Experienced Dog Handler & Transport Driver – The Barkley Bus
Part-Time / Casual | Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday Core Days | Flexibility Required | North Brisbane
Join the Barkley Park team
Barkley Park is looking for an experienced Dog Handler & Transport Driver to operate The Barkley Bus, our door-to-door dog daycare transport service across North Brisbane.
This is not simply a driving position. Professional, hands-on dog-handling experience is essential.
Each morning, you will travel throughout an allocated North Brisbane service area collecting dogs directly from customers' homes and safely transporting them to Barkley Park in Kedron. In the afternoon, you'll return them home again.
You'll often be working independently, so we need someone who can confidently read canine body language, safely handle unfamiliar dogs of different breeds, sizes and temperaments, and make sound decisions when something isn't right.
We also need someone who can be flexible. Routes, collection times and operational requirements can change, and as The Barkley Bus continues to grow, there may be opportunities for additional days or hours across the Barkley Park business.
About the Role
The Barkley Bus currently operates Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week, servicing a different North Brisbane zone each day.
These are the core days for this position; however, flexibility around working hours and the ability to assist on additional days when required will be highly regarded.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Drive our large, automatic-transmission Barkley Bus, professionally fitted with individual secure dog crates.
- Follow scheduled morning collection and afternoon drop-off routes.
- Attend customers' homes and follow their nominated property access and dog collection instructions.
- Safely approach and handle dogs when their owners may not be present.
- Confidently lead, load and unload dogs using Barkley Park's handling procedures.
- Ensure every dog is correctly and safely secured in its allocated crate before travelling.
- Monitor dogs throughout the transport process and recognise signs of fear, stress, discomfort or behavioural concern.
- Make appropriate safety decisions when a dog cannot be safely collected or returned as planned.
- Adapt appropriately when routes, traffic conditions, customer requirements or operational needs change.
- Communicate proactively with the Barkley Park team throughout each route.
- Provide friendly and professional customer service when interacting with our customers.
- Follow schedules efficiently while never compromising dog welfare or safety to save time.
- Complete required vehicle, transport and safety checks.
- Maintain the Barkley Bus to a high standard of cleanliness, presentation and care.
- Follow all Barkley Park safety procedures, animal-handling guidelines and customer instructions.
- Return the Barkley Bus to Barkley Park in Kedron at the completion of each shift.
- Assist with other appropriate Barkley Park duties where required and agreed.
The position involves morning collections and afternoon returns, with a break between the two transport periods. Actual start and finish times may vary depending on the day's route, bookings, traffic and operational requirements.
Professional Dog-Handling Experience is Essential
This is not an entry-level dog-handling position.
We are looking for someone with substantial hands-on professional experience independently handling dogs of different breeds, sizes, strengths and temperaments.
You must be able to demonstrate experience:
- Safely handling unfamiliar dogs, including medium and large dogs.
- Reading canine body language and recognising signs of fear, stress, over-arousal, reactivity or discomfort.
- Confidently approaching, leading and moving dogs using appropriate handling techniques.
- Managing dogs that may be nervous, hesitant, excited or difficult to handle.
- Making sound decisions when a dog's behaviour changes or a situation does not feel right.
- Working with dogs without requiring another experienced handler to supervise or assist you.
- Following individual handling instructions and adapting your approach to the dog in front of you.
Simply owning dogs, caring for family or friends' dogs, occasional dog walking, volunteering with dogs, or working in an animal-related workplace without substantial hands-on dog-handling responsibility will not meet the experience requirements for this role.
Applicants with professional experience in high-volume dog daycare, professional dog training, kennel/boarding environments or another position involving substantial daily hands-on handling of multiple dogs will be highly regarded.
What You Bring
In addition to professional dog-handling experience, you will need:
- A current full Australian driver's licence with a good driving record.
- Confidence driving a large automatic van safely in suburban traffic and residential areas.
- Flexibility around working hours and changing operational requirements.
- Availability across our current Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Barkley Bus schedule.
- The ability to assist with additional days or hours when reasonably required will be highly regarded.
- Strong situational awareness and sound judgement.
- The physical capability and confidence to safely handle medium and large dogs.
- Excellent reliability and punctuality.
- The ability to work independently and take responsibility for your route and the dogs in your care.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
- A professional, friendly and trustworthy approach when attending customers' homes.
- Confidence using a smartphone for navigation, schedules and team communication.
- The ability to follow detailed customer access, dog-handling and safety instructions.
- Australian working rights.
- Willingness to undertake a pre-employment medical.
First Aid or Pet First Aid certification will be highly regarded.
The Person We're Looking For
We need someone who is calm, observant, adaptable and confident around dogs.
You'll be trusted to work independently and there won't always be another experienced handler standing beside you.
That means knowing when a dog is comfortable, recognising when something has changed, understanding when you need to alter your approach and, importantly, knowing when not to proceed and to contact the Barkley Park team for assistance.
We also need someone who understands that working in a growing service requires flexibility. A route may change, traffic may cause delays, a customer may need assistance or a dog may require additional time and care. We need someone who can adapt without losing sight of safety, communication or customer service.
We're looking for strong personal accountability. You'll take ownership of your vehicle, your schedule, your communication and the safety and wellbeing of every dog entrusted to you.
Our Values
Everything we do at Barkley Park is guided by our values:
Care | Communication | Community | Safety | Pride
For The Barkley Bus, Care and Safety always come before the schedule.
We expect our team members to treat every dog as an individual, communicate when something isn't right, take pride in the service they provide and represent Barkley Park professionally in our customers' homes and communities.
Why Join Barkley Park?
Barkley Park is an established North Brisbane dog daycare, grooming and dog-training business based in Kedron.
You'll be joining a structured and supportive team with clear procedures, established safety systems and a strong focus on doing things properly.
This is a unique role for an experienced dog handler who enjoys working independently, is confident behind the wheel and wants some variety in their working week.
As The Barkley Bus continues to grow, there may be opportunities for additional days, hours and work across the wider Barkley Park business for the right person.
Position Details
Job Types: Part-time, Casual
Core Days: Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Availability: Flexibility around hours and additional work is highly regarded
Location: Based at Barkley Park, Kedron, with travel throughout North Brisbane
Vehicle: Barkley Park vehicle supplied – automatic transmission
Schedule: Split shift – morning collections and afternoon drop-offs; hours may vary according to route requirements
Work Location: On the road and at Barkley Park, 12 Glentanna Street, Kedron QLD 4031
Applying
Please tell us specifically about your professional dog-handling experience.
In your application, include:
- Your previous dog-handling role/s.
- How long you worked professionally with dogs.
- The type and approximate number of dogs you regularly handled.
- The dog-handling responsibilities you personally performed.
- Your experience handling medium and large dogs.
- Your experience driving large vans or similar vehicles.
- Your availability across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and whether you have flexibility for additional days or hours.
Applications that do not demonstrate substantial professional, hands-on dog-handling experience may not progress to interview.
If you're an experienced dog handler who takes Care, Communication, Community, Safety and Pride seriously, we'd like to hear from you.
Pay: $32.18 – $33.85 per hour
Benefits:
Application Question(s):
- What is your previous dog-handling role/s?
- How long you worked professionally with dogs?
- The type and approximate number of dogs you regularly handled?
- Your experience handling medium and large dogs?
- Your experience driving large vans or similar vehicles?
- Your availability across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and whether you have flexibility for additional days or hours?
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- Clean Full Driving License (Required)
Work Authorisation:
Work Location: In person
