Description
Status: Full-Time FLSA Classification: Exempt Location: On-site Schedule: Flexible schedule including weekends, evenings, holidays, on-call responsibilities, and Manager on Duty rotations as needed Starting Pay Range: $60,000+ annually (based on experience)
Who We Are Since 1943, Animal Friends has worked to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals in crisis. We also support keeping pets healthy and in their home whenever possible through education and affordable services, and inspire a community that celebrates the animal-human bond. Our 75-acre campus on Camp Horne Road, just 10 minutes north of downtown Pittsburgh, is home to the Caryl Gates Gluck Resource Center, our shelter, and the Howard Ash Animal Wellness Center, our veterinary clinic and pet retention services hub.
Our work reaches well beyond adoption:
- Intake, medical and behavior rehabilitation of dogs, cats and rabbits, plus progressive rehoming programs and extensive foster programming
- An affordable public veterinary clinic, pet food pantry and hub of pet retention services
- Public training classes, behavior resources and pet help services
- Humane education, camps, animal-assisted therapy and Veterans programming
- Humane investigations department with multiple Humane Society Police Officers
- New Leash programs that pair dogs with incarcerated trainers at two regional prison facilities
Animal Friends holds a Charity Navigator Four-Star rating, was named a 2025 Great Nonprofit and a regional “Best of” winner in various categories. We use positive, reward-based, force-free methods in everything we do.
At Animal Friends, we believe caring for animals and caring for people go hand in hand. We strive to create a compassionate, humane, inclusive, and healthy workplace where team members feel supported, valued, and connected to our mission.
Position Summary The Behavior Manager plays a vital role in supporting Animal Friends’ mission by leading the behavioral health, enrichment, training, and rehabilitation of the dogs, cats, and rabbits in our care.
This position oversees Animal Friends’ Behavior Wellness Program, supervising a talented team of behavior professionals while ensuring individualized behavior plans, enrichment opportunities, and humane, force-free training practices are integrated throughout the organization. The Behavior Manager works collaboratively with shelter, veterinary, placement, foster, volunteer, and training teams to help animals overcome challenges, improve quality of life, and successfully transition into adoptive homes. In addition to leading day-to-day behavior operations, this role will serve as a key programmatic leader in the development of Animal Friends’ future Behavior Rehabilitation Center. The Behavior Manager will help shape the vision, design, staffing model, operational protocols, and long-term impact of this exciting initiative while supporting the associated capital campaign and community engagement efforts.
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced animal behavior professional to help build the future of behavior rehabilitation at one of the region’s leading animal welfare organizations.
Primary Responsibilities Behavior Leadership & Program Management
- Lead and oversee Animal Friends’ Behavior Wellness Program for dogs, cats, and rabbits.
- Supervise, coach, mentor, and develop Behavior Department staff, including behavior specialists, enrichment staff, and animal handling personnel.
- Foster a positive, collaborative, and mission-driven culture focused on animal welfare, continuous learning, and accountability.
- Develop and manage departmental budgets, goals, priorities, and performance measures.
- Analyze behavior and program outcome data and use findings to improve operational effectiveness and animal outcomes.
- Promote a culture of safety for animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors through proactive risk assessment and best-practice implementation.
Behavior Care, Enrichment & Rehabilitation
- Oversee assessment of behavioral wellness, quality of life, and individual animal needs.
- Develop, implement, and monitor individualized behavior modification and management plans.
- Ensure humane, low-stress, reward-based handling practices for all species.
- Participate in behavior evaluations and serve on organizational evaluation committees.
- Collaborate with shelter, veterinary, foster, and placement teams to support successful outcomes.
- Ensure behavioral documentation, incident reporting, and bite report procedures are completed accurately and consistently.
- Serve on the Evaluation Committee.
Training & Education
- Develop and maintain handling procedures, training materials, curricula, and behavior manuals.
- Train, evaluate, and support staff and volunteers in force-free animal handling and behavior practices.
- Partner with Volunteer Services to support behavior volunteer training, mentorship, retention, and recognition.
- Collaborate with Animal Friends University to support adopters and expand behavior education opportunities.
- Provide guidance and support to adopters of animals with special behavioral needs.
- Oversee community behavior support resources, including behavior helplines, educational materials, referrals, and behavior counseling resources.
