Director Puppy Program

Canine Companions; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-Paid Health Coverage

Paid Time Off and Holidays

403(b) Retirement Plan

Volunteer hours funding

Diversity & Inclusion Committee

Job summary

Canine Companions seeks an Apprentice Instructor to oversee Regional Puppy Programs, supervise managers, and guide volunteer puppy-raising education across national initiatives. The role supports the puppy distribution system and collaborates with veterinary and health teams to ensure policy-aligned training.

You will create and update program materials, coordinate national meetings, and represent Canine Companions at events.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speaking.
• Ability to multitask and manage time effectively while maintaining organization.
• Ability to travel to regional centers for staff and workshop support; conferences and events to represent Canine Companions.
• Ability to manage, network and motivate staff, volunteers, and clientele.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to maintain detailed records and meet deadlines.
• Experience with dog training and behavior, animal health, teaching, public speaking, and disability awareness and sensitivity.
• Prior dog handling and training experience required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Regional Puppy Programs including providing supervision and training to Regional Puppy Program Managers and staff.
• Oversee volunteer puppy raising education programs including puppy raiser, leadership, and college/prison specialty programs.
• Plan and organize puppy arrivals and turn-ins to meet regional and national needs.
• Develop content for Puppy Program manuals, workshops, and communications; update materials as needed.
• Coordinate regular meetings with staff to address topics and issues; represent Canine Companions externally at events.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Public speaking

Multitasking

Time management

Travel

Staff motivation

Organizational skills

Dog training knowledge

Disability awareness

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CRM software

TIS systems

Job description

At Canine Companions, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. As an employee, you’ll help provide independence to individuals, while also giving a dog a meaningful job. Our commitment to our mission is reflected in our equally strong dedication to our employees.Our Employee BenefitsWe believe in offering a comprehensive benefits package to ensure the well-being and growth of our team:Employer-Paid Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits for staffPaid Time Off: 14 paid holidays annually, including an Inclusion Holiday, plus 17 paid days off (PTO) during your first yearRetirement Savings: Employer-matched 403(b) retirement planCommunity Engagement: Additional paid hours to volunteer within your communityEmployee Assistance & Wellness Programs: Support for both professional and personal well-beingInclusion and Diversity Committee dedicated to ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by setting actionable goals and evaluating progressEmployee Testimonial\"I love the ability to see the impact that the dogs have on people's lives. So much love is put into a Canine Companions dog along their journey to becoming a service dog, and the end product is a dog that provides immeasurable love and service to their handler. \"— Apprentice InstructorThe Director Puppy Program provides oversight to Canine Companions puppy programs including its Regional Puppy Programs and the Correctional/Prison and College Specialty Puppy Programs. This position directs the development and implementation of policies, procedures, socialization, training and best practices for all the puppy programs to ensure the consistent achievement of goals that align with Canine Companions’ mission.Key ResponsibilitiesPuppy Education: Oversee Regional Puppy Programs including providing functional supervision and training to Regional Puppy Program Managers and staff. Oversee all volunteer puppy raising education programs including but not limited to puppy raiser, puppy raiser leadership, and college and prison specialty puppy programs. Evaluate Regional Puppy Programs to ensure that they adhere to standardized national guidelines and procedures.Puppy Distribution: Plan and organize puppy arrivals and turn-ins to meet regional and national needs, including availability for breeder selection and research studies. Oversee the distribution of puppies to regions with the collaboration of the veterinary department.Materials & Communications: Develop content for Puppy Program manuals, workshops, and communications. Evaluate and update Puppy Program materials to address puppy development and training goals in collaboration with the National Director of Canine Health and Research, the Director of Breeding and Puppy Program and the National Training Director. Create and distribute Puppy Program communications at the national level to ensure puppy raisers receive quality customer service and support to increase retention of puppy raiser volunteers.Conferences & Follow-ups: Coordinate and oversee regular meetings/conferences with all puppy program staff to address national topics and regional issues. Provide follow-up to address questions and issues. Represent Canine Companions and the Puppy Raising program externally. This includes within the service dog industry, donors and the general public. This includes hosting or speaking at events, conferences and for promotional and news media Manage changes and updates to the puppy raising program for both staff and volunteers. Implementation of new TIS systems, training and socialization protocols and practices. Collaborate with TIS to design and implement CRMs and online platforms to improve productivity and efficiency. Become a subject matter expert in all TIS tools related to the puppy program.Inter-department Collaboration: Ensure inter-department collaboration between all areas of program including breeding, puppy, professional training and graduate as well as development and all volunteer programs. Act as a liaison between the Technology and Information Services Portal Team and the Regional Puppy Programs to set portal priorities for the Regional Puppy Programs. Develop and manage all online puppy program content, procedures, protocols and training materials for Regional Puppy Programs and communicate to regional puppy program staff. Assist with staff TIS training. Collaborate with the Marketing Department to produce Puppy Program marketing materials and assist in overseeing all puppy/marketing projects.QualificationsTo be successful in this role, candidates should possess the following:Must Have:Strong verbal and written communication skills, including public speakingAbility to multitask and manage time effectively while maintaining organizationAbility to travel to regional centers for staff and workshop support; conferences and events to represent Canine CompanionsAbility to manage, network and motivate staff, volunteers, and clienteleStrong organizational skills with the ability to maintain detailed records and meet deadlinesExperience with dog training and behavior, animal health, teaching, public speaking, and disability awareness and sensitivity.Prior dog handling and training experience required.Nice to Have:Must have knowledge in canine learning theory and experience with canine behavior management and puppy developmentBachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent experienceSchedule:Full-time, 40 hours/week. Some evenings or weekends may be requiredThis position requires the ability and willingness to meet travel requirements of up to 25%CompensationSalary Range: $85,000-$95,000 annually.For internal candidates, compensation will be set within the posted wage range for the role, in consideration of internal equity and the scope of the position.Inclusion and Diversity CommitmentWe recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.The base salary range above represents the low and high of the range for this position. Actual salaries will vary and may be above or below the range based on various factors, including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of the total compensation package for employees.Pursuant to local Fair Chance Ordinances, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.Accommodation RequestIf you need accommodations during the interview process, please let us know. We are committed to ensuring all applicants have equal access to the opportunity to succeed.