The Paws for Purple Hearts’ Assistant Trainer is expected to have met the following specific educational requirements:

• AS degree
• Preferably volunteer experience with Paws for Purple Hearts or other assistance dog organizations;

Prior experience preferred for this position includes:

• Two-years experience in human service/mental health field (licensing may be required based on assignment);
• One-year experience in dog handling/training or kennel work, desirable if one had been spent with assistance dogs;
• Work in or knowledge of the assistance dogs field;
• A background in teaching or human health services related to disabilities (particularly mental health or mobility).

Basic qualifications include the following areas:

• A strong desire to teach dogs to help people;
• Knowledge of and or interest in teaching people to train puppies and dogs using positive methods;
• Knowledge of or an interest in understanding and working with Warriors (active-duty and Veteran military personnel) with physical and psychological injuries;
• Knowledge of or an interest in symptomatology related to Post Traumatic Stress acquired from military deployments and other circumstances;
• Licensing from a board of behavioral science may be required based on assignment;
• Accurate reporting and record keeping;
• Good communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to make presentations to the general public or other interested parties;
• Compatibility with PPH’s direction and purpose.

Responsibilities:

• As assigned by and under close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the implementation and maintenance of the Paws for Purple Hearts Assistance Dog Training Program and the specialty management roles as appropriate to each regional site;
• As assigned by and under close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist with the concept of dogs helping veterans, active-duty military and other military personnel;
• As assigned by and under close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the development of an influential stakeholders group to compliment and sustain the program;
• Continuing professional education, including, if instructed for job promotional purposes, to attend Bergin College of Canine Studies’s seven week seminar from June 3- July 19 2024;
• Commitment to PPH’s mission, goals, objectives;
• All other duties as assigned by the Senior Program Instructor as approved by the National Dog Program Director or the National staff responsible for that specialty.

Duties:

As assigned by and with close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the implementation and maintenance of the Paws for Purple Hearts Assistance Dog Training Program and the specialty management roles as appropriate to each regional site:

Involvement in the PPH Puppy Program in conjunction with PPH National staff and Bergin College of Canine Studies staff by assisting with:

• Caring for pups
• Pup petting program
• Early puppy training and enrichment efforts

Involvement in the Puppy Parent program by assisting with:

• Weekend, evening and long-term placement of PPH puppies and dogs:

1. Assist with the identification of and placement of pups with volunteer puppy parents in

the PPH puppy program

• Assist with puppy parenting classes

Involvement in the dog/pup program for on-site volunteers by assisting with:

• Training orientations
• The organizing and preparation of duty lists for on-site volunteers
• Assisting with ensuring lists have progressions allowing for volunteer skill and responsibility level
• Helping train volunteers such that they are sufficiently knowledgeable to be of help

Involvement in supporting instructors with their assigned strings of pups and dogs by assisting with:

• Arranging for dogs to spend occasional evenings and weekends at an instructor’s home for home training and assessment;
• Taking PPH pup/dog on weekly outings for exposure;
• Providing transportation for dogs to, emergency care
• Potentially transporting dogs in your personal vehicle

Involvement in supporting and helping oversee the health, well-being and training of PPH puppies and dogs (coordinating with Bergin College of Canine Studies and local veterinarians) by assisting with:

• Immediate reviews of major medical issues with appropriate personnel
• Assist with Veterinarian visits
• Ensuring dogs and puppies are receiving all monthly and annual medical treatments and exams as needed

Instructor specialty role involvement as assigned. Roles include:

• Involvement in kennel program
• Involvement in the pup parent program
• Involvement in the dog training program
• Involvement in client program
• Involvement in Veteran/Active-Duty Military (Warrior) Program
• Involvement in dog program purchasing

Assisting with PPH site’s office:

Involvement in the administration by assisting with:

• Filing
• Email, letter responses

Involvement in dog manager/Veteran record keeping by assisting with:

• Maintaining pup/dog/Veteran records
• Providing records to National Dog Program Director
• Client placement and graduations

Involvement in the regional applications for assistance dogs by assisting with:

• The review of regional applications from Veterans and their immediate family members
• Selection of appropriate Veteran/dog matches

Involvement in client trainings and graduation of PPH assistance dogs by assisting with:

• Client trainings
• Graduation ceremonies
• As assigned by and with close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the concept of dogs helping veterans, active-duty military and other military personnel;
• Curriculums and materials in conjunction with Bergin College of Canine Studies “Best Practices.”

Involvement in providing information that may further improve the program and sessions by assisting with:

• Provision of statics that may further direct the improvement of the programs and sessions
• Provision of program sessions’ observations and ideas
• Identify observations and opinions to improve dog interactions and roles with veterans
• Maintenance of the dogs in training and the training records:
• Involvement in updating the weekly command evaluation material
• Involvement in submitting detailed health records

As assigned by and with close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the development of an influential stakeholders group to compliment and sustain the program;

Involvement in the marketing of the PPH concept by assisting with:

• Marketing PPH
• Engaging in PPH public relations activities as requested;
• Assisting in the marketing of the program concept at conferences and related venues.

Involvement in developing support for PPH by assisting with:

• The identification of potential stakeholders and supporters
• The cultivation and solicitation of potential donors

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply

Ability to Relocate:

• Lakewood, WA 98499: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person