Behavior Specialist

Love animals? Want to spend your day surrounded by wagging tails and soft purrs?

Humane Society Silicon Valley (HSSV), a privately funded, 501(c)(3) non-profit, has been serving people and pets in Silicon Valley since 1929. Having facilitated more than half a million animal adoptions, HSSV is a leader in animal welfare through our lifesaving efforts, community programs, and the many ways we are working to move the animal welfare industry forward. Our mission is to save lives, keep families together, and create a better future for pets and their people.

We are a passionate, high-performing team who believes that collaboration is key to our success. Our best work is achieved by leveraging each other’s strengths and creating opportunities for professional growth. Join a team that focuses on our key values of kindness, courage, and impact!

Overview

The Behavior Specialist assists in the oversight and execution of internal behavior programs which affect our sheltered animals. They are also responsible for assisting with the creation and execution of external programs which support the human-animal bond in our community. The Behavior Specialist leverages their knowledge of animal behavior and training to keep HSSVs staff and volunteers up to date on the latest humane handling and training protocols.

Duties and Responsibilities

Internal Programs

Serve as a subject matter expert for animal behavior and training, including aggressive behavior and other severe behavior challenges.

Lead group classes, and provide one-on one coaching to staff and volunteers on safe animal handling, positive reinforcement training, and behavioral documentation.

Take a lead role in the development, maintenance, and enhancement of programs and protocols that reinforce HSSV’s goals and philosophies towards positive behavior modification and animal well-being.

Create behavior modification plans for individual shelter animals to enhance their adoptability, enrich their environment and provide for their mental well-being.

Maintain detailed behavior assessment information on all animals and monitor behavior plans and modification protocols to ensure follow through.

Participate in the review, evaluation, and modification of adoption matching and follow up programs to better facilitate successful matches and to minimize returns.

Assess shelter animals’ behavior, including dog to dog sociability. Ensure that animals are evaluated and processed through holdings periods in a timely manner.

Provide recommendations for animals to be placed for adoption, in foster homes, or with rescue groups. Recommend further evaluation, behavioral modification and/or training, criteria for potential adopters, etc.

Conduct intake interviews with owners of surrendered animals and finders of stray animals to obtain a behavioral history. Counsel owners of non-adoptable animals on surrender alternatives and/or euthanasia.

Provide behavior support to animals in foster by assisting with foster volunteer training, creating behavior plans, and providing behavior consultation to foster families.

Provide counseling and coaching to adopters of animals on behavior modification plans at the time of adoption and provide follow up consultation after the animal is adopted.

External Programs

Conduct behavior helpline counseling sessions via zoom, on the phone, in person, and/or via email aimed providing guidance on resolving any type or severity of behavioral issue through detailed diagnostic questioning, as well as management and training recommendations.

Document behavioral counseling sessions including problem identification, advice given/behavioral plan, and follow-up and/or referral information.

Develop training materials (including handouts, training plans, videos, class curriculum) to aid in educating and counseling fosters, adopters, and the general public on animal behavior, training, and humane handling.

Maintain financial records per Behavior Department procedures on behavioral counseling services.

Requirements

Certified Canine Behavior Counselor (CCBC), Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) or other equivalent behavior certification required.

Experience evaluating and/or modifying animal behavior.

Knowledge of operant conditioning, clicker training and strong commitment to using positive reinforcement to modify behavior.

Demonstrate an attitude that encourages enthusiasm and support for co-workers, staff in other departments, volunteers and the public.

Ability to follow directions as well as work independently with minimal supervision.

Strong decision making and communication skills and experience working in a cross-functional organization.

Demonstrated understanding of animal diseases and transmission.

Proficient computer skills including MS Word, excel, email, and database systems.

Ability to regularly, and for extended periods of time, handle animals safely and humanely using proper restraint techniques.

Ability to accurately and objectively perform and document behavior evaluations on dogs, cats, rabbits, and pocket pets.

Must be able to handle the physical and emotional aspect of work in an animal shelter environment and be able to lift and move animals and objects weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances (as well as control heavy dogs of up to 120 pounds or more when on leash) and humanely restraining animals when necessary.

Ability to operate effectively with exposure to animals that may be under socialized, fearful, feral, unruly, and/or aggressive. Frequent exposure to loud noise, odors, and chemicals. Exposure to controlled substances, needles, syringes, and other supplies used to treat animals.

Work Days and Hours

Hours may include days or evening hours, weekdays, or weekends, depending on staffing needs.

Candidate Tip

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