Canine Behavior Assessor

Working Schedule

The working schedule for this position is Tuesday - Saturday, 10 AM - 6:30 PM with Sunday and Monday off.

About the Role

The Canine Behavior Assessor is a member of the Canine Behavior Team who focuses on performing handling assessments and completing behavior evaluations on all dogs in Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC)’s care, and on providing in- and out-of-kennel enrichment to maintain a high quality of life and to meet each dog’s behavioral needs. The Canine Behavior Assessor position will work hands-on with dogs in our care to complete in-shelter handling assessments and to synthesize all known and observed behaviors to make final behavior determinations. You will be responsible for learning and performing ACC’s handling assessment, daily record keeping and reporting, thorough evaluation write-ups, and identifying potential challenges and recommendations for rehoming. You will also participate in daily playgroup, in-kennel enrichment, socialization sessions, cue training, and behavior modification opportunities.

Essential Job Functions

• Conduct multiple-item handling assessments and keep track of updating assessment as needed.
• Synthesize all known and observed behaviors to make final behavior determinations based on scientifically sound methods.
• Identify potential challenges and recommendations for rehoming.
• Accurately and thoroughly complete Behavior Assessment write-ups in Shelter Buddy.

Other Responsibilities

• Adhere to all safety guidelines to minimize incidents of aggression and fear.
• Participate in daily playgroup, in-kennel enrichment, socialization sessions, cue training, behavior modification, and any other in- and out-of-kennel enrichment requested.
• Run Shelter Buddy reports to determine which dogs are in the assessment window each day.
• Assist various other departments with additional tasks as directed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or comparable work experience preferred.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Ability to foster a cooperative, encouraging, and positive work environment with staff as well as volunteers.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• The ability to remain pleasant, calm, and objective in all situations.

Work Environment

At ACC it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. ACC houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance. ACC offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.