Clinical Animal Behavior Coordinator

Commonwealth of VA Careers; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech is seeking a coordinator to lead clinical animal behavior services for owners and their pets, mentor students in this service, and assist in developing a research line on companion animal behavior, training, and welfare.

The coordinator will provide behavior consultations, mentor students, and contribute to curriculum development while conducting related research and collaborating with veterinarians, trainers, and industry professionals.

Qualifications

• Must hold a graduate degree in a relevant field and have research experience.
• Proven ability to mentor students and coordinate education activities.
• Strong understanding of learning theory and behavior analysis in companion animals.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical animal behavior services to owners and pets as a primary responsibility.
• Mentor and train undergraduate and graduate students in the clinical service.
• Help create and deliver companion animal behavior curriculum.
• Conduct research on companion animal behavior, especially problematic behaviors.

Skills

Learning theory

Mentorship

Curriculum design

Research methods

Education

Master’s or PhD in Animal Behavior, Biology, Psychology, Veterinary Science or related field

Tools

R

Wearable tech

Job description

Job Description

The School of Animal Sciences (SAS) at Virginia Tech is searching for a coordinator to lead in the provision of clinical animal behavior services with owners and their pets, mentor students in this service, and assist in the development of a research line that would include but not be limited to the study of companion animal behavior, training, and welfare.

The coordinator in this position will be expected to provide behavior consultation and training services to owners and their pets; provide classroom and experiential learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students; and carry out research that explore companion animal problem behaviors as informed by the clinical service. This position will be involved in community outreach through the provision and dissemination of evidence-based practices as well as collaborating with veterinarians, animal trainers, and other industry professionals.

As such, applicants must have a strong understanding of learning theory/behavior analysis and its application with companion animals, a robust comprehension of applied animal research, and awareness of relevant issues in the field of companion animal behavior and welfare.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical animal behavior services to owners and their pets, including consultations and training sessions (60%)
• Mentor and train students in clinical animal behavior (15%)
• Help create, assemble and deliver companion animal behavior curriculum (15%)
• Conduct research related to companion animal behavior, particularly problematic behaviors (10%)

Required Qualifications

Master’s or PhD in Animal Behavior, Biology, Psychology, Veterinary Science or related field; Experience providing companion animal consultation and training services and conducting applied animal research; Mentorship of undergraduates and/or graduate students; Evidence of instructional abilities with undergraduate and/or graduate students. Strong organizational and collaborative skills

Preferred Qualifications

Expertise in addressing complex companion animal behavior problems (e.g., fear, anxiety, and aggression); Experience carrying out companion animal behavioral and/or welfare research; Interest in wearable animal technologies for collection of physiological data.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Salary Information

Commensurate with Experience

Hours per week

40

Review Date

08/23/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto,Ut Prosim(That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive communitydedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension officesand research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

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If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Dr. Lisa Gunter at [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.