Animal Behaviour and Enrichment Counselor - Temporary Full Time

Reporting to the Manager of Behaviour Operations, Calgary Humane Society Animal Behaviour and Enrichment Counselors play a pivotal role in the organization by providing training and support to our shelter dog population. Your responsibilities will encompass assisting staff, volunteers, foster parents, and the public in relation to animal behaviour. This includes maintaining and helping develop shelter programs as well as individualized plans that will enhance the welfare of animals in our care. A strong emphasis is placed on understanding learning theory and employing scientifically proven training, prevention, management, and socialization techniques. 

5 days/37.5 hours per week to include days, evenings, weekends, and some statutory holidays. This is an 18-month term position from November 2024 to May 2026. 

Duties:

• Participate as handler or observer during socialization sessions to gather information on a dog’s sociability, motivation, and resilience to stress to identify potential pathways and placement options

• Implement strategies to help promote social contact and enrichment while working to reduce stress

• Assist in collecting objective behavioural information through direct and indirect forms of data collection

• Optimize digital processes including form development, data management and tracking in collaboration with the team

• Communicate any behavioural concerns or risks to appropriate stakeholders and ensure animal records and notes are up to date

• Work directly with individual animals to help address behaviour concerns and increase adoptability

• Support the team in planning, developing, and hosting behaviour-related seminars, events, and other related materials

• Maintain accurate program records and statistics

• Perform office administration duties including filing, data entry, and cleaning

• Provide coaching and training for staff and volunteers involved in department-related tasks

• Configure enrichment activities into safe tasks suitable for volunteers and other staff to implement and adapt difficulty level to the animal

• Handle animals of various temperaments, sizes, and species

• Assist with cleaning, feeding, and occasionally administer medications when required

• Other duties as assigned

Key Competencies Required 

• Demonstrate understanding of animal behaviour, learning theory, and the scientific method. Ability to apply this knowledge humanely and in alignment with CHS’s position statement and least intrusive and minimally invasive principles

• Ability to work well on a team — building trusting, collaborative relationships — as well as ability to be self-directed and productive when working independently

• Proficiency in multitasking and problem solving and adapting to changing priorities and organizational needs

• Ability to collaborate on and support group decisions, including behavioural euthanasia decisions

• Strong interpersonal skills, capable of effective communication with diverse personalities to accomplish common goals

• Dependable and reliable in task completion and meeting deadlines

• Committed to continual improvement of best practices, policies, and procedures as they relate to animal behaviour

• Interest in continuing to learn and stay up to date in the field

• Detail-oriented with exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including active listening

• Willingness to work with a variety of different species including dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds

• Values that are in alignment with the organization

Position Requirements:

• Minimum High school diploma

• Successful candidate will be required to provide a criminal record check at their own expense to be arranged by CHS.

• Minimum one to two years of hands-on experience working with dogs in a professional capacity (e.g. teaching, assisting, or attending dog training classes, doing consultations, dog walking)

• Relevant professional certification would be considered an asset. Consideration for people who have begun working towards or have completed one or all of the following certifications:

o CPDT (Certified Professional Dog Trainer) 

o KPA-CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner), 

o Fear Free for Dog Trainers

o IAABC Shelter Behavior Affiliate

• Ability to observe and analyze animal body language and recognize the array of potential meanings 

• Professional experience in office administration and/or customer service

• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) would be considered an asset

• Genuine concern for the welfare of animals

• Flexibility to work outside of regular business hours, including some evening, weekends, holidays and overtime as required 

• Genuine interest in training philosophies congruent with the organization

• Valid driver’s license with a clean drivers abstract

Physical Requirements: 

• Physically capable of, and comfortable handling a variety of species including but not limited to cats, dogs, rabbits, birds, reptiles

• Must be physically capable of lifting/carrying/restraining a minimum of 60lbs

• Constant walking, crouching, squatting, kneeling

• Frequent lifting, carrying, and standing

• Occasional pushing, pulling, sitting rotating, and climbing

(Occasional: 6-33% of shift, Frequent 34-67% of shift, Constant 67-100% of shift)

Annual Salary:

Commensurate with education and related experience. 

Benefits & Perks:

• 100% employer paid health and dental benefits for employees and their dependents

• Wellness Spending Account

• Vision coverage

• Paid vacation, sick time, wellness days, and paid day off on your birthday

• Matching RSP

• Professional development opportunities

• Discounts on CHS products and services, including adoption fees

• Access to Employee and Family Assistance Program

• Access to reduced rate counseling services

• A commitment to accessibility and accommodations for different needs

Closing date: Posting will remain open until a suitable candidate is found 

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