Position Summary:

In this role, you'll utilize fear-free and force-free methods to provide comprehensive behavior modification and training services. Collaborating closely with shelter and clinic staff, you'll identify, mitigate, and monitor behavior challenges and environmental stressors affecting both individual animals and whole population. Your responsibilities will also include training staff and volunteers in general defensive animal handling techniques and specific behavior modification strategies tailored to individual animals. Crafting individual behavior plans for at-risk animals, updating records promptly, and ensuring timely distribution of information to staff and volunteers are essential aspects of this role. Additionally, you'll engage with potential adopters, offering guidance on shelter-to-home transition plans and providing support for managing animals with behavior challenges in their new homes. Furthermore, you'll be the go-to resource for adopters facing post-adoption behavior concerns, offering expertise and guidance to ensure successful outcomes for both the animals and their new families.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

 Works with Pathway Planning, Clinic and Animal Care teams to evaluate behavior of animals and ensure that pathway planning for all animals in care begins at intake  Monitors shelter animals for signs of behavior challenges and FAS and institutes mitigation plans  Creates and executes Individual Behavior Plans (IBP) to manage and/or treat behavior challenges for both short term and long term improvement  Creates a behavior profile for animals with known or discovered behavior challenges  Ensures that there are strategies to enhance humane animal care of animals with behavior challenges across departments  Assists animal care team as needed with confining, moving, walking and transporting animals with behavior challenges  Provides training and guidance to staff and volunteers in handling animals with behavior challenges  Supervises Behavior team leads and other behavior team members (both staff and volunteers)  Collaborates with the shelter Veterinarian to ensure medication is utilized to mitigate FAS as needed  Adds behavior notes (positive and negative) in PetPoint as needed  Other duties assigned by

Director of Operations Qualifications and Experience:

 High School graduation or equivalent  Previous experience in both dog and cat care  Previous experience in dog training preferably in an animal shelter setting  Knowledge of cat behavior and experience in addressing behavior challenges in cats preferred but not required  CPDT-KA or equivalent preferred  Demonstrates excellent verbal and written communication skills  Strong organizational, planning, and critical thinking skills  Must have strong desire and ability to train co-workers and volunteers  Excellent interpersonal skills  Proficient in Microsoft Office suites, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint  Knowledge of PetPoint preferred  Must have a valid driver's license  Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs and carry for 150 feet  Must be capable of controlling and walking dogs who are not leash trained and weigh up to 80 lbs for up to 30 minutes over a distance up to 1200 feet

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The employee is required to remain in a stationary position for extended periods of time, as well as move and traverse within the shelter facility for extended periods of time, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee is required to communicate, converse with, convey information to, express oneself, and exchange information with shelter staff and the general public. The employee must regularly move, transport, and position items weighing up to 40 pounds, frequently moves, transports, and positions items weighing up to 60 pounds, and occasionally moves, transports, and positions items weighing up to 50 pounds. The employee is continuously exposed to animals, animal waste, potentially harmful cleaning chemicals, high noise and potentially hazardous conditions, including the risk of animal bites and working outdoors for extended periods of time during cold and extremely hot weather. The Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County is a not-for-profit, equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, culturally sensitive work environment and prohibits discrimination due to race, color, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, sex/gender, gender identity or disability. All are encouraged to apply.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

From $24.00 per hour

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Ability to

Relocate:

Vero Beach, FL 32967: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location:

In person