Animal Shelter Behaviorist

Do you want to join a nationally recognized agency working at the leading edge of municipal animal sheltering? If so, come join the Seattle Animal Shelter's dynamic, progressive team as an Animal Shelter Behaviorist!

The Animal Shelter Behaviorist (Training & Education Coordinator) leads behavior support efforts for Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). The behaviorist will provide for the behavioral care and needs of the animals while they are at SAS and as needed in the foster care system. They plan, implement and manage the behavior program which includes community behavior support, foster caregiver behavior support, assessing and improving dog, cat and small animal wellbeing, enrichment, training and behavior assessment and more. This position also mentors employees and volunteers related to animal wellbeing, behavior, and humane handling and training techniques so that each contact with an animal is used as an opportunity to advance the well-being and training of the animal.

The expected schedule for this position is full-time (40 hours/week) and will include at least one weekend day.

ABOUT US

The Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) is often the public's first interaction with the City of Seattle, operating as a customer-focused front door that assists with everything from paying utilities or reporting a pothole to requesting public information or even adopting a new pet.

The 500-plus employees of FAS span across 10 divisions and work behind-the-scenes providing critical functions, like managing 120 City facilities—including police and fire stations—overseeing the City's neighborhood customer service centers and Customer Service Bureau, and making sure minority-owned businesses can equitably compete for City contracts. No matter the need, FAS is here—at your service.

Job Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Animal Care Manager this position:

• Works collaboratively with SAS animal care, veterinary, foster and volunteer teams to develop, implement, manage, and oversee programs which:
  • Follow Least Intrusive Minimally Aversive and Fear Free approaches and utilize the Humane Hierarchy.
  • Monitor and maximize behavioral health and well-being for all SAS animals.
  • Recognize negative welfare states, take urgent action to improve wellbeing, and monitor progress.
  • Support animals’ individual behavioral needs, by providing enrichment, training, behavior modification, and behavioral support.
  • Improve flow of animals through the shelter system, minimize the length of stay of animals with special behavior needs, including but not limited to daily rounds, implementing care pathways, foster care, day outings and sleepovers.
  • Train staff and volunteers about animal behavior, safe and humane handling, and behavior best practices to maximize safety, animal wellbeing and live outcomes.
  • Train, provide support for foster caregivers; provide pre-adoption counseling and post-adoption support for adopters of behavior animals.
• Identifies animals who may benefit from behavior intervention and works collaboratively to develop, implement, monitor, and revise individualized behavior plans as appropriate.
• Works with animals who are fractious, shut down, or otherwise demonstrating behavior that may make them unsafe to handle or for adoption.
• Accurately and objectively records individual animal behavior observations and plans in shelter software in a timely manner and teaches others how to do the same.
• Creates and implements behavior SOPs to support SAS behavior programs.
• Creates behavior education (documents, videos, etc.) to share with staff, adopters and foster caregivers.
• Assists in the collection of information, photos, and videos of animals for website bios, social media, and other stakeholders including but not limited to Seattle Animal Shelter Foundation.
• Assists the field services team with cases of animal cruelty that include behavior implications including, but not limited to, documenting behavior, and conducting initial and follow up assessments and testifying in court as needed.
• Assists with establishing transfer partnerships, including evaluation of potential partners’ behavioral capacity of to determine if they can provide resources and support that SAS is unable to.
• Collects and reviews data to evaluate and monitor individual animal and the behavior program’s progress, then makes changes as appropriate.
• Participates in public speaking engagements such as training and conferences.
• Models and promotes the Core Values of SAS and the City of Seattle.
• Represents SAS in a professional, respectful, and courteous manner.
• Provides quality and compassionate service to the public, volunteers, and employees.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Four ( 4) years of animal handling experience in a shelter, zoo or animal welfare setting, experience designing and implementing animal training or behavior modification programs;
  
  OR
  
  
• Two (2) years of animal handling experience in a shelter, zoo or animal welfare setting, experience designing and implementing animal training or behavior modification programs; AND a
• Bachelor's degree in Animal Behavior, Education, Psychology, Public Administration, Training/Development, or a related field.

(Or a combination of education, training and experience will be evaluated on an individual basis for comparability.)

Desired Qualifications:

• Four (4) or more years of positive reinforcement-based animal training experience, including evaluating dog behavior.
• Experience creating animal behavior protocols, modification plans, and management plans.
• Experience working, volunteering, or consulting with an animal shelter.
• CPDT-KA, CAAB, ACAAB, or equivalent certification, or comparable education, training, and experience.
• Experience with cat, small mammal, reptile, and/or bird behavior.
• Bilingual or multilingual.

Work Environment/Physical Demands:
Work is performed in an open admission animal shelter with multiple species including animals that are frightened, fractious or aggressive and have bite histories. Includes working outdoors. Must be able to lift and move up to 50 pounds. Flexible schedule may be required.

License Requirement:

• Requires a valid Washington State driver's license.

Additional Information

This position is classified as a Training & Education Coordinator. It is Civil Service represented, FLSA non-exempt and is eligible for overtime. The full pay range for this step-progression position is $42.34 - $49.46. per hour. New employees begin at Step 1 of the pay progression, which is $40.71 hourly. Current City employees’ starting rate of pay will be based on Personnel Rules regarding promotions.

Application Process

Applications are reviewed after the posting closes. You must submit the following items to be considered for this position no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time on the scheduled closed date.

1. Completed NEOGOV online application.
2. Cover letter describing how your skills and experience align with the stated job responsibilities and qualifications.
3. Current resume indicating relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and education.

Your application may be rejected as incomplete if you do not include the relevant information in the application. Cover letters and/or resumes are not accepted in lieu of a completed application. Applications and/or Supplemental Questionnaires that state “see my resume” or “see my personnel file” are considered incomplete and will not be accepted.

PLEASE NOTE: This job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Background Check: Applicants must successfully pass a background check, which will be conducted in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17. Applicants will be given a chance to explain or correct background information and provide verifiable information of good conduct and rehabilitation.

Pre-Employment Physical: Successful candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment physical.