Animal Behaviour Specialist

POSITION: Animal Behaviour Specialist - VIABCSTATUS: Permanent; Full-Time with benefits SHIFT: 35 hours per week - Monday to Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PMLOCATION: Vancouver Island Animal Behaviour Centre in Cowichan BCCLASSIFICATION: Exempt WAGE: Salaried CLOSING DATE: Open Until June 28 the Position:Reporting to the Manager Behaviour & Welfare this position will provide direct behavioural care and support to animals in the Vancouver Island Animal Behaviour Centre (VIABC) and in foster in the area. It delivers staff and volunteer training offers behavioural counseling and ensures adherence to BC SPCA Adoptability Guidelines. It collaborates with Centre care teams supports foster and adoption placements and serves as a behavioural subject matter expert to reduce safety risks prevent resource inefficiency and improve adoption success. Some specific duties:Vancouver Island Animal Behaviour Centre (VIABC) Support (80%):Provide behavioural support to animals in centre and in foster through VIABC and the region. This includes setting up an environment that supports the management and modification of animal daily behaviour rounds and attend daily huddles or other meetings to monitor animal progress and uphold standards of animals using Behaviour Program Assessment when behaviour concerns are identified by BC SPCA standard behaviour modification and training plans for animals in animals not coping or adapting in care and work with internal and external veterinarians to rule out medical concerns and assist with behaviour treatment the DTA IV tool to assess all dogs coming into care if not completed prior to behaviour treatment plans and progress meet with Manager Behaviour & Welfare weekly or biweekly to review support and guidance to staff/volunteers to ensure the low-stress handling of all centre the design implementation and monitoring of enrichment behavioural support and resources to pet guardians to help address challenges and prevent animal adoption matching questionnaires and provide behaviour-specific adoption adopters with appropriate pre- and post-adoption support in the form of written materials phone and in-person training and support for behaviour-foster Centre Manager in developing and maintaining a database with approved behaviour resources for the centre and in Large Scale Animal Intakes (LSAI) onsite providing support recommendations and assistance with intake and daily care to meet behaviour and welfare clear communication with staff and volunteers regarding day-to-day behaviour program duties and guidance and support to Animal Care Attendants and volunteers ensuring adherence to the behaviour program daily activities protocols and and support volunteers in the achievement of the behaviour program goals. Delegate behaviour-related tasks as with the recruitment selection scheduling and support of volunteers in the behaviour program utilizing Better Impact and in collaboration with Volunteer Resources and local Volunteer ShelterSense protocols to ensure optimal welfare standards are (10%):Where appropriate train staff and volunteers to monitor and deliver behaviour in DogSense Training programs with the goal of assisting with delivery of these programs within the assigned region in the Manager Behaviour and Welfare with onsite training relating to ShelterSense systems animal handling and all animal related behaviour policies and protocols. Travel to BC SPCA Centres especially those on Vancouver Island to provide staff training and behaviour support as needed for individual animals or LSAIs as (5%):Build relationships with Community Animal Centre teams to create strong communication flow and remove pathway with veterinarians reviewing clinical cases under the direction of the Manager Behaviour and closely with veterinarians to rule out or treat any underlying medical conditions that may be contributing to behavioral concerns and potentially incorporating anxiety-reducing medication into an integrated treatment plan when with community AnimalKind trainers and veterinarians regarding the special needs of VIABC with academic institutions and animal welfare organizations as requiredCollaborate with Volunteer Resources and Centre Manager on ways to effectively develop involve and maintain a robust volunteer program at tracking (5%):Maintain Behaviour Program Tracker recording all animals participating in the behaviour program treatments and ShelterBuddy and Behaviour Program reports as you need to have:Completion of a recognized education or professional certification in animal training or behaviour that is grounded in science-based reward-based methods consistent with the BC SPCA AnimalKind Training Standards. For example CTC KPA-CTP etc. plus a minimum of three (3) years related experience; or a combination of education and experience acceptable to the Employer. Relevant experience includes but is not limited to: Working in a shelter environment specifically with behaviour assessments and treatment plansTracking analyzing and reporting on dataProviding outstanding service to interested parties Positive reinforcement-based animal trainingTeaching and mentoring adultsGenuine compassion for animals knowledge of the Five Domains/Five Freedoms Canadian Standards of Care and Low Stress Handling. Excellent computer skills in Windows MS Office and online meeting software; knowledge of Shelter Buddy is considered an asset. Proven ability to work in a fast-paced dynamic environment with competing deadlines and multiple priorities. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to respectfully relate to a diverse audience. Excellent organizational skills with high attention to detail. Able to work independently with minimal supervision as well as collaboratively as a member of a -depth knowledge of health and safety principles and protocols as it relates to animal handling and demonstrated ability to follow be able to travel to Animal Centres from time-to-time as have a valid Class 5 BC drivers license. Working knowledge of the concepts of equity diversity inclusion and harmony with the BC SPCA mission vision values and strategic directions.