Senior Manager, Shelter Animal Behavior - ASPCA : Job Details

Summary:

Are you a shelter animal behavior expert and skilled people manager who thrives in a fast-paced environment? Do you love to collaborate with colleagues in other areas of expertise, coming together to help animals in need? If so, the role of Senior Manager of Shelter Animal Behavior at the ASPCA's new Recovery & Rehabilitation Center (R&R Center) might be the perfect role for you!

Led by the Senior Director of Shelter Animal Behavior, two Senior Managers of Shelter Animal Behavior each supervise five Behavior Specialists, providing ongoing supervision, coaching and development support. Together, these 13 R&R Center Behavior Branch members partner with the entire team to optimize the psychological and physical health of dogs rescued from cruel and neglectful situations.

The Senior Director and Senior Managers of Shelter Animal Behavior serve as a critical part of the R&R Center's management team. In addition, they oversee all Behavior Branch functions, from performing hands-on work to coaching others to helping the whole team embrace the concept of infusing behavioral well-being into all aspects of operations.

The ideal candidate for this role has a comprehensive understanding of shelter animal behavior, excellent hands-on handling and behavior modification skills, strong people management and team leadership ability, superior interpersonal skills, and a belief in the power of teamwork to achieve shared goals.

Recovery & Rehabilitation Center Overview & Upcoming Launch

The R&R Center, currently under construction in Pawling, NY, will be a unique program dedicated to providing integrated sheltering, behavioral, and medical care for canine victims of cruelty rescued through the ASPCA's partnership with the NYPD. The R&R Center team will work closely with ASPCA teams in New York City, including the Animal Recovery Center (ARC), the Animal Hospital (AAH), the Canine Annex for Recovery and Enrichment (CARE), and the Adoption Center.

The target start date for this position is early January, 2025. The role will be remote until Spring, 2025 when the position will be on-site at the R&R Center in Pawling, NY.

Responsibilities:

Development Phase: The following responsibilities apply to the R&R Center's development phase, which includes program development, staff hiring, and team onboarding.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Program Development (50%)

• Rapidly gain familiarity with ASPCA org-wide goals and strategies; learn about the work of partner teams; build new, collaborative relationships with colleagues on other teams and help streamline systems where work intersects

• Participate in R&R Center program development, focusing on the creation of the behavior program; collaborate with other R&R Center leadership team members to build team-wide structure and systems

• Contribute to the development of a comprehensive R&R Center SOP package

• Alongside other R&R Center leadership team members, develop strong relationships with community stakeholders

• Participate in the creation and execution of a program launch plan, ensuring that staff, program structure, supplies, and equipment are all in place for the start of operations

Team Development, Hiring and Onboarding (40%)

• Work with other R&R Center leads and people managers to develop a clear vision for team culture and communication, grounded in an integrative care model and aligned with ASPCA Core Values

• Interview, hire, and onboard Behavior Specialists

• Plan and participate in teambuilding activities

R&R Center Facility Preparation Support (10%)

• Work with the Senior Director, Shelter Animal Behavior to ensure that all supplies have been purchased, delivered, and organized on time for launch

• Help create supply inventory and purchase systems

• As part of a detailed launch plan, work alongside other people managers to ensure that staff become familiar with their new building and receive training on equipment/tools they'll use during daily operations

Implementation Phase: The following responsibilities apply to the R&R Center's implementation phase, which will begin when facility construction is complete and program operations start.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Behavior Assessment, Treatment, Handling & Coaching (50%)

• Schedule and conduct behavior modification sessions and standardized behavior evaluations; record data to inform decision-making and for research purposes

• Coordinate and supervise other Behavior Branch activities

• Continually monitor animal behavior, collecting information from multiple sources to form a comprehensive picture of behavioral health

• Handle fearful, highly aroused and aggressive dogs as needed, using low-stress and defensive handling techniques (e.g., during intake, medical procedures, animal movement, humane euthanasia)

• Collaborate with Operations and Medical team colleagues to plan humane euthanasia procedures for difficult to handle dogs

• Conduct treatment meetings, leading the team through troubleshooting and case progress assessment; make decisions about behavior treatment plan changes

• Conduct daily behavior rounds of all animals in the shelter and regularly participate in shelter daily rounds with Operations and Medical Branch colleagues to ensure timely, integrated care and open team communication

• Provide expert input on a robust enrichment program, housing changes, the use of psychopharmaceuticals, and pathway planning decisions

• Provide coaching and behavior guidance for direct reports, other staff, on-site external learners, volunteers, fosterers, and others

• Produce or assign/review behavior-related paperwork for dogs (e.g., for adoption/transfer/foster)

• Plan, supervise and/or conduct playgroups

• Oversee the collection and organization of footage for behavior video library; provide videos for media, animal placement, and educational uses

• Adhere to and ensure team use of ASPCA Behavior Alignment Tools (e.g., treatment protocols, eligibility guidelines, quality of life assessment tool, adoptability guidelines); liaise with the ASPCA's Behavioral Sciences Team

People Management & Team Leadership (40%)

• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports to clearly communicate role and team expectations and to provide feedback/support

• Consistently utilize ASPCA developmental tools and conduct yearly performance reviews of direct reports to measure progress

• Create professional development plans and support the career growth of direct reports

• Participate in yearly team planning and goal setting; coach direct reports to contribute to the achievement of shared goals

• Develop productive, supportive relationships and with other members of the management team to ensure optimal animal care, aligned messaging, transparent communication, and a healthy team culture

• In partnership with other leads and managers, communicate animal and program updates; welcome staff questions about the why behind decisions, both in group and one-on-one settings

• Participate in recruiting, hiring and onboarding new staff for open roles

Other Responsibilities (10%)

• Participate in the Learning Lab Shelter Partnership Program and Shelter Behavior Apprenticeship Program as a subject matter expert, on-site at the R&R Center and remotely

• Support national case work by occasionally deploying to provide expertise and other assistance in ASPCA emergency shelters

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Director, Shelter Animal Behavior

Exemplifies the ASPCA's Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals

• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes

• Believes in Team - that we are stronger together

• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible

• Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:

• Comprehensive shelter dog behavior knowledge

• Highly effective people- and team-management abilities; can artfully flex management style to best support diverse individuals

• Strong coaching abilities

• Exceptional behavior modification, assessment, and handling skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills

• Comfortable making humane euthanasia recommendations for behavior reasons and participating in euthanasia procedures; able to clearly and compassionately answer staff and volunteer questions regarding euthanasia decisions

• Good team player; a people person who enjoys and excels at collaboration

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

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment

• Flexible; can easily adapt to changes to plans/protocols and help others do the same

• 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 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 shelter software systems or Salesforce a plus

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

• Available to regularly work 5 days per week, schedule may require working one weekend day; able to work some holidays when needed

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 5% of the time as needed

Education and Work Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years' experience working as a professional animal behavior expert, handling, assessing, and treating animals with behavior problems required

• Experience and skill working with fearful, aggressive, and difficult to handle dogs required

• Minimum of 1 year professional experience working in an animal shelter required (volunteer work may be considered)

• Minimum of 2 years' experience managing a team required, preferably in an animal-related field

• High School Diploma or GED required; B.A. or B.S. in animal behavior preferred

• CAAB/ACAAB certification, IAABC certification or eligibility for certification a plus

• CPDT-KA or -KSA certification required within 1 year of hire

• Sophia Yin Low Stress Handling University Silver-Level certification required within six months of hire

• ASPCA Shelter Behavior Apprenticeship participation required within 2 years

Compensation and Benefits:

The applicable target hiring range for this remote role is based on where the employee works, which for remote roles is the employee's primary location of residence, and its respective cost of labor. We have organized the U.S. varying costs of labor index into three geographic zones. As a point of reference, below, we have included our ASPCA locations by geographic zone to illustrate what the hiring range would be in each of the following areas.

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 ranges for this role are set forth below and may be modified in the future.

• Zone 1 (For example, Asheville, NC; Champaign, IL; Columbus, OH; Gainesville, FL; Miami, FL; Oklahoma City, OK; Overland, KS; Union, MO; Weaverville, NC): $86,000 - $90,000

• Zone 2 (For example, Los Angeles, CA): $95,000 - $100,000

• Zone 3 (For example, New York, NY): $104,000 - $109,000

For remote positions, you can view which zone applies to you based on your location. For questions regarding other locations not found on the list, please send an email to [email protected] for more information.

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

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Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

Language:

English

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA's standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA's People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us: The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA's vision - that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.