Senior Animal Behavior & Training Manager

Blue Ridge Humane; Hendersonville (NC); On-site; USD 58,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Ridge Humane Society in Hendersonville, NC, seeks a Behavior & Training Manager to lead intake, behavior, enrichment, and training programs with supervision of the coordinator and collaboration with the Pathway Planning Director.

The role focuses on developing curricula, managing canines’ playgroups, testing behavior, and ensuring safety and program effectiveness, using positive reinforcement and evidence-based methods.

Qualifications

• High School graduate; CPDT-KA/CPDT-KSA, KPA-CTP, VSA-CDT, IAABC-ADT, CSBC/CSB-D/CSB-C or equivalent credentials required.
• Experience working in an animal shelter; minimum 3 years.
• Experience in positive reinforcement methods, including appropriate use of humane training products, is required.
• At least 1 year of supervisory experience, including coaching and performance evaluations, preferred.
• Euthanasia Certification to be completed within six months of start date
• Experience with shelter intake, population management or capacity for care, or transfer/transport coordination preferred.
• Ability to function as part of a team and work with volunteers.
• This is an essential position supporting animal care and may require scheduled attendance on holidays and during emergency conditions, such as inclement weather.
• Must be comfortable speaking with members of the public, in front of groups, over the telephone, and communicating via email.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and performance evaluations for the Behavior & Training Coordinator and address performance, conflict, and conduct issues promptly and directly.
• Participate in hiring, interviewing, onboarding, and training of supervised positions according to organizational procedures.
• Oversee all behavior programs, enrichment, training, playgroups, socialization, and volunteer-driven behavior activities to ensure accurate, consistent, and safe implementation by assigned staff, the Coordinator, volunteers, and contractors.
• Support the Behavior Coordinator in executing assessments of animals that happen at source shelters to ensure they meet intake criteria, plan intakes (including transportation to our Adoption Center), and ensure accurate/complete records are entered into Shelterluv as part of the intake process for each animal.
• Develop, oversee, and ensure implementation of behavior plans, daily enrichment plans, and special handling/care instructions in collaboration with the Behavior & Training Coordinator.
• Handle owner surrenders and returns to ensure appropriate information is collected, and intakes are planned with our capacity in mind.
• In collaboration with the Pathway Planning Director and other managers, plan and execute all intakes according to written policies and procedures. Ensure communication and planning occur prior to scheduling intakes to allow for appropriate pathway planning (e.g., Medical notification, Foster planning for neonates).
• Maintain knowledge of current organizational capacity for care and length of stay to ensure intakes align with operational trends.
• Prioritize intakes from our local partner based on the current and projected available capacity at the shelter. Also maintain and build our transfer partner relationships to help alleviate overcrowding in regional shelters.
• Serves as primary contact for our ASPCA Relocation partnership as a destination shelter, responsible for planning, approving and executing all ASPCA transports.
• Ensure the integrity of Source Shelter Questionnaires. Request updates during leadership changes at partner shelters, notify the Pathway Planning Director of any changes.
• Oversee adopter and foster behavior support services, including behavior consultations, post-adoption check-ins, surrender counseling related to severe behavior concerns, and foster caregiver education and training. Lead or support the Behavior & Training Coordinator in difficult behavior euthanasia conversations with adopters and lead intake diversion when needed.
• Ensure behavior-related data is collected from owners experiencing post-adoption concerns including human bites, animal bites, guarding, and other elevated behaviors.
• Oversee training and education programs for staff, volunteers, the public, and contract trainers including training sessions, group classes, seminars, workshops, safe handling, and behavior basics.
• Maintain and manage the BRHS approved trainer referral list and other behavior & training resources.
• Use Shelterluv to ensure accurate behavior documentation (from staff, volunteers, fosters, etc.), animal inventory, next steps, behavior or pathway plans for animals in our care.
• Conduct daily rounds to monitor animal mental health onsite and in foster care and intervene with behavior plans as needed. Communicate concerns to the Pathway Planning Director.
• Support senior staff during difficult outcome decisions and assist with staff and volunteer communication as needed.
• Enforce existing behavior and training policies and contribute to the development and revision of protocols as needed.
• Serve as an organizational animal behavior resource for publications, media, and public engagement and actively assist members of the public with questions and guidance.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Behavior evaluation

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Team leadership

Conflict resolution

Microsoft Office

Education

CPDT-KA/CPDT-KSA, KPA-CTP, VSA-CDT, IAABC-ADT, CSBC/CSB-D/CSB-C credentials

Tools

Shelterluv

Job description

Blue Ridge Humane Society in Hendersonville, NC, seeks a Behavior & Training Manager to lead intake, behavior, enrichment, and training programs with supervision of the coordinator and collaboration with the Pathway Planning Director.

The role focuses on developing curricula, managing canines’ playgroups, testing behavior, and ensuring safety and program effectiveness, using positive reinforcement and evidence-based methods.