Role Description
We are looking for a Dog Behavior Support Specialist to join our team and play an important role in supporting CAC’s mission. In this position, you will:
• Virtually provide behavioral support to families with foster and adopted dogs.
This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys meaningful work, takes pride in helping others, and wants to contribute to a growing organization making a real impact in the community.
What You’ll Be Responsible For
Your day-to-day may include:
• Behavior Support:
• Maintain a library of canine behavior support and assistance, making contributions and updates as needed.
• Respond to behavior requests for help from adoptive and foster families of CAC dogs with a goal of 48 hour response time.
• Prioritize safety concerns with responses as quickly as possible.
• Create and implement individualized training plans, behavior modification plans for dogs post-adoption and in foster.
• Provide support verbally, in writing, or in person (onsite or off-site) as needed.
• Follow up, manage, and track requests for help, communication, training plans implemented, and success rates.
• Work with the Behavior and Wellness Coordinator to send identified dogs home to foster or adoptive homes with proactive training plans to set the dog up for success.
• Work with the Medical Manager to monitor behavior medications in foster homes with dogs being worked with by the Behavior Team.
• Regularly review support programming for effectiveness and efficiency; make data-driven improvements.
• Administrative:
• Maintain records and data with regards to dogs worked with, interventions applied, and outcome of the dog.
• Act as the point of contact for Dog Behavior Support Volunteers. Onboard, train, and support volunteers as needed.
• Ensure animal population software is up to date with the current status of each dog being worked with.
• Meet weekly with the B&T Manager to provide status updates on dogs being worked with and report data.
• Supporting additional organizational needs as they arise.
What Makes Someone Successful in This Role
We’re looking for someone who:
• Is passionate about CAC’s mission and animal welfare.
• Brings a positive, team-first attitude.
• Communicates openly and professionally.
• Takes ownership and solves problems proactively.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Can balance compassion with accountability.
• Is dependable, adaptable, and eager to learn.
Qualifications
• A high school diploma or equivalent.
• Minimum six (6) months experience (2 years preferred) working with animals in a shelter, clinic, or boarding facility preferred.
• Strong understanding of positive reinforcement training, animal behavior, and enrichment.
• Strong communication skills (written, spoken and listening) to maintain an exceptional experience for adopters, fosters, volunteers and donors, as well as to support operational efficiency and collaboration with team members.
• Proficiency in and ability to keep accurate records in systems such as Google Drive, Sheets, and Docs.
• Ability to handle difficult situations, exercise sound judgment, and provide clear communication and guidance with tact and diplomacy.
• Ability to work in a dynamic environment with moderate to high noise levels and frequent exposure to unvetted animals.
• Ability to understand and adhere to policies, training and procedure, including adhering to supervisor directives.
• Regular and consistent remote attendance.
• Valid driver’s license preferred.
Benefits
• The opportunity to make a real difference every day.
• A mission-driven, supportive team culture.
• Growth and development opportunities.
• Competitive benefits package.
• A workplace where your work directly impacts animals and the community.
Compensation & Benefits
• Pay: From $15.00/hour.
Working Conditions / Physical Requirements
• Ability to lift up to 10 lbs.
• Perform physical fine motor tasks such as typing, reaching and speaking/typing on a computer.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently be required to work at a computer and can alternate being sitting and standing.