Behavior & Training Manager

Five Acres Animal Shelter

Job Description

As a growing organization, Five Acres Animal Shelter seeks to fill a position of Behavior & Training Manager to oversee internal and external canine training and enrichment initiatives.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Create and implement behavior and training care plans for shelter dogs.
Provide objective behavioral assessments on dogs pre-intake to determine health and well-being in a shelter environment.
Work with animal care team members to implement behavioral care plans.
Work with fosters, volunteers, adopters and staff to ensure Five Acres dogs have a safety net of support in regards to behavioral health.
Coordinate and teach external training classes and workshops to Five Acres fosters, volunteers, adopters and staff, as well as community members.
Deliver high-level customer service to community members via programs including behavior helpline, adoption follow-up support, volunteer support and needs related to department-assigned volunteers.
Develop and implement behavior SOP’s.
Supervise and conduct dog play groups and socialization assessments.
Create and adhere to positive reinforcement and Fear Free training protocols.
Gather, monitor and maintain program data for grant purposes.
Maintain current/progressive animal behavior and training trends especially as it applies to the sheltering environment.
Partake in euthanasia decision-making committee.

Qualifications:

A passion for animal welfare and the Five Acres Animal Shelter mission.
A minimum of 2 years of professional animal handling/training experience, preferably in a shelter environment.
CPDT-KA certification or other accredited positive reinforcement-based dog training certifcation required.
Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
Reliable transportation with the ability to be onsite at Five Acres.
Demonstrated ability in oral and written communication skills
Demonstrated ability for hard, physical work in an emotional and stressful environment.
Ability to lift 50 pounds unassisted.
Ability to climb stairs several times per day.
Ability to lift, scoop, bend, twist, and walk as part of essential job functions.
Work Environment:

Work is performed in an animal shelter. Potential for exposure to environmental factors such as zoonotic diseases, temperature variations, high noise levels, animal waste, hazardous chemicals, anesthetics, sharp objects, and potential hostile persons and/or dangerous and aggressive animals.

This is a full time job