Behavior Support and Training Supervisor

Animal Welfare Association

Job Description

Objective: Provide assessment, socialization, behavior modification and enrichment for shelter animals. Provide behavior consultation and training for staff, volunteers, shelter pet adoptees, and public clients. Oversee all daily operations and staff of the behavior department while maintaining the policies and procedures related to all aspects of said department.

Essential Functions:
Behavior
• Ensure the completion of assessments on intake animals.
• Update assessments and behavior information and records as needed in Pet Point.
• Implement the completion of recording all SAFER assessments and behavior modification sessions.
• Identify animals that need behavior support/intervention, create/implement/document behavior modification plans for shelter animals.
• Implement and track enrichment programs for all animals.
• Develop and oversee playgroups, socialization and enrichment standards for all animals.
• Help to identify and establish procedures and management strategies for hard to place animals and those with LOS issues.
• Develop, teach, implement and oversee canine, feline and small animal behavior and training programs for the public, staff and volunteers.
• Implement, schedule and execute public training sessions/classes.
• Communicate with adopters via phone and email on behavior related questions; identify referrals and provide needed resources and post adoption support. Document such in Pet Point or designated tracking system.
• Identify euthanasia candidates and participate in discussion and decisions on such candidates.
• Uphold the principles and practices of LIMA.
• Maintain a certification of at least CPDT-KA or higher.

Supervision:
• Supervise behavior department staff of full-time, part-time and contracted employees.
• Oversee the animal handling portion of volunteer training.
• Ensure volunteers and staff are handling, interacting with and behaving in a humane and safe manner.
• Ensure proper staffing levels for the department.
• Provide performance feed back on a regular basis including introductory and yearly performance reviews for behavior staff to management.
• Interview and hire staff for the behavior department in conjunction with shelter manager.
• Participate in developing annual goals, budgets and programs for the behavior department.
• Ensure program goals and department goals are met and data is tracked.
• Communicate effectively with shelter management, medical staff, clinic staff, and development staff on departmental needs.
• Other duties as needed.

Position Requirements:
• Humane treatment of animals
• Prior experience with SAFER, Meet Your Match, and Felinality Assessments or equivalents thereof.
• Knowledge of animal health, behavioral conditions, and animal handling
• Knowledge of veterinary medical terms and processes; or willingness to learn
• Provide and record objective and accurate information
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Effective teamwork capabilities, and communication and organizational skills
• Problem solving skills
• Time and project management skills
• Effective budgetary and cash management skills
• Customer service and employee management skills

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in animal science or behavior preferred or equivalent years of work experience.
• CPDT-KA or higher certification required
• 1-3 years’ experience working in the companion animal field, shelter experience preferred.
• Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record
• Basic computer skills; knowledge of animal shelter software programs is a plus

Physical Factors:
• Work performed in shelter environment, high exposure to animals, requires animal handling
• Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, dangerous and fractious animals, high noise levels, wet surfaces, hazardous chemicals, and sharp objects
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. unassisted, and over 50 lbs. with assistance
• Long periods of sitting, standing, working at computer and making phone calls, standing before groups, bending, stooping, reaching, and working outdoors in differing climate may be required

Working Conditions:
• Varying shifts, weekdays and weekends, and some holiday work required
• Overtime work as necessary

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $21.00 - $24.00 per hour

Benefits:

Dental insurance
Employee assistance program
Employee discount
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Health savings account
Life insurance
Paid time off
Retirement plan
Vision insurance

This is a full time job