Manager, Feline Behavior

Summary : Overview :

Are you passionate about feline behavior and ready to lead a team dedicated to transforming the lives of cats in need The ASPCA is seeking a Manager of Feline Behavior to oversee our feline behavior program at the Animal Recovery Center (ARC). This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of vulnerable cats.

Who We Are

The ARC (Animal Recovery Center) is dedicated to the recovery and rehabilitation of victims of cruelty and neglect admitted through NYPD and the ASPCAs Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) and Community Engagement (CE) programs. Our dedicated team of more than 45 sheltering medical and animal behavior professionals within the Shelter and Rehabilitation Operations division work closely with the ASPCA Animal Hospital Forensics Legal Advocacy and Investigations Behavioral Sciences Shelter Medicine Services Community Engagement Centralized Placement and Relocation Services to ensure coordinated response and operations and holistic balanced high quality care for the animals we serve in alignment with the organizations priorities.

What Youll Do

The Manager Feline Behavior (the Manager) reports to the Senior Director of Behavior ARC / CARE and has one direct report a Behavior Specialist. The Manager is responsible for overseeing the feline behavior program within ARC. The Manager ensures the behavior and direct care teams are using behavior best practices to support cats psychological wellbeing.

The Manager leads the feline behavior team in providing safe high quality behavioral care for animals from intake through discharge. This oversight consists of :

• A coordinated balanced approach among behavior medical and sheltering to provide integrated care.
• Routine frequent assessment of each animals behavioral medical and legal status to allow for efficient effective interventions and timely disposition decisions.
• A well-structured robust daily enrichment program that incorporates physical and mental exercise socialization and sensory stimulation.
• For each animal eligible for behavior modification the development and implementation of a structured treatment plan and record keeping.

The Manager will provide leadership by providing ongoing coaching and training to ensure ASPCA policies behavioral competencies and low stress handling techniques are consistently addition the Manager will be responsible for establishing a safe and compassionate environment by fostering a positive and productive work environment in accordance with our organizational core values.

The Manager participates in direct on-site work with animals in the ARC ASPCA Animal Hospital (AAH) and the Adoption Center (AC) as well as off-site at partner locations and in foster homes. This position requires sometimes lengthy work with behaviorally compromised animals; the information gathered during this work is used to make disposition decisions which can include euthanasia where appropriate.

Where and When Youll Work

What Youll Get

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 target hiring range for this role is $87000-$92000 annually.

Benefits

At the ASPCA you dont have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include but are not limited to :

Responsibilities :

Responsibilities include but are not limited to :

What Youll Do

Provide Safe Behavior Response Assessment and Support (60%) :

Participate in team meetings to discuss animals behavioral status and progress

Conduct behavior assessments on cats housed at the ASPCA and with placement partners

Assist Community Engagement (CE) and NYPD in the field with removals and transportation providing both role expertise in consultation or on deployment as needed.

Assist with timely evaluation of animals (integrate observations from staff volunteers and fosters) to determine safety for handling likelihood of rehabilitation and suitability for adoption

Manage and implement environmental enrichment and behavior modification for sheltered animals and animals at boarding partners

Provide summaries on behavior evaluations and recommendations for disposition and placement

Provide behavior consultations and ongoing support to foster parents of ARC cats and owned CE animals requiring temporary care

Collaborate with other ASPCA behavior team members on treatment plans appropriate housing and other forms of environmental and social enrichment

Collaborate with medical operations sheltering and direct care teams to ensure a high quality of life and integrated care for sheltered animals and animals at boarding partners

Offer and implement suggestions for improving animals psychological well-being

Use active listening and respectful dialogue to answer questions and help staff understand behavioral signs that indicate potential aggression and / or poor quality of life

Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care our staff and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques

Program and People Management (30%) :

Supervise the Feline Behavior Specialist ensuring that team members fully understand their role and responsibilities and providing consistent high-quality feedback to direct reports

Grow and develop the volunteer program involvement in feline care and where appropriate feline behavior modification

Conduct monthly one on one s with each direct report and model the Leadership Big 3 : set clear direction and expectations give feedback and receive feedback and ensure opportunities for development.

