Job Abstract

The Fairfax County Animal Shelter is hiring a Behavior Program Manager! Are you an enthusiastic individual looking for a career where you can make a difference in the lives of animals and the community? At the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to the animals in our shelter, while also working to tackle the root causes of animal homelessness in our community.

This position will be responsible for developing and overseeing progressive behavior treatment protocols and training programs, making placement recommendations for shelter animals, and providing services to support adopters and pet owners.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter is the only open-access municipal shelter located in Fairfax and Lorton, Virginia. Our shelter has a live release rate of over 90% and we’re very proud of our excellent volunteer and foster programs, compassionate staff, progressive sheltering policies and practices, and our wonderful animal-loving community. Please visit our website here.

Responsibilities:

• Develops and implements behavior treatment plans for shelter animals using a positive reinforcement approach.
• Develops standard and individualized behavior treatment protocols for shelter animals and ensures treatments are applied as scheduled and progress is documented in the shelter management software system.
• Conducts behavior management and safe handling workshops for staff, volunteers, and the public. Works in conjunction with animal care leadership to oversee staff and volunteer interaction with animals and ensures that correct handling procedures are being used.
• Keeps abreast of state-of-the-art behavior treatment protocols and overall trends in shelter population dynamics.
• Seeks training opportunities for staff and volunteers to enhance their effectiveness in working with animals.
• Oversees pre- and post-adoption and surrender prevention support to pet owners.
• Develops public group canine training classes and behavior management and safe handling workshops.
• Follows proper cleaning and sanitation procedures when working with animals.
• Participates in weekly animal flow meetings.
• Provides input on animal outcomes including euthanasia recommendations. May assist with euthanasia as needed.
• Supervises behavior team.
• Performs other related duties to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Provides a range of management , level work in multiple animal functions within the agency which may include animal care, animal behavior, animal training, enrichment, exercise, assessments, observations, evaluations, medical treatment and supplies, inoculation, medical and veterinary care referral, transport, specialized care, cleaning, disinfecting, animal disposition, adoption, intervention recommendations, humane euthanasia, documentation, record management and maintenance, safety, inventory maintenance, technical maintenance, and/or facility maintenance;

Provides supervision, counseling, training, support, assistance, and works with agency staff and programs, volunteers, fosters, veterinary staff, community members, customers, rescue programs and partners, and/or community service assignees;

May supervise and evaluate lower-level agency staff, volunteers, community members, and customers;

May ensure the required trainings and certifications of others have been obtained;

May be responsible for one or more function, service, team, or unit involving analysis of problems and needs that requires advanced knowledge of principles and practices of the specific field;

May be responsible for overseeing all related programs, plans, and others;

Require staying up to date on methods and national best practices;

May work with other program managers to integrate treatment and/or training to others;

May act as team or program manager with or without absence of management;

May supervise work of lower-level employees in absence of management;

May facilitate animal care and placement;

May assist with planning and content;

May provide and deliver technical assistance;

May collaborate with other non-agency programs and partners;

May develop, manage, assist, deliver, and/or implement plans, trainings, programs, procedures, and/or teams for internal and external use;

May provide information on the policies and procedures of the agency;

May triage issues and make recommendations.

(The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Demonstrated interest in and compassion for animals;

Demonstrated interest in learning state of art procedures for animal sheltering;

Extensive knowledge of characteristics of different types of animals;

Extensive knowledge of animal behavior indicators;

Extensive knowledge of safe animal handling techniques;

Extensive knowledge of work planning techniques;

Extensive knowledge of the focused animal specialty area and/or program as required per the

Extensive knowledge of animal training techniques using a positive reinforcement approach;

Knowledge of current industry best practices;

Knowledge of customer service techniques;

Knowledge of supervisory techniques;

Knowledge of performance evaluations; coaching, and counseling techniques;

Knowledge of medical administration and/or euthanasia techniques as required by the position;

Knowledge of safe driving principles and practices;

