Behavior and Enrichment Manager

McKamey Animal Center

Job Description

JOB DESCRIPTION
McKamey Animal Center, in Chattanooga TN seeks an experienced professional with excellent teamwork skills to lead our behavior and enrichment team. Working collaboratively with staff and volunteers, the successful candidate will bring their professional credentials to bear in furtherance of: assessing animals for determination of appropriate placement pathways; improving the quality of life for animals in our care, including implementing play groups and providing enrichment/socialization; and moving animals through the shelter system in a timely and efficient manner.

SALARY AND SCHEDULE
• Salary: $48,000-$50,000 (depending on experience, full time vs part time)
• Schedule: Ideally Full Time, Non-Exempt, but part time applicants may be considered
• Work hours: dependent on department needs, event schedules, etc.; weekend hours likely
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES (includes, but not limited to):
• Oversee behavior evaluations, training plans and enrichment protocols to enhance animal adoptability.
• Advise staff on best methods of facilitating appropriate matches for animals with more challenging behaviors in need of additional behavioral support
• Provide pre-adoption counseling and hands-on training for prospective adoptions, and post-adoption support for families who are struggling with their animal at home.
• Act as a mentor and resource for staff and volunteers through effective supervision, training and coaching.
• Support the public in preventing and resolving behavior challenges that otherwise might result in relinquishment.
• Train, support and supervise MAC behavior team in the performance of their respective job responsibilities related to animal behavior and enrichment, and promote the development of related skills.
• Facilitate the movement of animals throughout the shelter to promote shorter length of stay, improved quality of life and enhanced placement opportunities.
• Ensure that MAC maintains compliance with applicable provisions of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters.
• Accurately maintain records and daily paperwork, behavioral statistics and other records and data as required.
• Ensure highest standards of professionalism and customer service whenever interacting with others.
• Work closely with MAC veterinary, animal services and animal care staff and volunteers to ensure the highest standards of animal health, welfare and lifesaving.
• Make euthanasia recommendations and perform humane euthanasia in accordance with shelter standards, as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Job Qualifications and Skills
• Ability to work well with humans (essential!).
• Demonstrable knowledge of basic domestic animal care and safe/humane animal handling.
• Demonstrated proficiency in animal behavior assessment and modification.
• Strong animal handling skills and demonstrated understanding of basic animal health, care and welfare issues in a shelter environment.
• Ability to maintain composure in an often stressful and emotional work environment.
• Ability to balance competing needs and interests of animals with shelter resources and public safety demands.
• Ability to make sound judgments and work independently and in a team setting in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Proven organizational skills and attention to detail, and effective record keeping ability.
• Ability to relate to and confer with veterinarians, shelter leadership, co-workers, subordinates and the general public in a positive and constructive manner at all times; ability to exercise good judgment when dealing with the public and when making decisions in the absence of leadership.
• Ability to effectively train and mentor others.
Education and Experience Required
• Minimum of 2 years dog/cat behavior and training experience required.
• Animal shelter employment/volunteer experience preferred.
• CPDT, IAABC or other professional certification in animal behavior/training highly desirable (if not currently credentialed, must be working towards credentialling).
• Demonstrable knowledge of current animal welfare issues.
• Fear free certification is highly desirable (will be required after employment).
• High School diploma required.
• Must be at least 21 years of age with valid driver’s license and insurable driving record.
Physical Demands And Working Conditions
The physical demands and working conditions described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
● Potential for standing/walking/bending up to eight to ten (8-10) hours a day.
● Must be able to performing physical tasks like animal restraint, physical examinations of animals, scrubbing cages, cleaning floors and more.
● Must have quick reflexes and ability to use both hands simultaneously (example: open cage door while handling animal, react to escaping animal).
● Occasional lifting of up to a hundred (100) pounds with assistance.
● Ability to bend and squat in order to leash/harness, and/or pick up an animal.
● Ability to see well enough to move safely around the building, distinguish animal body language, read instructions, and read an animal’s paperwork.
● Ability to hear if an animal is giving warning signs, such as growling, yelping or hissing.
● Ability to effectively communicate verbally.
● Ability to cope with a very loud environment due to animal noises.
● Must not have strong allergies to dogs, cats or other companion animals that can’t be managed by medication, or to chemicals used in grooming or cleaning. Must not be highly allergic to peanut butter.
● Exposure to high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, and animal bites/scratches when handling animals.
● Exposure to all weather conditions when outdoors.
McKamey Animal Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We reserve the right to conduct criminal background checks and may require drug testing of all employment candidates.
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time
Benefits:
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance
Work Location: In person