Canine Behavior Specialist

Animal Care Centers of NYC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO and holidays

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401K and Pension

Job summary

Animal Care Centers of NYC seeks a Canine Behavior Specialist to provide behavioral enrichment for dogs, assist with playgroups, and conduct assessments. You will support exercise, socialization, and basic training while documenting progress and maintaining records.

The role emphasizes ability to handle diverse dogs, work within a busy shelter, and participate in ongoing enrichment plans under supervision. This is a full-time, on-site position in New York City.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 months experience interacting with and caring for dogs in a shelter or private setting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to lift and move up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Conduct individual socialization sessions and record observed behaviors.
• Support enrichment programs by distributing items and aiding playgroups.
• Assist with behavioral assessments, training, and daily care activities.

Skills

Dog care experience

Communication skills

Physical ability

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

The working schedule for this position isWednesday - Sunday,10:00 AM–6:30 PM with Monday and Tuesday off.

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 20,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals.

We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary

The Canine Behavior Specialist provides behavioral enrichment to the dogs in Animal Care Centers of New York City’s (ACC) care, including assisting with playgroups and behavioral assessments, providing exercise, behavioral and environmental enrichment, socialization, and basic training.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Minimum 6 months previous experience interacting with and caring for dogs in a private or shelter setting required.
• Must be able to handle all types and breeds of canines with varying behaviors and energy levels, including those showing fearful and aggressive behaviors.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 50 pounds.

ACC values work/life balance and offers a generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff trainings to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax-free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Essential Job Functions:

• Conducting individual socialization sessions with specific dogs and recording their observed behaviors.
• Supporting the enrichment program by distributing enrichment items.
• Aiding specialized behavior roles in their daily responsibilities, including behavioral assessments, playgroup, and training assistance.

Other Responsibilities:

• Work with the Behavior and Enrichment Supervisor to maintain and support programs that provide. behavioral and environmental enrichment, exercise, socialization, and care focusing on dogs housed at ACC.
• Participate in playgroups daily: run dogs to the yard and learn safe management techniques for monitoring play sessions.
• Implement enrichment plans for dogs at the care centers.
• In conjunction with enrichment plans, teach basic manners during exercise and in the kennel as appropriate.
• Work with the behavior staff, animal care staff, and volunteers to identify particular animals that are shy, have been with ACC for a long time and/or need special attention.
• Assist with canine handling evaluations as needed.
• Carefully monitor and communicate behavior and body language during assessments to ensure the safety of the Assessor.
• Keep accurate written records to identify what was done each day for each animal and to monitor the plan.
• Update records and observation logs as new information becomes available.
• Clean up after animals. This includes picking up after dogs during walks, spot cleaning kennels as needed, and cleaning of the play yard and all enrichment supplies.
• Fear Free certification required within 30 days of hire.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity and strong understanding of canine body language and working in playgroup settings a plus.
• Ability to make sound judgments and work independently in a fast-paced environment with demonstrated ability to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
• Ability to foster a cooperative, encouraging and positive work environment with staff as well as volunteers.
• Flexibility with daily tasks as well as hours depending on operational needs.
• The ability to remain pleasant, calm and objective in all situations.

At ACC it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. ACC houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance.

ACC offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.

Reports To:

Behavior and Enrichment Supervisor

Overtime:

This is a non-union position and is eligible for overtime.