Boston Adoption Center- Behavior Coordinator

About the role

This is a full-time, 40-hour-per-week position. The Behavior Coordinator will advise adoption center staff on facilitating appropriate matches for animals with challenging behavior, create and implement behavior modification plans for dogs in the adoption center, and instruct staff on creating adoption recommendations. The role leads training for adoption staff and volunteers, provides guidance on behavior-related tasks (including daily dog walking, low-stress handling for vaccines, medication administration, and low-stress euthanasia), and delivers pre-adoption counseling and hands-on training for prospective adopters, as well as post-adoption support.

Responsibilities

• Advise adoption center staff on appropriate animal matches and adoption recommendations.
• Create and implement behavior modification plans for dogs in the adoption center.
• Lead training for adoption staff and volunteers in animal behavior.
• Provide guidance on behavior-related tasks such as daily dog walking, low-stress handling for vaccines, medication administration, and low-stress euthanasia.
• Deliver pre-adoption counseling and hands-on training for prospective adopters.
• Provide post-adoption support to families experiencing challenges at home.

Requirements

• Education: CCPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, IAABC or other accredited professional dog training certification preferred, or two years of equivalent experience training dogs under the supervision of a certified dog trainer and in accordance with the MSPCA training philosophy.
• Certification: Fear Free Certification required within six months of hire or promotion date.
• Experience: One year working or volunteering directly with animals, ideally of different species, sizes, and temperaments, under the supervision of a behavior professional; one year working in animal welfare or a related field; one year of training/behavior modification experience in accordance with the MSPCA’s philosophies.
• Applicants must include a cover letter showcasing writing skills.

Qualifications

• Organized and creative problem solver with excellent people skills.

Benefits

• Continuing education opportunities in animal welfare and behavior sciences.
• Work environment balancing independent work, collaboration with the behavior and management teams, and hands-on work with animal care staff and volunteers.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance, dental and life insurance.
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contributions.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Paid holidays, sick leave, and vacation time.
• Employee discounts for pet health care, pet food, and free on-site parking.