Puppy Program Field Representative

Canine Companions®; Oceanside (CA); On-site; USD 37,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Paid time off and holidays

Employer-matched 403(b)

Volunteer hours

Wellness programs

Job summary

Canine Companions is seeking a Puppy Program Field Representative to support puppy, marketing and philanthropy efforts across regions with extensive travel. You will engage volunteers, recruit raisers, coordinate demonstrations, and ensure smooth puppy flow for training and outreach initiatives.

The role emphasizes strong communication, organization, and the ability to work with diverse populations, including individuals with disabilities.

Qualifications

• Two years apprenticeship at an ADI/IGDF-accredited school.
• Two years’ experience with an ADI membership organization.
• Two years’ experience working with volunteers.
• Two years’ experience with dogs aged 0–24 months.
• Experience in planning logistics and communications.
• Ability to problem solve in high-stress situations.
• Ability to work with people with a variety of disabilities.
• Multitasking with time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication.
• Maintain confidentiality and complete paperwork by deadlines.
• Use computers, word processing, spreadsheets, email and databases.
• Strong knowledge of Salesforce and VolunteerConnect databases.
• Public speaking and presentations for live and online audiences.
• Take direction and cooperate with coworkers.

Responsibilities

• Lead or assist puppy classes regionally, including out-of-state travel.
• Follow up with puppy raisers on behavior and health issues.
• Evaluate puppies in the field for training preparation.
• Transport puppies to/from airport and deliver to raisers/region.
• Assist in recruitment of new puppy raisers and educate communities.
• Manage puppy raiser groups within VolunteerConnect.
• Follow up on puppy reports and assist with fostering/rehome.
• Engage volunteers on waiting lists to maintain involvement.
• Provide regional support during PTO and vacancies.
• Monitor data accuracy and assist with clean-up efforts.
• Train Puppy Class Leaders and teach classes.
• Coordinate puppy flow across regions with Volunteer Manager/Travel team.
• Assist with demos/presentations at fundraisers and outreach events.
• Uphold core values in all actions and communications.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Oral and written communication

Public speaking

Multitasking

Time management

Organizational skills

Confidentiality

Computer literacy

Problem solving

Team cooperation

Tools

Sales Force

VolunteerConnect

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 Benefits

We 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 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

“The organization really lives out the core values in daily actions and decision making. I enjoy coming to work as I know that my day will be filled with integrity as the organization does what is right, guided by honesty, accountability, and sincerity.”

- Canine Early Care Technician

About the Position

The Puppy Program Field Representative is responsible for supporting Canine Companions programs including puppy, marketing and philanthropy. It requires extensive travel throughout assigned regions, a diverse knowledge base of Canine Companions program and exceptional customer services skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Supporting puppy classes by leading or assisting with classes throughout the region including out of state travel.
• Follow up with puppy raisers on behavior and health issues.
• Evaluate puppies in the field to better prepare for professional training.
• Transporting puppies to and from the airport and delivering to puppy raisers or the region.
• Prison program and college program support.
• Assist in the recruitment of new puppy raisers while in the field; educate communities about our mission and puppy raising program.
• Manage puppy raiser group within VolunteerConnect.
• Assist regions in timely follow up on puppy reports.
• Support the fostering and rehome process within the puppy program.
• Engage volunteers on the waiting list to maintain involvement and interest.
• Provide regional puppy program support during PTO, vacancies, and other coverage needs.
• Monitor data accuracy and assist with cleanup efforts.
• Train Puppy Class Leaders in addition to teaching puppy classes.
• Conduct twelve-month puppy assessments.
• Assist the Puppy Program Manager with Puppy Workshops.
• Coordinate flow of puppies in and out of the regions including partnering with the Volunteer Manager and Canine Travel team on Hub and Spoke and flow in/out of college and prison programs.
• Assist with demos/presentations at fundraisers, outreach events, media requests.
• Be accountable not only for direct responsibilities outlined in this job description but also to serve fellow staff and other constituents with whom position interacts. Ensure actions and communications follow core values.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess the following:

Must Have:

• Minimum of two years of apprenticeship at an Assistance Dogs International or International Guide Dog Federation accredited school or a combination of skills and experience that meets the needs of the essential functions of the job.
• Minimum of two years’ experience with an Assistance Dogs International membership organization.
• Minimum of two tears’ experience working with volunteers.
• Minimum of two years’ experience working with dogs aged 0-24 months.
• Prior experience in planning logistics and communications.
• Able to problem solve in high-stress situations.
• Able to work with people with a variety of disabilities.
• Able to perform several tasks concurrently, time management and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral, verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to maintain confidential information.
• Able to organize and maintain detailed records; complete necessary paperwork and meet deadlines.
• Able to use computers, word processing, spreadsheets, email and database applications.
• Strong knowledge of use in Sales Force and VolunteerConnect similar database systems and general computer literacy.
• Public speaking and presentation both for live and online audiences.
• Take direction and show initiative; cooperate with coworkers.

Schedule:

• Full-time

Compensation

• Salary: $27-$28.50 per hour
• 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.