Animal Behavior Specialist

ARIZONA HUMANE SOCIETY; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 52,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical, Dental and Vision Plans

Health Savings Account and Flex Spend

Free Employee Assistance Program

Free Life Insurance, Short Term and LT

401(k) with employer contribution

Generous PTO program

Up to 8 paid holidays per year

Continuing education including Fear − 

Discounts on veterinary services

Discounted transit passes

Employee Wellness Plans

PSLF eligible employment

Job summary

The Arizona Humane Society is seeking a full-time Animal Behavior Specialist to join the Behavior Team at our Rob and Melani Walton Papago Park Campus and Nina Mason Pulliam South Mountain Campus. This role emphasizes Fear Free, positive reinforcement training and exceptional customer service for owners, adopters, and staff.

You will support behavior evaluations, provide objective descriptions, and assist with behavior modification, kennel enrichment, and training for staff and volunteers.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least 6 months experience in a shelter or certification in animal training/behavior.
• Knowledge of operant and classical conditioning and applying these concepts.
• Ability to interpret canine and feline body language.
• Evidence of positive reinforcement, force-free training methods.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Behavior team operations and support Fear Free, positive reinforcement training.
• Perform behavior evaluations, provide objective descriptions and disposition decisions.
• Communicate with owners, adopters, staff and volunteers about pet behavior and adoption suitability.
• Assist medical staff with treatments and route animals through the behavior department.
• Support staff and volunteer training on handling and bite prevention.

Skills

Operant Conditioning

Classical Conditioning

Positive reinforcement

Canine/feline behavior

Communication

Customer service

Education

High school diploma/GED

Shelter experience or animal training/behavior certification

Job description

Animal Behavior Specialist

The Arizona Humane Society is looking for a dedicated full-time Behavior Specialist to join our Behavior Team. This position will report to our state-of-the-art Rob and Melani Walton Papago Park Campus and our Nina Mason Pulliam South Mountain Campus. If you are a talented Animal Behavior professional who is passionate about executing a Fear Free positive reinforcement training philosophy, please continue to read more now.

Paws Up For Great Benefits!

• Competitive salary
• Medical, Dental and Vision Plans
• Health Savings Account and Flex Spending Account options
• Free Employee Assistance Program
• Free Life Insurance, Short Term and Long-Term Disability
• 401(k) with employer contribution
• Generous PTO program
• Up to 8 paid holidays per year
• Continuing education, including employer Fear Free Certification
• Discounts on veterinary services
• Discounted bus and light rail passes
• Employee Wellness Plans and Activities
• Got student loans? Employment with AHS may qualify you for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program!

A Day in the Life:

As a Behavior Specialist, you will assist the operations of the Behavior team championing AHS' core values of innovation, compassion, and excellence. You will provide exceptional internal and external customer service as a member of a professional team that performs behavior evaluations, provides objective descriptions and makes disposition decisions, performs behavior modification and kennel enrichment. You will speak directly with owners, adopters, staff, and volunteers about the pet's behavior and suitability for adoption through AHS. You will assist medical staff with providing treatment and direct the flow of animals through the behavior department and maintain a healthy capacity of behavior animals. You will be an integral part of staff and volunteer training on appropriate handling and bite prevention.

Job Requirements:

• High school diploma/GED.
• At least 6 months of experience working in a shelter setting or certification in animal training or animal behavior.
• Understand all elements of Operant/Classical Conditioning and be able to apply those concepts appropriately.
• Understand and be able to interpret canine and feline body
• Use and promote a positive reinforcement, force-free training
• Willingness to learn, receptive to coaching and adaptable to
• Must be able to remain focused, calm and productive in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communicator with attention to external and internal customer service skills.

Work Environment / Physical Demands:

This position requires continuous standing, walking and kneeling, reaching, stooping and bending with little opportunity to sit down. This person must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds. The position requires repetitive motion of the hand, wrist and elbow as well as good vision and hearing. Must be able to hear above the sound of the animals and be able to speak clearly and communicate well with employees and the public. This individual handles a high volume of animals, has a great deal of contact with all departments and works closely with co-workers; is exposed to poor ventilation, heat, cold, sudden temperature changes and wet quarters as well as noise, animal odors and dander as well as possibly dangerous, fast-moving animals.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Additional Information

The Arizona Humane Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a participant in the E-Verify program.

Ready to Join our team and make a difference every day?

Explore all of our current career opportunities here: Careers - Arizona Humane Society