Behavior Manager

FLSA: Salary (Exempt) REVISED: 07/18/2025 Reports to: Director of Animal Welfare REVIEWED: Jul 30, 2023

Supervises: Enrichment Specialists and Evaluation Specialists

Position Summary:

Responsible for planning, organizing, and managing all animal assessment and enrichment support programs while focusing on the overall behavioral health and well-being of shelter animals with a focus on enrichment, length-of-stay, safe and humane placement options, behavioral management and measurement; develops, implements, measures and maintains all facets of the department to ensure humane care is provided at all times.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Directly and indirectly supervises all enrichment and evaluation team members and volunteers.
• Responsible for hiring and training of team members
• Regularly reviews and evaluates job performance
• Responsible for ensuring that proper policies and procedures are followed
• Addresses team member grievances and complaints
• Completes and performs annual team member performance reviews
• Actively and continuously trains, schedules, engages, supervises and retains volunteers to ensure proper volunteer integration into the behavior team and provides the support/resources volunteers need to feel prepared and empowered in their roles.
• Delegates responsibilities within the departments for the purpose of increasing the overall efficiencies of the behavior department
• Participates in the development of key performance indicators (KPI) and operating goals for the behavior department and overall organization
• Provides regular reporting on departmental KPI’s
• Manages policies and procedures for the department and program team members promoting best practices for humane treatment and safety of animals and people
• Develop behavior modification and support protocols for a wide range of behavioral concerns
• Conduct behavior rounds to prioritize monitoring animal well-being, appropriate disposition pathway determinations, medical and behavioral interventions when needed.
• Provides guidance on the proper care, housing, handling, and enrichment of shelter animals to internal departments; and supports the development and continuous improvement of safe animal handling training for Team Members across the organization, as needed.
• Assures the compassionate, responsible care of animals to include proper enrichment and monitoring for signs of stress, disease or injury.
• Develops, coordinates, and implements innovative training and enrichment plans and programs for shelter animals and continually evaluates/implements improvements to become more efficient, provide more services/resources to guests, and increase the positive placement of animals.
• Plans, prepares for, and supervises daily training and enrichment activities for all animals in our care and maintains an appropriately high volume of animals participating in training and enrichment activities every day.
• Maintains a positive shelter culture through training, communication, and accountability of the behavior team members.
• Develop and direct behavior seminars, training, and workshops for staff, volunteers and the public to enhance animal behavior understanding
• Responsible for development and management of the department’s budgets
• Maintains program inventory and animal equipment.
• Contributes to the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization’s service to its guests by offering suggestions and directing or participating as an active member of a work team.
• Provides responsive, meaningful and compassionate service to all guests
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a closely related field
• Three (3) years of experience in an animal welfare setting
• One (1) year of management experience
• Education may be substituted for experience on a year-for-year basis
• CPDT-KA required
• Animal Behavior Society CAAB or ACAAB preferred

License & Certification Requirements: Class C Nevada Driver's License

Required Knowledge and Skills:

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of guest service
• Principles and practices of supervision and management of team members
• Basic principles and practices of budgets and expense accounting
• Standard office administrative practices and procedures, including recordkeeping systems and the operation of office equipment, computers, and associated software
• Animal Welfare best practices
• General knowledge of companion animal care, welfare, behavior, breeds and characteristics, and species.
• Humane euthanasia and its principles and practices.
• Effective soft skills or interpersonal skills for dealing effectively with co-workers and the public, in person,writing, and over the telephone
• Correct business English, including spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Must be formally trained or certified in animal training and animal behavior evaluation.
• Cat and dog breed characteristics and behaviors.

Skill in:

• Providing positive leadership to a team.
• Gathering and compiling information; preparing accurate reports and summaries
• Managing assigned budget
• Dealing tactfully and effectively with team members, volunteers, and the general public
• Use of business software and associated computer hardware
• Communicating effectively in oral and written forms
• Working calmly and efficiently under pressure and without close supervision in standard work situations.
• Contributing effectively to the accomplishment of team or work unit goals, objectives, and activities
• Animal restraint and handling techniques.
• Interpreting animal body language.
• Assessing and evaluating new animal training methods and equipment.
• Preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence, instructions, and other written materials
• Communicating, relating and interacting with a variety of individuals from various socioeconomic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds, in person and over the telephone, often where relations may be confrontational or strained

Working Conditions and Physical Effort:

Physical ability and mobility to walk, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl. Strength to lift and/or move materials weighing up to 25 pounds frequently, 50 pounds occasionally. Vision to read printed materials. Stamina to sit and work with a computer for an extended period of time. Hearing and speech to communicate in person or over the telephone. Accommodation may be made for some of these physical demands for otherwise qualified individuals who require and request such accommodation.

Job incumbent is continuously exposed to animals, animal waste, pet dander, peanut butter, potentially harming cleaning chemicals, high noise, and potentially hazardous conditions, including the risk of animal bites and occasional work outdoors for extended periods of time while exposed to cold and extremely hot temperatures.

All team members work in a culture of continuous improvement and are expected to support our mission. Team members must be able to clearly articulate our goals, actively participate in outstanding guest service, and accept responsibility for maintaining our culture of philanthropy.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work expected of this position. This description is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive listing or description of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of incumbents in the job.