Puppy Program Manager

Canine Companions; Medford (NY); On-site; USD 70,000 - 73,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-Paid Health Coverage (Medical

Dental and Vision Benefits

Paid Holidays (14) and 17 PTO in first

Employer-matched 403(b)

Volunteer/Wellness Programs

Inclusion & Diversity Committee

Job summary

Canine Companions is seeking a dedicated Puppy Program Manager to lead regional volunteer puppy raiser activities, support orientation, and supervise apprentice instructors. You will oversee recruitment, training, and education, ensuring high standards in health, behavior, and matriculation processes across programs.

You will coordinate with training staff, research, breeding, and development departments, manage records, and provide exceptional support to volunteers and raisers while

Qualifications

• Must have ability to multitask and manage time effectively.
• Experience with dog training, behavior, animal health care procedures, teaching, public speaking, and disability awareness/sensitivity.

Responsibilities

• Puppy Raiser Recruitment: maintain wait list and screen applications; place puppies with approved raisers; provide orientation and follow-up.
• Puppy Raiser Support: communicate with raisers via newsletters, emails, and local updates; follow up on questions; coordinate communication.
• Training & Education: coordinate and lead workshops; supervise instructors and contractors; train apprentices on reports, graduation procedures.
• Program Oversight & Records Management: collect progress reports; maintain portal and records; matriculation and file prep for training; coordinate with departments for quarterly lists.
• Canine Health & Behavior: monitor health and behavior; coordinate vet communications; care for puppies in kennels; arrange foster care as needed.
• Released Dog Program: oversee placement of dogs released; supervise specialty programs; coordinate shipment to raiser homes.

Skills

Dog handling

Public speaking

Disability awareness

Time management

Organizational skills

Staff training

Education

Bachelor’s degree (related field)

Tools

Database use

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 Puppy Program Manager manages the regional volunteer puppy raiser population and oversees day to day operations in the puppy program which consist of puppy placement, puppy raiser support, public awareness and communicates with program and development departments. This position is responsible for providing direct support to puppy raisers through orientation, mentoring, follow-up, supervision of puppy classes, puppy progress reports and workshops.Key ResponsibilitiesPuppy Raiser Recruitment: Maintain a wait list of screened puppy raisers who agree to follow Canine Companions guidelines. Review incoming applications and ensure phone/home screenings meet standards. Place puppies with approved volunteer puppy raisers. Provide orientation and follow-up to ensure understanding of responsibilities. Train apprentice instructors about the puppy program during the apprentice rotation, including applicant screening and interviews.Puppy Raiser Support: Provide puppy raisers with supplemental info via newsletters, blogs, emails, and local chapter updates. Provide follow-up for questions or concerns regarding behavior or health via phone, video, or in-person consultation. Coordinate all communication between the puppy raising community and training staff. Work with portal team and marketing to create effective and timely email communications. Recognize puppy raisers and classes at graduations; provide tours/demos to volunteers and the public.Training & Education: Coordinate and lead workshops for volunteers and specialty programs (e.g., training, socialization, healthcare). Supervise and train puppy class instructors and contract trainers. May include direct teaching of puppy classes. Train apprentices on topics like progress report reviews, database use, and graduation procedures.Program Oversight & Records Management: Collect and review monthly progress reports; ensure follow-up and support. Ensure portal is up to date and maintain records of all puppy placements and volunteer interaction. Compile puppy medical and training records for matriculation and prepare files for professional training. Organize puppy matriculation and turn-in processes. Work with research, breeding, and training departments to create quarterly matriculation lists.Canine Health & Behavior: Monitor health of puppies with volunteers: vaccinations, feeding, preventative care. Communicate medical/behavioral issues to relevant departments (vet, training, breeding). Oversee care of puppies in kennels: pre-placed, in heat, or boarded puppies. Place puppies in foster care when needed.Released Dog Program: Oversee placement of dogs released from the program (pre-turn-in or during professional training). Supervise puppies in specialty raising programs (prisons, colleges) to ensure adherence to standards. Provide support and maintain records for specialty programs. Coordinate shipment of puppies and/or released dogs to raiser homes.QualificationsTo be successful in this role, candidates should possess the following:Must Have:Ability to perform several tasks concurrently, time management and organizational skills.Ability to manage, train and motivate staff, volunteers, and clients.Ability to communicate and maintain confidential information.Ability to complete necessary paperwork and meet deadlines.Experience with dog training and behavior, animal health care procedures, teaching, public speaking, and disability awareness and sensitivity.Nice to Have:Minimum of 2 years’ experience in dog handling, training and dog health care experienceBachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent experiencePrevious experience working in a non-profit environment that included public speaking preferred.CompensationSalary Range: $70,000-$73,000Schedule: Full Time, 40 hours/week. Some evenings or weekends may be required.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.