Ability to assist, coach, counsel, manage, train, and evaluate others to include safety, policies, procedures, and practices;

Ability to make assessments and recommendations based on observations;

Ability to follow and provide written and oral instructions;

Ability to prioritize tasks and provide guidance;

Ability to be flexible and adjust work plans to meet immediate needs when necessary;

Ability to learn procedures, occupational hazards, and safe work practices;

Ability to follow precise instructions for dispensing medication;

Ability to handle animals in a humane manner and without personal injury;

Ability to handle, restrain, and move heavy, immobilized, or resistant animals;

Ability to move quickly to respond to conditions and situations involving animals;

Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds;

Ability to maintain a high level of ethical standards;

Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and to be truthful at all times;

Ability to read animal behavior and maintain a safe environment;

Ability to document animal behavior in clear language based on observable behavior;

Ability to learn and teach animal training techniques using a positive reinforcement approach;

Ability to work collaboratively with others, avoid negative interpersonal altercations, and maintain good working relationships;

Ability to learn job related information;

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing to others, including presentations;

Ability to contribute to a stress-free environment for both animals and people;

Ability to safely operate equipment and software necessary to perform position requirements;

Ability to work outdoors as well as indoors and be subject to variable weather conditions and exposure to potentially infectious diseases or allergies, as well as wetness and moisture;

Ability to bend, stand, stoop, kneel, reach, crawl, walk, and sit;

Ability to hear, speak, touch, feel, and smell;

Ability to see with close vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus;

Ability to be frequently exposed to loud noises above 95 decibels such as barking of dogs and other animal noises;

Ability to firmly grasp and have wrist extension and rotation on a frequent basis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:

(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Behavior, Animal Science, Veterinary Science, Zoology, or related field;

plus two years of experience supervising staff in an animal shelter, kennel, vet clinic, boarding facility, animal training capacity, or other animal related organization with animal care and handling responsibility; experience with multiple species of animals including handling difficult dogs and cats, giving medication, and restraint (graduation from an accredited Veterinary Technician Program may be substituted for one year of the required experience).

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license (Required at the time of application)

• Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) credential from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) (Required within 12 months)

• Fear Free Shelter Certification (Required within three months)

• Virginia Humane Euthanasia Certification (Required within six months)

• Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) credential from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) (Current certification required)

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Criminal Background Investigation
• Driving Record Check

• At least one year of experience in an animal welfare-related organization.
• At least one year of experience working with and safely handling, moving, and restraining animals of various species, sizes, conditions, and temperament including fractious animals.
• At least one year of experience managing volunteers, and experience with using the volunteer management software database, Volgistics.
• Experience with the shelter management software system, PetPoint.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and can communicate effectively with regard to animal care and treatment and Shelter policies and programs.
• Must be able to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• At least one year of experience training staff, volunteers, and/or the public in animal behavior and treatment plans.
• Must be computer literate.
• Maintain a Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge and Skills Assessed (CPDT-KSA) credential from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).
• Fear Free Shelter certified.

• All duties may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Converse with volunteers, residents, visitors, staff, and others in person, via e-mail, and on the phone. Make presentations in person and virtually.
• Create materials and operate equipment necessary to complete work tasks. Visual acuity to read standard text and data on a computer monitor. Operate keyboard-driven equipment.
• Drive county or personal vehicle to travel between Fairfax Shelter and Lorton Shelter Campuses to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.
• Maneuver safely in kennels, dog play yards, cat rooms, small animal room, off-site events, etc.
• Must not have allergies to animals or animal supplies (ex: hay, peanut butter, etc.) that will impede working in an animal environment.
• Pre-exposure rabies vaccination (Required within three months)
• Safely handle, move, and restrain animals of various species, sizes, conditions, and temperament including fractious animals.
• Walk, stand, sit, bend, kneel, stoop, crawl, climb stairs, and be comfortable doing these activities for extended periods of time; lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds; use hands to grasp, handle, and feel; and talk, see, and hear.
• Work a varied schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations