Animal Training And Behavior Specialist

Company: The Milo Foundation

Position Title: Animal Training and Behavior Specialist

Exemption Status Type: Non-Exempt, Hourly position

Schedule: 4-5 days/week, 24-40 hours/week. Primarily First Shift on weekdays, though requires some Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; may require some overtime and hours outside of the regular schedule. Occasional travel to the Milo Point Richmond Adoption Center or elsewhere may be needed.

Location: Willits, California

Wages & Benefits: starting at $18/hr.

Summary:

The Training and Behavior Specialist conducts the hands-on implementation of care and training with our dogs, working as a part of the canine care team with care and efficiency to directly train, rehabilitate, and modify behaviorally challenged animals. This Specialist participates in developing consistent Milo behavioral protocols to successfully and safely place animals for adoption and to save the lives of animals currently at risk of being euthanized in shelters.

Purpose:

Under the direction of Milo’s executive and development directors, and in cooperation with animal care staff, this Specialist will co-create and lead innovative outcome-focused behavior programming at the Milo Sanctuary. Training protocols will be shared with Milo Point Richmond staff as well, so that both Milo campuses are working with consistent methods, protocols and goals. This Specialist will help our staff to implement replicable program models with a goal to solve behavioral challenges, so that harder to place animals can be adopted, furthering Milo Foundation’s strategic animal placement goals. Milo is aspiring to use a Dogs Playing For Life style of training.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities:

Outcomes

• Work hands-on with dogs and other animals as assigned to participate in identifying behaviors, strategizing solutions, and developing TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR modification plans for individual dogs AND BEHAVIOR profiles, with a goal of assisting animals to be successfully adopted.
• Develop standardized training, behavior modification, and management protocols for the Sanctuary, adopters, volunteers and fosters.
• Assist Canine Care staff and Team Leads when specific behavior challenges arise with animals that prevent them from finding a home.
• Collaborate with Directors and managers, the canine care and adoption teams at both the Sanctuary and Milo Point Richmond, and the Milo Foundation marketing team to share behavior program success and highlight special achievements and promotion of these animals for adoption.

Training and Behavior Program

• Functionally assess animals; coordinate ongoing evaluation and progress monitoring; participate in interactions, such as play dates, parallel walks, introductions and creation of group housing pairings; and conduct daily training, enrichment AND BEHAVIOR modification activities for dogs or other animals as assigned.
• Participate in Sanctuary daily tasks, including animal care, feeding and cleaning as assigned, and performing daily tracking and documentation of animals in training, all within the context of the animal care area's workflow and health, safety, and care standards.
• Collaborate with other Milo staff members to replicate successful programs and techniques, to demonstrate the ability for rehabilitation outside of the Sanctuary environment.
• Move forward to build behavior, TRAINING AND animal management capabilities of the animal care teams and volunteers, through one-on-one coaching and group class work, and assist with specific challenging animals or situations as identified by animal care leadership.

General

• Work collaboratively, and with a positive attitude, with all Milo Foundation department teams for the care, benefit, promotion of and ultimate placement for animals in our care.
• Participate in the development and hosting of behavior and training workshops, attend to relevant email correspondence, and provide adopter and foster consultations and support, with an ability to professionally represent Milo Foundation’s position on behavior issues.
• Follow Milo’s policies, procedures, and task lists for daily assignments, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and record-keeping.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Skills & Experience:

• Dog TRAINING AND BEHAVIOR knowledge and experience to include theory, training techniques, and an interest to pursue continued learning in the field. Professional dog training experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in multiple projects in various stages of development, each with a unique timeline.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues, and familiarity and comfort with an open adoption process.
• A resourceful, get-it-done attitude; the initiative to assist in any area or process; problem-solving skills, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.
• Strong interpersonal skills, being a team player, personable and professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software (Milo uses Shelterluv) preferred, or have the desire and motivation to learn.
• Must have a valid driver's license, and a clean driving record is preferred.

Physical & Other Requirements:

Must be able to:

• Routinely lift 60 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, bending and traversing uneven ground.
• Work at a computer or driving a vehicle for extended periods of time with repetitive typing, sitting, arm, and hand motion.
• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold and wet.
• Daily exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.
• Ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the schedule; this position includes weekends, nights and holiday work.
• The candidate will have growth potential within the organization and should be devoted to animal rescue as a career choice.
• The possibility of living on the premises exists, which would include a formal background check.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Milo Foundation. Employment is at-will. Milo is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, domestic partner status, or medical condition.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 24 – 40 per week

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Can you provide a narrative to describe the dog training theory and style you employ, breeds you've worked with and examples of the outcomes with particular dogs?

License/Certification:

• Dog Training or Animal Behavior certification (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Willits, CA (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Willits, CA: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person