work outside of core hours, including weekends and whilst overnight stays are rare, they are occasionally required but plenty of notice would normally be provided.

No two people with sight loss are the same, and none of our people are either. So, we are proud to offer a range of person-centred benefits that can support each member of staff in ways that really mean something to them – and show them how much they mean to us. We offer a flexible benefits package, discounts and cashback scheme, a generous holiday allowance and matched contributory pension scheme to care for our people.