What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Behavior and Enrichment Coordinator position at Houston Humane Society?
Position Overview: This role is responsible for developing and implementing plans to address behavioral health care needs of animals in the Houston Humane Society care including training and oversight of staff and volunteers to carry out behavior training. |
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Collaborating with the sheltering and operations team on animal behavior and enrichment needs
- Develop and implement plans with individual dogs and cats to increase their adoptability.
- Facilitating implementation of behavior modification and/or management plans
- Providing formal and informal behavior evaluations or observations and documenting behaviors to aid in placement and behavior management
- Assist Shelter Manager with intake, transport and rescue initiatives providing accurate behavior information to partners and maintaining documentation related to behavior of animals
- Write specifications and maintain working knowledge of shelter animal behavior best practices and contributing to HHS mission
- Coordinate the ordering, inventory and maintenance of animal enrichment and behavioral supplies
- Develop and implement plans and procedures for shelter pets with behavioral challenges i.e. cruelty survivors to prospective adopters and or fosters
- Develop and present content related to animal behavior and sheltering both internally and externally
- Collaborate with multiple departments in developing and presenting content for the public i.e. social media, media and internal projects
- Develop low cost behavior programs for public i.e. adopters
- Perform other duties as required or assigned
Supervision Received:
Will work under the general direction of Shelter leadership, but work independently to prioritize and complete assigned tasks.
Qualifications & Skills:
- 1-2 years of experience in training dogs
- Knowledge and understanding of dogs, dog’s behavior, and individual breed characteristics
- Excellent writing/editing and verbal communication skills
- A passion for animals and their care, cheerful, friendly, positive team-oriented attitude
- Demonstrated ability in handling multiple priorities, project management and meeting deadlines; strong planning and organizational skills.
- Able to work with others to accomplish goals
- Reliable, punctual, dependable
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays
- Sincere commitment to work collaboratively with all constituent groups, including staff, volunteers, donors, program participants, and other supporters
- Remains composed under stress; handles responses to constructive criticism tactfully and delivers on organizational commitments
- Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives
- Ability to lift up to 60lbs
- Comfortable handling animals of all sizes