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US_Prog_Jov_Direct_CPA

Senior Director, Animal Behavior

US_Prog_Jov_Direct_CPA, Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43232


Summary:Are you a skilled, strong team leader who thrives in a fast-paced, complex work environment? Do you love to collaborate with other leaders and engage in creative troubleshooting? Are you as passionate about cultivating a healthy team culture as you are about helping at-risk animals?

If so, the role of Senior Director

of

Animal

Behavior

at the ASPCA’s Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) might be right for you!

At the CRC, located in Columbus, OH, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in ASPCA national cruelty cases and disaster responses.

Alongside the

CRC’s

Vice President, the Senior Director of Operations, and the Senior Director of Veterinary Services, the Senior Director of Animal Behavior provide

s

ongoing supervision and support for a unified integrated care team,

fostering

a collaborative team culture, prioritizing

animals’

physical and psychological needs equally, continually honing procedures and processes to ensure efficient operations, guiding decisions about animal treatment and outcomes, and collaborating with other ASPCA team leaders.

The Senior Director of Animal Behavior supervises a

team

of 14 behavior experts: 3 Senior Managers of Animal Behavior (direct reports) and 11 Behavior Specialists (indirect reports

).

This position requires a leader who embraces the power of teamwork to achieve shared goals. The ideal candidate has a comprehensive understanding of shelter animal behavior, excellent hands-on handling and behavior modification skills, strong people management and team leadership skills, and superior interpersonal skills.

This position

is located at the

Cruelty Recovery Center in Columbus, OH

. Strong candidates located outside of Columbus who

will

relocate to Columbus within 12 months of hire will be considered.

This position is eligible for relocation assistance.

Responsibilities:Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Leadership of

B

ehavior

O

perations (

35

%)Oversee

the

behavioral health and welfare

of animals housed

at

the CRC,

in

emergency

temporary shelters

, and

in

foster care

Ensure that Behavior Branch members collaborate

with each other and all other CRC team

members

effectively, using

teamwork and

behavior expertise to support

all

CRC

functions

(

supporting daily care and enrichment, contributing to daily rounds discussions,

producing materials for animal placement, facilitating direct adoptions, working with volunteers,

partnering with veterinarians to monitor animals on behavior meds,

etc.)

Work with staff and maintain efficient systems to ensure the collection of behavior information from multiple sources

and its use to inform decision-making

Monitor behavior treatment capacity, making decisions and prioritizing behavior functions based on changing needs and resources

Oversee the development and implementation of behavior modification plans, providing guidance for Senior

Managers

and Specialists as needed

Ensure the maintenance of behavioral records

in appropriate

databases

Lead Senior Managers in providing hands-on coaching for Behavior Branch staff to grow skills and ensure consistent, effective treatment

Ensure consistent team use of organization-wide behavior guidelines, protocols and assessment tools developed by the ASPCA’s Behavioral Sciences Team

Oversee purchasing related to behavior functions; monitor budget lines and provide information to the VP to inform projections and propose yearly budget changes

Produce administrative reports and communicate progress and animal status updates

Participate in

planning for

upcoming criminal cases and disaster responses

Guide Senior Managers in developing and implementing plans for temporary shelter behavior support/leadership

Be part of the ASPCA’s commitment to “paying it forward”: p

artner with

other

ASPCA

teams

to

deliver

learning experiences for

other

animal welfare organizations and students

at the CRC and elsewhere

;

participate in applied research projects; serve as a shelter behavior consultant or instructor

for learners

as needed

Other duties as assigned by the VP o

r SVP

Team Leadership (3

5

%)Serve as part of a unified leadership team, modeling teamwork, an integrated care philosophy and mutual respect

Collaborate with other Senior Directors and the VP to make decisions that affect the whole team; proactively seek opportunities for team/program growth and serve as a champion for change management

P

artner with other

CRC

leaders to facilitate and participate in pathway planning aligned with an integrated care model, ensuring appropriate, timely treatment and outcome decisions that take animals’ physical and psychological needs, as well as current available resources, into account

Welcome and answer staff and volunteer questions about shelter animal behavior care and decisions; compassionately explain behavior euthanasia decisions

Provide ongoing training in shelter animal behavior basics, low-stress handling and defensive handling for all staff; inspire all team members to do their part in maintaining and improving psychological health

Be a regular presence “on the floor” to lend a hand, troubleshoot challenges, cultivate strong relationships, and maintain a comprehensive understanding of

CRC

operations

Along with other

CRC

lead

s

, regularly review and update SOPs, leveraging input from staff to make program improvements; ensure that changes are clearly communicated to the team

Successfully lead

the

CRC

team through

the

adversity common in animal welfare (coping with humane euthanasia decisions, physically and psychologically demanding work, etc.)

