We are seeking a hands-on, experienced Dog Boarding Facility Manager to live on-site at our premium dog retreat in rural Western Sydney, only 45 minutes drive from the city.

We are looking for an individual with genuine professional experience working with dogs for 3yrs+ that can oversee the facility management of Dog Royalty's Enrichment boarding rural resort. Partners & pets welcome!

Ideal for a practical, calm, and dog-loving individual or couple, the role involves supervising a small team, ensuring the wellbeing of all dogs in our care, maintaining clean and secure facilities, and performing basic DIY and lawn maintenance on-site. The position includes live-in accommodation, paid utilities, and the opportunity to live and work in a beautiful rural setting just outside of Sydney.

Couples with complementary skills in dog care and maintenance are strongly encouraged to apply (renumeration packages negotiated).

This is a unique lifestyle opportunity for someone ready to combine rural living with purpose-driven, rewarding work in a fantastic and growing dog care business.

Expectation to work / be on call through most school holiday periods and public holidays.

About Dog Royalty

Dog Royalty launched it's groundbreaking new daycare offer almost a decade ago and quickly became one of Sydney's premier daycares. Dog Royalty made its name by addressing the areas where other daycares were often lacking - with a huge dog wonderland with both inside and outside spaces, home pick-up and drop-of for all customers included in the price, and a training-focused approach and high staff to dog ratios with only salaried, experienced staff. Dog Royalty also offers a variety of in-home and facility-based training options which were developed to meet the evolving needs of our customers.

Our Enrichment boarding Offer

Dog Royalty's Enrichment Boarding is designed to be different. In a world where dogs have become true members of the family and are accustomed to a high degree of human love & family time, it became clear that traditional boarding options were falling short of the needs of our pups in many cases.

Dog Royalty took what was learnt from running daily dog daycare and applied this to create a daily routine and structure for dogs at a new rural boarding facility that ensures dogs get a fantastic day of enrichment and engagement activities. This routine will exercise both their body and mind, but also ensures built-in time for pups to have some loving downtime with humans too. Routines and areas have been developed to enable dogs to be able to have a home-style chillout with humans dedicated to being there for them with companionship, cuddles and love.

Key advantages of Enrichment Boarding by Dog Royalty:

Full structured day of play and socialisation every day

Chilled human hangouts e.g. Canine Cinema club

Doggy wonderland with splash pools, shaded areas and air-conditioned zones

Variety each day for mental & physical enrichment incl. group play, agility work, scent work, splash pools

Live-in care with 24/7 supervision

Regular picture and video updates at no extra cost

Experienced professionals conducting all sessions

Every dog has their individual space at night

All dogs vetted for behaviour and socialisation

Fixed cost with no charges for own food, medication, fridge space etc.

Intensive Board & Train options available

Home pick-up and drop-off options available

Key Responsibilities – Dog Boarding Facility Manager

Facility Management and Animal Welfare

Oversee the day-to-day operations of our enrichment boarding

Drive and role model our training-focused approach with dogs

Monitor dogs overnight and work to maximise dog comfort while minimising stress (and noise)

Conduct home pick-ups and drop-offs in Sydney area using our branded vans

Oversee dog day trip excursion groups on site (non boarding dogs)

Monitor and maintain optimal hygiene, safety, and comfort of all dogs in our care

Coordinate daily schedules including feeding, exercise, enrichment, training, rest, and socialisation

Conduct daily health checks, maintain detailed care records, and liaise with veterinary providers when necessary

Administer basic medical treatments and medications as required

At times cover shifts and attend management meetings at Dog Royalty daycare in Mortdale

Leadership and Team Supervision

Supervise a small team of animal attendants

Lead daily staff briefings and manage task delegation and shift coordination

Provide ongoing training, support, and quality control to ensure a gold standard of care

Work closely with Dog Royalty Management team to drive excellence at the facility and across all operations

Customer Service and Communication

Liaise with pet parents with empathy, clarity, and professionalism

Handle check-ins, check-outs, and conduct facility tours for prospective clients

Maintain accurate bookings, special instructions, and client communications through our booking software

Property and Grounds Oversight

Conduct routine inspections of enclosures, fencing, and infrastructure

Hands-on involvement in basic site maintenance - lawn mowing, weed-spraying, painting and basic DIY fixes

Coordinate with maintenance providers to ensure the site remains secure and functional

Assist in developing new enrichment features and expanding the facility where appropriate

Candidate Profile – Who We’re Looking For

Mandatory Attributes

Extensive experience in animal handling (3+years) ideally in a daycare, kennel, veterinary, or training environment

Strong leadership and organisational skills

Hands-on, proactive and solution-focused

Calm under pressure, particularly in high-energy or emergency situations

High level of physical fitness and willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions

Excellent communication skills with both staff and clients

Willingness to work weekends, public holidays, and on-call as needed

Full driving licence and confident, experienced driver (ideally of vans)

While Dog Royalty vans used for transportation, must also have own vehicle

Preferred Qualifications

Certificate III or higher in Animal Studies, Animal Behaviour, or related field

Dog First Aid certification

Experience in working with dogs of all sizes including

Knowledge of balanced training techniques with positive focus

Accommodation & Lifestyle

This is a live-in role with a self-contained residence provided on site. The accommodation includes:

3-bedroom house with full kitchen and bathroom

Utilities and internet included

Live-in as individual or as a couple

Potential to bring your own friendly, sociable dogs (by agreement)

Potential spaces for hobby farm development e.g. chickens etc (prior approval required)

Employment Terms

Full-time permanent role, minimum 38 hours/week with flexible rostering

Likely to be a 10-day fortnight (approx. 76 hours) but flexibility depending on time of year and business demand patterns

Must expect to work alternate weekends and most Public Holidays including Christmas

Annual leave for the most part not possible in school holiday periods

Salary package commensurate with experience

Performance-based incentives, regular reviews, feedback & development

Growth and Development Opportunities

We are a growing business committed to innovation in dog care and behavioural enrichment. As part of our team, you’ll be able to:

Build and develop the dog career you want - we are committed to facilitating all employees progression and development

Opportunities to attend professional development courses, workshops etc subsidised by the company

Influence future expansion plans including boarding upgrades, dog training programs, and eco-friendly operations

Why Work With Us?

We operate Dog daycare, Dog boarding and Dog training services in Sydney and approach all with a view to how we can make a genuine difference in the lives of both the dogs in our care and the people who love them

We are not a chain, franchise or conglomerate and will never put profit before the welfare of dogs in our care or the our valued team that look after them

We are a small knit team of entirely salaried employees and put a emphasis on staff development and happiness

Onboarding phase

Please note this is a live-in role but will require between 4-12wks of paid onboarding work (depending on the candidate and circumstances) with our team at Dog Royalty at both our daycare and boarding facility before rental property and full position will be offered/available.

Applications

Applicants must submit a resume and a covering letter outlining relevant experience, skills and qualifications relevant to the role. As this is a live in position applicants should also provide details of family members and pets that wish to reside in the manager’s residence.

NOTE: Applications without a covering letter will not be considered