Canine Behavior Specialist

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 20,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals.

Schedule

The working schedule for this position is Wednesday - Sunday, 8AM - 4:30PM with Monday and Tuesday off.

About the Role

The Canine Behavior Specialist provides behavioral enrichment to the dogs in Animal Care Centers of New York City’s (ACC) care, including assisting with playgroups and behavioral assessments, providing exercise, behavioral and environmental enrichment, socialization, and basic training.

Responsibilities

• Conducting individual socialization sessions with specific dogs and recording their observed behaviors.
• Supporting the enrichment program by distributing enrichment items.
• Aiding specialized behavior roles in their daily responsibilities, including behavioral assessments, playgroup, and training assistance.
• Work with the Behavior and Enrichment Supervisor to maintain and support programs that provide behavioral and environmental enrichment, exercise, socialization, and care focusing on dogs housed at ACC.
• Participate in playgroups daily: run dogs to the yard and learn safe management techniques for monitoring play sessions.
• Implement enrichment plans for dogs at the care centers.
• In conjunction with enrichment plans, teach basic manners during exercise and in the kennel as appropriate.
• Work with the behavior staff, animal care staff, and volunteers to identify particular animals that are shy, have been with ACC for a long time and/or need special attention.
• Assist with canine handling evaluations as needed.
• Carefully monitor and communicate behavior and body language during assessments to ensure the safety of the Assessor.
• Keep accurate written records to identify what was done each day for each animal and to monitor the plan. Update records and observation logs as new information becomes available.
• Clean up after animals. This includes picking up after dogs during walks, spot cleaning kennels as needed, and cleaning of the play yard and all enrichment supplies.
• Fear Free certification required within 30 days of hire.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 6 months previous experience interacting with and caring for dogs in a private or shelter setting required.
• Must be able to handle all types and breeds of canines with varying behaviors and energy levels, including those showing fearful and aggressive behaviors.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 50 pounds.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity and strong understanding of canine body language and working in playgroup settings a plus.
• Ability to make sound judgments and 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.
• Flexibility with daily tasks as well as hours depending on operational needs.
• 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, including compassionate end-of-life services.

Benefits

• Generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days, and sick pay.
• Open access Cigna medical, dental, and vision insurance at a low premium.
• 401K and Pension.
• Life Insurance.
• On-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all-staff trainings to include safety, DEI, cross-training, and other growth opportunities.
• Eligibility for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF).

Reports to: Behavior and Enrichment Supervisor. This is a non-union position and is eligible for overtime.