Shelter Behavior Associate

Summary:

Are you interested in companion animal behavior and want to learn more about providing high-quality care while optimizing welfare for animals in need? Do you thrive in a dynamic and complex environment, where colleagues from all skill levels work together to continually advance the animal behavior field? If so, the role of Behavior Associate at the ASPCA’s Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) might be right for you!

The application for this position will be available until Monday, June 29 at 12pm EST.

Who We Are

The CRC, located in Columbus, OH, is part of the Rehabilitation Services Group, which also includes the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, NC, and the Recovery and Rehabilitation Center (R&R) in Pawling, NY. All three facilities provide opportunities for animals to heal after rescue. As they engage in hands-on care, teams prioritize the elevation of our work through ongoing learning, advancing the animal welfare field through research, developing effective, efficient interventions, establishing new best practices and sharing innovations with other organizations nationwide through the ASPCA’s Learning Lab, ASPCApro, publications, and professional and academic conferences. At the CRC, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in ASPCA national cruelty cases and disaster responses.

What You’ll Do

The Shelter Behavior Associate role at the CRC offers a unique opportunity to jump-start or accelerate your career as a shelter behavior expert. The role starts off with an intensive, 10-week paid training program called the Shelter Behavior Apprenticeship (SBA). The only program of its kind, the SBA provides a deep dive into the science of animal behavior, coached hands-on learning, and critical knowledge about how to apply behavior expertise in a shelter environment. Following completion of the SBA, graduates join their team as Shelter Behavior Associates and continue to develop their skills, guided by their managers. Behavior Associates who consistently demonstrate strong shelter behavior knowledge and skills, and collaborate effectively within and across teams, typically move into the role of Behavior Specialist after approximately one year of on-the-job training. The Specialist role includes additional responsibilities, including coaching and teaching other team members, visiting learners from other organizations and volunteers, crafting behavior modification plans, and doing more advanced behavior rehabilitation work.

Ideal candidates for Behavior Associate will have a keen interest in the science of animal behavior, a passion for animal welfare, and exceptional people skills.

The Behavior Associate reports directly to the Senior Manager, Shelter Animal Behavior and has no direct reports.

Where and When You’ll Work

This position reports to the CRC in Columbus, OH.

This position requires completion of the Shelter Behavior Apprenticeship which combines online and hands-on learning, and requires travel (more information is listed below).

Schedule may include one weekend day, and available to work a flexible schedule when needed including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays

Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time, as needed, is required for this position.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

The target hiring range for the initial Behavior Associate role is $25.95 – $27.40

The target range for promotion to Behavior Specialist is $28.80 – $31.02

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.

Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.

Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.

Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

Shelter Behavior Associate Job Responsibilities:

Behavior Modification, Behavior Assessment, Animal Handling & Data Collection

• Conduct daily treatment sessions: perform behavior modification protocols and record data after each session using the CRC behavior database

• Collect data to track an animal’s behavioral progress

• Monitor the behavioral health of animals

• Communicate observations and concerns to the Behavior Manager(s) and make recommendations to support treatment progress and outcome decisions during weekly meetings

• Perform behavior evaluations and re-evaluations of CRC animals

• Assist, as needed, with the handling and movement of animals during cleaning, intake, exercise, grooming, exams and humane euthanasia

• Provide socialization with people and/or other animals

• Provide extra enrichment for designated animals

• Conduct dog play groups and record data after each session

• Assist with the collection and organization of footage for video library

• Adhere to all protocols set forth by the ASPCA, including behavior modification and training procedures, enrichment, animal handling, as well as general medical and sheltering protocols

Coaching, Consultation & Behavior Support

• Participate in continuing education to develop coaching and consultation skills to be able to:

• Provide hands-on coaching for CRC Care and Enrichment Technicians, visitors, interns, associates, and professionals from other organizations

• Provide follow-up support for placement partner organizations and adopters

• Help facilitate animal introductions to foster parents and, when appropriate, potential adopters

• Participate in Learning Lab collaborative teaching modules

• Monitor the activities of volunteers interacting with CRC dogs and provide basic guidance/coaching as assigned/appropriate

• As assigned, serve in a shadowing role during Learning Lab collaborative teaching modules to prepare for future participation as a subject matter expert

• Produce draft behavior-related paperwork for placement partners or other purposes as assigned

Deployment & Travel/Transport

• Deploy as needed to provide behavior support in temporary field shelters and to support Behavioral Sciences Team (BST) field work (handling for animal removal, performing forensic behavior evaluations)