Conduct timely annual performance reviews (behavioral competency based) for direct reports

Deliver timely disciplinary action when necessary

Address employee concerns promptly and handle employee relations issues with confidentiality and care. Use active listening to understand employee concerns encouraging and supporting employees to problem solve and create viable solutions.

Maintain adequate staffing levels at all times; assign and / or re-assign appropriate responsibilities as well as direct workflow in order to maximize productivity and maintain coverage in the event of planned absences call outs injuries increased volume etc. Ensure continuous coverage for events and team meetings and trainings to ensure staff and animal safety.

Ensure safety needs are met; incident reports completely and accurately filled out submitted to benefits legal and safety team; readily reporting workers compensation claims and benefits.

Communicate Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) requests etc. to benefits team

Develop document and implement sound simple policies and practices to improve SOPs. See that staff and volunteers are trained and competent in SOPs.

Oversee the feline enrichment program

Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Train and Coach (10%) :

Create learning materials to provide training on animal behavior topics and evidence-based humane handling

Provide internal lectures and trainings on appropriate topics; coordinate the scheduling of external lecturers when appropriate

Recommend and provide staff direct coaching opportunities to elevate the quality and consistency of the care delivered to our patients

Supervise and coach qualified volunteers when appropriate in assisting with behavior modification and enrichment programs

Stay up to date on protocols and SOPs created by the Behavioral Sciences Team; contribute to the development of such protocols as needed

Instill the guiding principle that everyone canand shouldactively support the animals behavioral and mental health in everything they do

Ensure that all team members have received training and mastered the skills to handle in a low stress manner and that they implement these handling techniques consistently in all their interactions with animals

Knowledge Requirements :

Companion animal behavior and animal welfare knowledge both basic and clinical

Knowledge of different models and techniques for adult learning. Ability to adjust training modules to match each trainees learning style.

In-depth knowledge of learning theory and its applications

Competent in the use of MS Word Excel and PowerPoint Teams and Outlook

Comfort learning new software

Skills Requirements :

Outstanding ability to handle animals for examinations and medical procedures using the least restraint possible

Ability to walk bend stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day.

Able to lift and carry supplies of up to 40 lbs.

Dependable and ability to demonstrate regular and reliable attendance.

Ability to give and receive direction in a fast paced dynamic environment

Ability to plan organize and effectively present ideas and concepts

Excellent communication skills with people enjoy working with people

Excellent organizational and time management skills

Excellent ability to provide timely and professional communication and service to internal and external stakeholders

Excellent and demonstrated ability to be a team player

Education and Work Experience :

B.A or B.S. preferred or equivalent work experience

Certification from reputable cat behavior professional program required (i.e. ABS IAABC) or comparable work experience

1 year management experience required

Extensive experience in conducting behavior modification in a formal environment such as private sessions or shelter environment

Extensive experience assessing and working with aggressive fearful and undersocialized cats

At least one year experience in animal shelter preferred

Strong humane animal handling skills with an emphasis on evidence based handling

Training Requirements :

Ensure that all team members have received training and mastered the skills to handle in a low stress manner and that they implement these handling techniques consistently in all their interactions with animals

Additional Information :

Ensure that all team members have received training and mastered the skills to handle in a low stress manner and that they implement these handling techniques consistently in all their interactions with animals

Promotes and ensures the continual and consistent practice of organizational 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

We encourage a candidate who demonstrates outstanding inter-personal communication and the ability to work in a team or independently with a high degree of integrity and accountability. This position welcomes a candidate with a sense of humor that can balance flexibility and enthusiasm and thrives on detail in a dynamic fast-paced environment. Position will require occasional flexibility.

Qualifications :

See above for qualifications details.

Language : English (Required)

Education and Work Experience :

High School Diploma (Required)

Required Experience :

Manager

Key Skills

Applied Behavior Analysis,Developmental Disabilities Experience,Behavior Management,Behavioral Health,Data Collection,Primary Care Experience,Military Experience,Special Education,Autism Experience,Special Needs,Experience with Children,Social Work

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Yearly Salary Salary : 87000 - 92000