Behavior Rehabilitation Center Development
- Serve as the programmatic lead for Animal Friends' planned Behavior Rehabilitation Center.
- Collaborate with leadership teams, architects, consultants, and project partners to design behavioral rehabilitation spaces.
- Help establish future program goals, staffing models, volunteer opportunities, facility usage plans, outcome measures, and operational protocols.
- Support capital campaign efforts through donor meetings, presentations, tours, and educational opportunities.
Organizational Leadership
- Support New Leash initiatives, including partnerships with correctional facility training programs.
- Participate in organizational committees, meetings, inspections, and leadership activities.
- Serve on rotating on-call and Manager on Duty schedules.
- Build relationships with animal welfare organizations, veterinary professionals, trainers, educational institutions, and community partners.
Other Duties
- Perform other responsibilities as assigned to support organizational needs.
What We Offer
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Paid time off, holidays, and birthday pay
- Retirement plan with employer contribution
- Employee Assistance Program
- Continuing education allowance and professional development opportunities
- Pet care discounts and on-site clinic benefits
- Casual dress and Animal Friends gear
- Opportunities to attend conferences, trainings, and behavior-focused educational programs
- The opportunity to shape the future of Animal Friends’ Behavior Rehabilitation Center
- A collaborative team committed to innovation, compassion, and excellence in animal welfare
- Meaningful work that transforms the lives of animals and the people who care for them
Our Commitment to Inclusion Animal Friends is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a workplace that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We value the unique contributions and lived experiences of all team members and encourage applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and abilities to apply.
Requirements
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Animal Behavior, Animal Science, Psychology, Zoology, Biology, Veterinary Technology, or a related field helpful.
Experience
- Minimum of three years of progressive animal welfare experience, including significant hands-on behavior training and behavior modification work within a shelter environment.
- Minimum of two years of staff supervision, leadership, or people management experience.
- Demonstrated experience developing behavior plans and working with animals exhibiting behavioral challenges.
- Experience leading teams and managing competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Certifications/Licensures
- Current professional behavior or training certification required, such as:
- CPDT-KA
- CBCC-KA
- IAABC Certification
- KPA-CTP
- Equivalent nationally recognized credential
Candidates without certification must be willing to obtain a qualifying certification within the first year of employment.
- Fear Free® Shelter Program Certification, Low Stress Handling Certification, or equivalent certification required, or ability to obtain within six months of hire.
Skills and Abilities
- Strong understanding of animal behavior, enrichment, welfare science, and behavior modification.
- Commitment to positive, reward-based, force-free training methods.
- Excellent leadership, communication, coaching, and employee development skills.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to effectively present information to staff, volunteers, adopters, donors, and community groups.
- Strong conflict management and decision-making skills.
- Ability to interpret behavioral and operational data to improve outcomes.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and ability to learn shelter management systems and databases.
Availability
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations.
- Ability to participate in on-call and Manager on Duty rotations.
Animal Handling
- Comfort and proficiency working with dogs, cats, rabbits, and other companion animals of varying ages, sizes, temperaments, medical conditions, and behavioral needs.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience developing, expanding, or leading shelter behavior programs.
- Experience with facility planning, construction projects, or program expansion initiatives.
- Experience supporting capital projects, fundraising efforts, donor engagement, or grant-funded programs.
- Experience working with foster programs and behavioral rehabilitation cases.
- Experience with shelter software systems, including ShelterLuv or similar platforms.
- Advanced certifications in animal behavior or behavior consulting.
Physical, Environmental & Emotional Demands
This position:
- Requires frequent standing, walking, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, and repetitive motion.
- Requires frequent handling and restraint of dogs, cats, rabbits, and occasionally other animals of varying sizes and temperaments.
- Requires the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds independently and up to 75 pounds with assistance.
- Involves exposure to animals, animal dander, noise, cleaning and sanitation products, and indoor and outdoor environments.
- May involve exposure to animal bites, scratches, zoonotic diseases, and emotionally challenging situations related to animal welfare.
- Requires the ability to observe subtle animal behavior and body language for safety and welfare purposes.
- Requires use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to safety protocols.
Reasonable accommodations will be provided in accordance with applicable laws.
