Director Animal Behavior Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Overview:

Who We Are

At the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), we’re proud to work with a broad and talented team of professionals who help drive our mission to prevent animal cruelty and promote their well-being across the country. Since 1866, we’ve been at the forefront of animal welfare, and every member of our extended team contributes to our hands-on work, advocacy, and education efforts. By working with the ASPCA, you’re helping improve the lives of animals and the people who care about them.

 

The ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, NC, is the first and only facility dedicated to the rehabilitation and study of extremely fearful, under-socialized dogs, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding situations. The goal of the entire BRC team is to work together to improve these dogs’ quality of life and prepare them for life in adoptive homes---an impossible outcome without intensive, structured behavioral interventions and integrative holistic care.

 

What You’ll Do

The Care and Enrichment Technicians (CETs), who comprise a team of 8 in total, work together to provide daily care and enrichment, perform low stress handling and husbandry, closely monitor and report signs of medical and behavioral change and keep all animal care areas stocked with supplies. The CETs also prepare and provide daily enrichment items to keep dogs engaged and reduce stress, facilitate playgroups, and assist the behavior staff as requested with specific parts of the interventions. One of the most critical functions of the CETs is to serve as part of a harmonious, united team of shelter operations, shelter medicine and animal behavior experts, all dedicated to collaborating with each other to provide balanced, holistic care.

 

Temporary Role Details:

This is a temporary, contingent position and the person hired will be employed through a third-party staffing agency. 

• The target hiring range for this temporary role is $19 per hour and may be modified in the future.

• The intended schedule for this position is Friday through Monday

• Position requires weekend and some holiday support.

• This position is based in Weaverville, near Asheville, NC, and will report to the BRC’s Manager, Care and Enrichment. There will be no direct reports.

 

What’s Expected of You – Position Responsibilities & Qualifications:

 

Direct Animal Care:

• Provide daily care and support for the dogs in treatment, adhering to the BRC standard operating procedures and low stress handling and approach.

• Monitor and help maintain the medical and behavioral health of shelter animals; ensure adherence to nutrition, sanitation and infectious disease-prevention protocols established by the ASPCA’s Shelter Medicine Services team and BRC Veterinarian.

• Support the behavioral growth of the dogs in treatment, in coordination with the Behavior Branch and treatment paradigms of the program.

• Ensure the comfort and cleanliness of shelter animals.

• Comply with specific feeding programs related to behavioral enrichment for specific animals.

• Re-stock supplies and do dishes and laundry as needed.

• Work to integrate volunteers into daily care, setting clear expectations, providing guidance as needed and always communicating respect and gratitude for volunteer support

Enrichment/Interventions:

• Follow guidelines to ensure that animal holding areas include appropriate music and/or auditory stimulation for shelter animals.

• Provide daily written behavioral and medical observations to inform and share across branches (teams).

• Exercise/socialize animals as instructed.

• Prepare and distribute enrichment as directed; being open to specific needs based on treatment status or special needs.

• Assist as requested and directed in behavior interventions as “novel person”.

Qualifications:

• Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals and have a genuine interest in working with others

• Maintains a consistently positive attitude; must enjoy working directly with people; respects team members at all levels

• Relishes troubleshooting and problem solving

• Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Cultivates a climate in which individual differences and perspectives are valued, respected, encouraged and supported

• Flexible communicator: ability to interact with diverse personalities and groups

• Meticulous organizational skills; pays close attention to detail

• Ability to observe and accurately interpret animal behavior

• Must enjoy keeping animals and kennels clean

• Forms authentic, trusting relationships which enhance individual and team performance

• Physical capacity to move, stand, bend and lift up to 100 lbs and carry 50lbs.

• Ability to skillfully restrain and handle animals

• Reliable transportation to regular scheduled shifts

• Flexible and willing to attend mandatory staff meetings and training classes that may not occur during regular work hours

• The ability to work closely with behaviorally compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where euthanasia is performed on a regular basis

• At least 1 year experience working or volunteering in an animal welfare agency handling animals strongly preferred

• Experience working with under socialized dogs with extreme fear issues is a plus

Language:

• English (required)

Education and Work Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community:
If you are interested in joining our team but don't feel this position fits your experience or interests, please check out our other open opportunities or consider joining our Talent Community.

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

Applicant Notices: Applicants have rights under federal employment laws: Equal Employment Opportunity; Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA); Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); Uniformed Services Employment Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Candidates residing in CA, CO, Flagstaff (AZ), IL, IN, Los Angeles (CA), Los Angeles County (CA), MA, ME, NJ, NM, NYC, OR, Philadelphia (PA), RI, San Francisco (CA), and WI should click here for additional information about general applicant notices.