Ensure that

CRC

staff understand and support their team’s role in achieving

cross-team and

ASPCA goals; help staff feel connected to the larger, org-wide ASPCA team and to the animal welfare field

Ensure that staff serve as excellent CRC representatives and friendly, collaborative partners for other ASPCA teams

C

onnect regularly with other ASPCA department leaders, prioritizing alignment and strong relationships across the organization

Work with the ASPCA’s Media and Communications, Philanthropy and other teams, providing donor tours and interviews as needed

People Management (

30

%)Supervise and manage

three

direct reports; conduct regular one-on-one check-ins, career counseling sessions, feedback sessions, and periodic skip-level meetings

;

conduct yearly reviews of direct reports to measure progre

ss and encourage growth

Ensure that

direct reports

use sound management practices and ASPCA developmental tools;

p

rovide coaching to guide them through people management challenges

Work closely with direct reports to clearly articulate performance and workplace behavior expectations for staff; ensure that staff are held accountable for meeting expectations and are supported in doing so through timely, productive feedback

Use active listening to understand employee concerns, encouraging and supporting employees to problem solve and create viable solutions

Ensure that direct reports and staff show respect and consideration for all areas of expertise, especially when priorities and perspectives don’t align

Model a healthy work/life balance for team members; ensure that direct reports do the same

Partner with the ASPCA’s Talent Acquisition team to hire and onboard well-qualified, dedicated new

CRC

staff members to fill open positions

Employ a well-designed onboarding process that provides each new CRC team member with a thorough introduction to CRC and ASPCA work, mission, systems and Core Values

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:Has

Commitment

and dedication to improving the lives of animals

Demonstrates

Ownership

and feels responsible for outcomes

Believes in

Team

– that we are stronger together

Seeks to

Elevate

others and reimagine what is possible

Focuses on

Impact

, specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:Advanced animal behavior and animal welfare knowledge, including a strong foundation in learning theory and ethology

Comprehensive understanding of shelter animal behavior and its integration into all aspects of shelter operations

Highly effective people- and team-management abilities; can artfully flex management style to best support diverse individuals

Exceptional leadership skills; considers multiple variables and stakeholders when making decisions; can inspire a team, lead a team through challenges, and keep a team focused on the big picture and mission beyond their daily work

Proven history of building and maintaining positive and productive relationships with others, including peers, direct reports, and leaders/supervisors

Highly competent coach: able to introduce and help staff implement new procedures and protocols effectively; able to coach people managers, especially through challenges and conflicts

Excellent low-stress animal handing and restraint skills; proven strong defensive handling skills; skill in low-stress restraint for medical exams and procedures is a plus

Excellent hands-on behavior modification and training skills

Sound clinical judgement and resiliency; able to work closely with and make frequent treatment/outcome decisions about animals who are medically and/or behaviorally compromised

Comfortable making humane euthanasia recommendations for behavior reasons and participating in euthanasia procedures; able to clearly and compassionately answer staff and volunteer questions regarding euthanasia decisions

Excellent written and oral communication skills; able to share information with sensitivity and clarity; able to represent the team and the organization with confidence and professionalism

Possesses critical thinking skills and the ability to switch between multiple tasks swiftly and competently; able to quickly and calmly adjust focus and shift priorities based on animal, team, and organizational needs

Driven and eager to take ownership of critical tasks and projects in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment; also embodies a “team player” spirit, consulting others and delegating effectively

Ability to work on a team as well as independently; ability to lead as well as follow instructions

Excellent time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and shift priorities easily

Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail; meticulous

Displays care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals, and others, especially in stressful situations

Able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and work standing for 8 or more hours and bend, crouch, kneel and move freely to perform responsibilities that include handling potentially aggressive animals in stressful conditions

Able to occasionally work in physically challenging conditions and able to wear appropriate protective gear, including a protective mask; job responsibilities may entail exposure to chemical and biological hazards, such as feces and blood, exposure to sharp objects, working in noisy environments and working in areas with uneven, wet and slippery surfaces

Fluent in Internet usage and in the use of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint; experience using

Salesforce

or a comparable database is a plus

Able and willing to work flexible hours; able to occasionally work long days and weekends if required

Ability and willingness to travel up to

25

% of the time

Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history

Education and Work Experience:HS Diploma or GED required;

BS or BA

in animal behavior or a related subject

strongly preferred

Minimum of 5 years of experience managing a team, preferably in

the animal welfare

field, required; minimum of 1 year of experience managing a shelter behavior team required

Minimum of 5 years of experience working as a professional

animal

behavior expert

required

Experience working in an animal shelter required

Experience working with animal victims of cruelty and neglect preferred

Experience in

building and maintaining

shelter behavior programs strongly preferred

Mastery of the field of applied animal behavior and behavior change principles gained through professional experience OR an advanced degree with specialized education in animal behavior field (animal behavior/cognition, experimental psychology, zoology, animal science, etc.) required

Experience handling, evaluating and treating dogs exhibiting aggression, fear, and excessive arousal required

Animal Behavior Society CAAB/ACAAB or IAABC certification preferred

Sophia Yin’s Low Stress Handling

®

Silver Certification required or must be completed within six months of hire

Compensation and Benefits:Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.The starting pay rate for this role is $124,000 - $134,000

For more information on our Benefit offerings, click

here

.

Join our Talent Community:If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please click this link and join

our

Talent Community

to stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications:See above for qualifications details.

Language:EnglishEducation and Work Experience:High School DiplomaOur EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment

without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.

A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA.

Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status,

or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).About Us:The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.Applicants that are residents of Colorado:

Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.