• Transport animals to and from the field or the CRC as assigned

• Other duties as assigned

Behavior Specialist Responsibilities:

Behavior Specialists perform responsibilities of Behavior Associates as well as the following:

Behavior Modification, Behavior Assessment, Animal Handling & Data Collection

• Assist, as needed, with animal housing and kennel design improvement planning

• Provide human and/or conspecific socialization for specified animals

Coaching, Consultation & Behavior Support

• Lead internal group dog training classes

• Serve as a subject matter expert during Learning Lab modules for partner organizations as assigned

• Give media interviews via email, via phone and on camera as needed

Deployment & Travel/Transport

• Understand Incident Command System (ICS) and adhere to chain of command

• Provide behavior support at ASPCA temporary shelters, conducting playgroups, performing behavior evaluations as needed, and monitoring behavioral health of animals

Qualifications

• Demonstrates natural skill when handling animals (e.g., intuitively adjusts movement and position based on animals’ behavior, can safely walk dogs on-leash)

• Basic understanding of animal learning, training and behavior modification preferred

• Animal welfare knowledge preferred

• Good low-stress animal handing and restraint skills preferred

• Able to provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques

• Displays care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals and others, especially during stressful situations

• Must feel comfortable contributing behavior observations and consultative input to help a panel make humane euthanasia decisions; must feel comfortable handling animals for humane euthanasia procedures

• Must feel comfortable working with animals who are victims of cruelty, neglect and disasters

• Good team player; a “people person” who enjoys collaboration

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Superior problem-solving abilities; likes to troubleshoot and find solutions when facing challenges

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, potentially stressful environment; Must be flexible and easily adapt to frequent changes to plans/protocols

• Good organizational skills; Meticulous data collection and reporting skills

• Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds

• Able to work standing for 8 or more hours and bend, crouch, kneel and move freely to perform responsibilities that include handling potentially dangerous animals in stressful conditions

• Able to occasionally work in physically challenging conditions and able to wear appropriate protective gear, including a protective mask; job responsibilities may entail exposure to chemical and biological hazards, such as feces and blood, exposure to sharp objects, working in noisy environments and working in areas with uneven, wet and slippery surfaces

• Fluent in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint; familiarity with SalesForce a plus

• Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history

• Must feel comfortable seeing animals suffering from extreme fear and anxiety on a daily basis; must feel comfortable participating in humane euthanasia procedures for behaviorally unhealthy animals

• In Specialist role, must be able and willing to travel for up to 10 days at a time, sometimes on short notice

• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.

Education and Work Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; BS in animal behavior field (animal behavior/cognition, experimental psychology, zoology, or animal science) preferred

• Minimum of 6 months’ doing hands-on work with dogs as an employee or volunteer required

• Experience handling and working with cats in some capacity, as an employee or volunteer strongly preferred

• Experience working in an animal shelter strongly preferred

• Low-Stress Handling® University Silver-Level certification is required within six months of hire

• Disaster Sheltering and FEMA Incident Command System courses (100, 200, 700, 800) is required within 6 months of hire

• Must complete the Shelter Behavior Apprenticeship program required dates

Shelter Behavior Apprenticeship Requirements:

• Actively participate in shelter behavior online, classroom and hands-on experiential learning activities throughout the Apprenticeship

• Practice application of acquired skills and knowledge in a busy animal shelter setting, with coaching and supervision by Apprenticeship staff

• Perform basic handling of dogs and cats under the supervision of Apprenticeship staff

• Demonstrate acquired knowledge and skills via periodic, practical learner assessments throughout the Apprenticeship to assist Instructors in providing personalized coaching

• Assist ASPCA facility staff as necessary, providing care for animals participating in Apprenticeship activities (e.g., cleaning, feeding, providing enrichment/exercise)

• Provide periodic, practical feedback on the experience, activities, content and flow of the Apprenticeship to help inform program improvement and iteration

• Travel for up to 3 weeks at a time for learning activities at ASPCA facilities (all associated costs covered by the ASPCA)

• Shelter Behavior Associates must complete the SBA program within 1 year of hire. SBA dates for this role are below (subject to change):

• Learning Theory (August 26-27 Remote & September 1-4 in Pawling, NY)

• Canine Essentials (September 23-24 Remote & September 29-October 8 in Methuen, MA)

• Canine Arousal & Aggression (November 4-5 Remote & November 10-19 in Pawling, NY)

• Feline Essentials (December 2-3 Remote & December 7-10 Location TBC)

• Shy & Fearful Canines section in 2027 (Date & Location TBD)

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent Experience (Required)