Job Opening: Behavior & Enrichment Specialist

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Job Title: Behavior and Enrichment Specialist 

Reports to: Director of Operations 

Location: Davenport, IA 

FLSA Status: Salaried, Exempt 

Employment type: Full-time 

Salary: Commensurate with experience     

Job Overview: Position will provide an enrichment program and behaviorally assesses all animals in the custody of the Humane Society of Scott County and provides behavior consultations to potential and prior adopters.   

Job Duties: This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities that management deems necessary from time to time. 

• Develop and implement behavioral care needs of animals in HSSC’s care. 

• Make decisions individually and as a team, to include staff, recognized volunteers, and veterinary staff, regarding behavioral health and management of shelter animals.

• Collaborate with the sheltering and operations team on animal behavior and enrichment needs and facilitate implementation of behavior modification and/or management plans. 

• Provide formal and informal behavior evaluations or observations and documenting behaviors to aid in placement and behavior management; working closely with any staff performing transfers to other organizations to provide accurate behavior information to partners, and maintaining documentation and records related to behavior of animals in the Humane Society of Scott County’s care. 

• Maintain working knowledge of shelter animal behavior best practices and contribute to the development of the HSSC standard operating guidelines. 

• Coordinate the ordering, inventory and maintenance of animal enrichment and behavioral supplies. 

• Develop and present content related to animal behavior and sheltering both internally and externally. 

• Provide pre-adoption and post-adoption behavior consultations to adopters for any shelter animals requiring such consultations.  

Qualifications and Requirements: 

• Associate’s Degree or equivalent required 

• Minimum of three (3) years of experience training dogs and cats, preferably in a shelter setting, required 

• CPDT-KA certification or equivalent required 

• Experience handling animals in an animal shelter, animal control agency, or similar setting preferred 

• Animal handling skills and knowledge of animal learning and behavior change, including animal control, shelter experience, and particularly animals under stress 

• Completion of Fear Free Shelters Program or ability to complete program within 6 months. Fear Free Professional Certificate highly desired 

• Proficiency of Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) 

• Strong organizational and communication skills 

• Attention to detail and commitment to excellence demonstrated by the delivery of quality and timely outcomes 

• Strong interpersonal skills are necessary 

• Strong interest in animal protection issues preferred