Shelter Behavior Associate

Behavior Associate

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 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.

In addition to their work as part of the CRC team, Behavior Associates are part of the ASPCA's larger Animal Behavior team, which includes the Behavioral Sciences Team (BST), the Learning Lab (LL), and the behavior teams at all other ASPCA sheltering facilities. Working within and across teams, ASPCA behavior staff share expertise, use aligned behavior practices, and help advance the ASPCA's strategic priorities.

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.

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.

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.

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 <