Director Puppy Program

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

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

403(b) retirement plan

Paid time off

Volunteer hours

Wellness programs

Diversity and inclusion committee

Job summary

Canine Companions in Santa Rosa, CA is seeking a Director of Puppy Programs to oversee Regional Puppy Programs, coordinate training, and guide program policy implementation. The role directs puppy education, distribution, and materials development while ensuring alignment with Canine Companions’ mission.

The position requires strong leadership, experience in dog training, and ability to travel. Compensation includes beneficial employee programs and a collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication, including public speaking.
• Ability to multitask and maintain organization.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% to regional centers.
• Experience with dog training, disability awareness and sensitivity.
• Prior dog handling and training experience required.

Responsibilities

• Oversee Regional Puppy Programs and supervise staff and volunteers.
• Plan puppy arrivals and breeder selection with veterinary coordination.
• Develop content for Puppy Program manuals, workshops and communications.
• Coordinate meetings and represent Canine Companions externally at events.
• Collaborate with Marketing to produce Puppy Program materials and projects.

Skills

Public speaking

Verbal & written communication

Multitasking

Time management

Motivate staff/volunteers

Organizational skills

Dog handling

Canine training

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

TIS systems

CRM tools

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Northern CA - Santa Rosa, CA, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: Undisclosed, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%, 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 Benefits

• Employer-Paid Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits for staff
• Paid Time Off: 14 paid holidays annually, including an Inclusion Holiday, plus 17 paid days off (PTO) during your first year
• Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 403(b) retirement plan
• Community Engagement: Additional paid hours to volunteer within your community
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs: Support for both professional and personal well-being
• Inclusion and Diversity Committee dedicated to ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by setting actionable goals and evaluating progress

Employee 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 Instructor

About the Position: The 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 Responsibilities

• Puppy 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.

Qualifications

Must Have:

• 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.

Nice to Have:

• Must have knowledge in canine learning theory and experience with canine behavior management and puppy development
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent experience

Schedule:

• Full-time, 40 hours/week. Some evenings or weekends may be required
• This position requires the ability and willingness to meet travel requirements of up to 25%

Compensation

• Salary 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 Commitment

We 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 Request

If 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.