Part-Time Shelter Behavior Specialist

Golden Route Operations, LLC; Petaluma (CA); On-site; USD 34,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Humane Society of Sonoma County in Petaluma, CA seeks a Part-Time Shelter Behavior Specialist to provide hands-on behavioral support, assessments, and interventions for shelter animals. You will train staff and volunteers, support adoption and foster efforts, and guide transfers between campuses as needed.

The role focuses on canine and feline behavior health, welfare, and humane handling, with supervision by the Shelter Behavior Manager. Part-time, on-site position.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of animal behavior, training techniques, and humane handling methods.
• Strong animal handling skills and ability to read animal body language.
• Professional certifications in animal behavior are preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conducts initial behavior assessments and reassessments for shelter animals.
• Writes detailed adoption recommendations to support appropriate placements.
• Implements behavior modification plans and provides enrichment, training, and socialization.

Skills

Animal behavior knowledge

Training techniques

Handling skills

Observation & documentation

Education

Professional certification (CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, CDBC, or equivalent)

Job description

• Base Pay $25.00 - $30.00 / Hour
• Employee Type Non-Exempt

Mission Statement:

Humane Society of Sonoma County is dedicated to transforming animal welfare in Sonoma County through prevention, community veterinary care, innovative sheltering, education, and partnerships. Our mission, vision, and values guide our commitment to kindness.

SUMMARY:

The Part Time Shelter Behavior Specialist is responsible for providing hands-on behavioral support to the Petaluma shelter population and may be called to assist with behavior cases at other campuses as needed . This role focuses on conducting behavior assessments, reassessments, and creating and implementing behavioral interventions to ensure the well‑being and adoptability of shelter animals. While the primary focus is on animal behaviour, the specialist also provides training and guidance to staff and volunteers as needed to support safe and humane animal handling. Additionally, this position plays a key role in supporting adoption and foster efforts by providing consultations and writing behavior recommendations as well as identifying when animals may need to be transferred between campuses and occasionally facilitating transfers if needed. Thi s part-time role is based primarily at our Petaluma campus, and reports to the Shelter Behavior Manager with daily oversight from the Petaluma Shelter Manager.

This role reflects a values -driven professional who leads with humility, collaboration, and care for animals and humans alike. You thrive in a team environment, are skilled in both c anine and feline behavior , and believe in the power of behavior al health and shelter medicine to improve animals' lives.

Key Responsibilities

• Conducts initial behavior assessments and regular reassessments for shelter animals
• Writes detailed adoption recommendations for animals to support appropriate placemen
• Implements behavior modification plans for animals with behavioral challenges.
• Works directly with animals to provide enrichment, training, and socialization.
• Works with veterinary team as needed to make recommendations and follow-up reporting for animals on behavior medications.
• Monitors and documents animal behavior to track progress and identify trends; maintains and updates records in Shelter Buddy, our shelter software program .
• Assists in making recommendations for adoption, foster, and transfer placements.
• Fits animals for appropriate equipment to ensure comfort and safety

Behavioral Intervention & Support

• Provides hands-on training sessions for animals in need of additional behavioral support.
• Implements behavior modification techniques to address fear, anxiety, aggression, and other behavioral concerns.
• Works closely with the Customer Care team to ensure appropriate placement matches based on behavioral needs.
• Conducts dog introductions to ensure appropriate placement with potential adopters’ resident dogs.
• Provides behavior consultations for potential adopters to set them up for success.
• Offers post-adoption behavior consultations and ongoing support to adopters.
• Promptly responds to behavior-related animal return information to inform pathway decisions.
• Participates in animal outcome decisions, including potential humane euthanasia outcomes when necessary.
• May be required to offer public behavior consultations or teach group training classes as needed to support departmental revenue goals.
• Trains staff and volunteers on proper handling and behavior management techniques.
• Assists in administrative tasks pertaining to tracking and managing volunteers in animal handling roles.
• Supports staff in executing handling plans and behavior protocols for shelter animals.
• Promptly responds to animal-related incidents – e.g. bites, fights, loose animals, etc.
• Provides behavioral support and guidance to foster volunteers to help animals transition successfully.
• Writes foster requests outlining specific behavioral needs and support strategies for animals in foster care.

Supervision

This position reports to the Shelter Behavior Manager with secondary oversight from the Petaluma Shelter Manager.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong knowledge of animal behavior, training techniques, and humane handling methods.
• Strong animal handling skills and ability to read animal body language
• Comfortable/competent handling animals with a wide range of behaviors, including fractious or fearful animals .
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong observational and documentation skills .
• Valid CA driver’s license and reliable transportation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Minimum one year of experience working with shelter animals, preferably in a behavior and training capacity.
• Professional certification requi red (e.g., CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, CDBC, or equivalent .).
• Comfort navigating change and working in fast-paced environments.
• Excellent communication skills; clear, kind, and culturally aware.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to stand, walk, bend, reach, stoop, kneel, squat, and crawl; use finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands; talk and hear; climb or balance. The employee must be able to lift, move and carry objects up to 50 pounds. Use of arms above the shoulder is sometimes required . Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The employee is generally working in a shelter environment and will be exposed to animals. Duties involve the use of cleaning agents and are performed in the animal adoption, hospital, and administrative office areas at the Sonoma Humane Society . Allergic condition which would be aggravated from exposure to animals or cleansing agents is a disqualification .

EEO STATEMENT

HSSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable team. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, especially those historically underrepresented in animal welfare and veterinary medicine.