Shelter Animal Behavior Director: Training & Enrichment

The QTI Group; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The QTI Group, in partnership with Dane County Humane Society, seeks an experienced Animal Behavior Manager to lead the Behavior Department and oversee behavioral care for animals in residence.

You will design in-house behavior modification plans, oversee daily enrichment and training, supervise staff, and collaborate with other teams to ensure appropriate outcomes for adoption, foster, rescue or humane decisions.

Qualifications

• B.A. or B.S. required with specialized education in animal behavior; M.Sc. or M.A. preferred.
• Certification in animal behavior/training from a nationally recognized certifying body required.
• 5+ years’ experience with animals in captivity (shelters or zoos).
• 2+ years’ management experience, preferably in an animal-related industry; shelter leadership preferred.
• Expertise in dog behavior is particularly required.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Sincere desire to make a positive difference in the lives of animals using positive, science-based training and behavior modification methods.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the DCHS Animal Behavior Team and drive alignment with new strategies, processes and goals.
• Oversee behavior assessments and collaboration across departments for placement, foster, rescue or humane decisions.
• Develop in-house behavior modification plans and enrichment programs for shelter dogs and cats.
• Create standardized SOPs for managing common behavior concerns and track progress against benchmarks.
• Lead training classes for the public and supervise staff and volunteers in positive reinforcement methods.
• Provide counseling on surrender, adoption, foster and post-adoption situations in coordination with other teams.

Skills

Dog behavior expertise

Leadership

Communication skills

Positive reinforcement training

Team management

Staff training

Education

B.A. or B.S. in animal behavior or related field

M.Sc. or M.A. in animal behavior (preferred)

Certification in animal behavior/training (ABS, IAABC, CCPDT)

Job description

The QTI Group, in partnership with Dane County Humane Society, seeks an experienced Animal Behavior Manager to lead the Behavior Department and oversee behavioral care for animals in residence.

You will design in-house behavior modification plans, oversee daily enrichment and training, supervise staff, and collaborate with other teams to ensure appropriate outcomes for adoption, foster, rescue or humane decisions.