Certified Dog Trainer, Salem

About the role

The Training & Behavior team provides public training classes for canines and felines, focusing on the needs of the animals in our community. Through their work, we enhance the bond between owner and pet. The T&B department also offers a behavior help line for free consultative services on behavioral issues, and conducts training, education, and programs for staff and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Present training curriculum in a happy, enthusiastic, engaging, and informative manner.
• Aid clients in establishing realistic training and behavior goals and handle client non-compliance professionally.
• Manage people, dogs, and the environment for everyone’s safety.
• Monitor class scheduling and client registration activity.
• Educate clients on dog behavior, including canine body language, learning theory, and humane training methods.
• Stay updated on emerging trends in animal behavior and learning theory.
• Maintain confidential, accurate, and complete records of clients, their animals, and the training and behavior services provided.
• Ensure secure storage and, when appropriate, confidential disposal of such records.
• Provide training, support, and encouragement to volunteers, staff, and students.
• Create and update training materials, such as handouts, videos, or online resources, to enhance client education.

Qualifications

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
• Three years’ work experience as an instructor in public dog training classes and conducting private training sessions.
• Experience working with behavior challenges such as fear or reactivity, using humane, evidence-based techniques.
• Strong commitment to force-free, science-based training methods and ability to educate clients on humane training approaches.
• Open to new and improved methods of animal behavior training and willing to continually expand knowledge base.
• Excellent animal handling skills and knowledge of breeds, behavior, care, and housing, common health problems, and disease symptoms.
• Ability to lead workshops or seminars for dog owners or animal welfare professionals.
• Able to use designated software programs to administer web-based client registration tools.
• Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff, and volunteers.
• Proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills - able to communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, respectful, and professional manner.

Supervisor Responsibility

• None

Accountability

• Reports directly to: Public Training Services Manager
• Often engages directly with: Training & Behavior, volunteers, students, clients, Director of Training & Behavior.

Qualifications (continued)

• Minimum Qualification & Transferable Skills: We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We welcome applicants who bring a diversity of identity, culture, experience, perspective, and thought. You are also encouraged to address how your professional and lived experience, scholarship, mentorship, and/or service will contribute to Oregon Humane.
• High School Diploma or GED equivalent
• Three years’ work experience as an instructor in public dog training classes and conducting private training sessions.
• Experience working with behavior challenges such as fear, or reactivity, using humane, evidence-based techniques.
• Strong commitment to force-free, science-based training methods and ability to educate clients on humane training approaches.
• Open to new and improved methods of animal behavior training and willing to continually expand knowledge base.
• Excellent animal handling skills and knowledge of breeds, behavior, care, and housing, common health problems, and disease symptoms.
• Ability to lead workshops or seminars for dog owners or animal welfare professionals.
• Able to use designated software programs to administer web-based client registration tools.
• Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff, and volunteers.
• Proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills - able to communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, respectful, and professional manner.

Work Environment Conditions & Physical Requirements

• Interacts and collaborates with all levels of the organization, including Oregon Humane staff, executive team members, donors, general-public, external vendors, volunteers, and supporters.
• Contact and communication is carried out through face-to-face, telephone, and digital interactions.
• Excellent customer service skills are essential to success. Communication must be clear, understandable, professional, and respectful in all circumstances.
• Work is performed in an office and medical center/animal shelter environment. Travel between the two campuses may be required. Weekend and evening work is required. Animal contact and related injuries may occur.
• No physical requirements listed.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We strive for a culture of integrity, respect, and compassion where every member of our community contributes their perspectives and authentic selves and where everyone reaches their potential as individuals and teams. We recognize that striving for diversity, equity, and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening, and evolving to become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive than we are today.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Oregon Humane is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained impact. We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status, or any other protected group.

At-Will Employment

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship.