Director, Shelter Behavior Science

Summary:

 Who We Are

As part of the Policy, Response & Engagement (PRE) division, the Behavioral Sciences Team (BST) supports behavior programs across the ASPCA to safeguard the behavioral health of our animals. The BST’s work focuses on:

• Promoting a holistic approach to the care of ASPCA animals that balances physical and mental wellbeing. We ensure organization-wide alignment of behavior best practices, foundational tools and behavioral data management.
• Advancing science-based processes and protocols in shelter behavior, including enrichment, socialization and behavior modification, to improve quality of life of sheltered animals, reduce euthanasia of animals with treatable behavior problems and expedite pathway planning decisions for animals unsuitable for rehabilitation.
• Establishing psychological harm as legally cognizable animal cruelty so that animals suffering emotional trauma receive the same protections under the law as animals suffering physical harm.
• Supporting ASPCA’s cruelty and disaster operations through forensic behavior documentation, consultation, research and subject matter expert testimony. We work closely with Legal Advocacy, National Field Response, Forensic Science and Rehabilitation Services by deploying for animal removals, providing low stress handling, conducting forensic behavior evaluations and supporting shelter behavior programs at temporary field shelters.

What You’ll Do:

The Director, Shelter Behavior Science partners with ASPCA behavior teams to ensure the implementation of behavior best practices at his or her assigned ASPCA facilities and ASPCA emergency shelters. The Director educates, consults, coaches, develops and shares materials designed to advance the ASPCA’s mission to improve animal behavioral health and strengthen shelter behavior programs.

• The Director, Shelter Behavior Sciences reports directly to the Senior Director, Shelter Behavior Science and directly oversees two Senior Manager, Shelter Behavior Science.

When & Where You’ll Work:

• Ability and willingness to travel up to 35% of the time as needed
• Available to be on-call for last-minute deployments.
• Able and willing to work flexible hours, long days, and weekends, as required (primarily during travel).
• Willingness to maintain a work schedule that aligns with programs in the eastern time zone (M-F, 9-5 plus additional working hours as needed)

What You’ll Get:

Compensation

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t 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:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.

Check our website for more information on our benefits offerings. 

Responsibilities:

Behavior Program Partnership (50%)

• Provide high-level shelter behavior expertise across ASPCA programs by partnering with behavior teams to guide the development, implementation, and refinement of best practices in animal behavior assessment, enrichment, low-stress and defensive handling, treatment inclusion criteria, behavior protocols, quality-of-life monitoring, and population management. 

• Travel regularly to ASPCA facilities nationwide to train and collaborate with behavior teams, strengthen staff skills, and promote consistent best practices across programs.

• Participate in regular meetings with behavior programs to nourish cross-program and cross-departmental relationships.

• Assist with developing behavior position job descriptions, recruiting and training new behavior staff.

• Consult on individual animal behavior cases (assessment, treatment and pathway planning) as requested.

• Facilitate resource sharing across behavior teams to ensure all ASPCA animals have equal access to opportunities for assessment, treatment and placement.

• Contribute to the strategic evolution of ASPCA behavior programs by identifying opportunities for innovation, evaluating programmatic impact, and ensuring alignment with organizational goals and the integrated care model of progressive animal sheltering.

• Lead the development and standardization of organization-wide behavior protocols, ensuring they reflect current scientific understanding and are adaptable to diverse shelter settings.

• Drive strategic use of the Behavior Database by representing program needs, training staff on effective data entry, and monitoring usage to ensure accuracy and consistency for treatment tracking and research purposes.

• When behavior research is conducted within ASPCA behavior facilities, serve as coordinator between behavior program and research teams.

People Management (20%)

• Directly manage, coach, and foster the intellectual and professional growth of a team of BST Liaisons.

• Consistently leverage ASPCA developmental tools and resources to conduct regular one-on-one meetings, feedback conversations and annual performance reviews of direct reports; measure progress to goals and guide professional development.

• Espouse positive, people-centric management approaches that are in line with team and organizational core values.

• Contribute to revising behavior position job descriptions, recruiting and training new behavior staff.

 

Forensic Behavior & Field Support (10%)

• Provide on-scene behavioral trauma documentation and humane handling services during animal confiscation/removal, intake and medical exams for ASPCA cruelty cases and disaster response, as needed.

• Conduct forensic behavior evaluations for populations associated with NYPD and national cruelty and neglect cases, including, but not limited to, fighting dogs, puppy mill dogs and animals from hoarding situations and disaster relief. This may, on occasion, also include requests from outside agencies.

• Prepare forensic behavior reports; label and catalogue evaluation video footage.

• Deploy to emergency shelters to provide behavior services, including enrichment, training, socialization and rehabilitation, as per ASPCA protocols. When needed, serve as program lead.

• Collect and catalog evidentiary materials for Legal Advocacy & Investigations when requested.

• Accept leadership, managerial and ICS roles as appropriate during deployments.

Training, Development and Organizational Support (10%)

• Maintain current knowledge of the science of shelter animal behavior best practices.

• Attend professional development opportunities to assess applicability to ASPCA behavior program needs.

• Contribute to the organization’s Behavior Strategy Plan to drive the direction of ASPCA research in shelter and forensic animal behavior.

• Research, support and develop programs, presentations, audio-visual content, website content, and written materials on shelter behavior best practices.

• Deliver lectures, seminars, workshops, webinars, and other educational training and materials on shelter behavior best practices at various venues.

• Provide behavior content for media as requested. Participate in media interviews on companion animal behavior and shelter behavior topics.

• • Answer miscellaneous email inquiries about animal behavior as needed.

  • Direct or participate in other projects on an as-needed basis.

Education & Work Experience:

• Specialized training in animal behavior field (animal behavior/cognition, experimental psychology, zoology, animal science), M.Sc. preferred.

• Experience teaching, coaching or mentoring others in animal behavior knowledge and skills.

• Animal Behavior Society CAAB or ACAAB preferred, or eligibility to earn such certification within 2 years. IAABC accepted. CPDT-KA certification considered.

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working as a professional animal trainer/behaviorist, handling, evaluating and working directly with behaviorally-challenged dogs and cats (fear, aggression, excessive arousal, etc.).

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience working in animal shelters required; experience working in shelter behavior program strongly preferred.

• Experience with the humane, effective use of aversive consequences in training and behavior modification contexts.

• Experience working with additional domesticated species highly preferred.

• Experience in disaster/emergency sheltering a plus.

• Disaster Sheltering and FEMA Incident Command System courses (100, 200, 700, 800) within 90 days of hire.

• Low Stress Handling ™ certification required or obtained within 6 months of hire.

Qualifications:

• Able to work closely with behaviorally compromised animals and be prepared to make decisions about euthanasia, including behavior euthanasia.

• Thorough companion animal behavior and animal welfare knowledge, including a strong foundation in shelter behavior research.

• Demonstrated ability to understand, interpret, and critically evaluate scientific literature related to animal behavior; communicates findings clearly to diverse audiences, applies current research to shelter behavior best practices, and contributes to strategic research initiatives.

• Highly proficient defensive and low-stress canine and feline handling and restraint skills, including for euthanasia.

• Strategic thinker with demonstrated expertise in evaluating program goals and shaping organization-wide behavior programs; adept at teaching, coaching, and mentoring to foster continuous learning and development.

• Proven experience developing and implementing animal behavior protocols and treatment plans, with adaptability to shelter contexts.

• Demonstrated understanding of behavioral care capacity, including effective triage processes for behavior treatment.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; able to communicate clearly, effectively, sensitively and professionally, with staff at all levels.

• Proficient in MS Office including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint required

• Experience with shelter software programs and Salesforce preferred

• Able to connect day-to-day activities to the broader goals of the ASPCA.

• Demonstrates high professional standards, including being guided by science rather than personal experience and opinion. Adept critical thinker.

• Able to quickly, calmly, and efficiently adjust to changes in direction and re-prioritize work

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

• Must be a self-guided, creative and flexible individual who performs well with minimal supervision. Thrives in a fast-paced, demanding environment; willingly accepts changes to plans, protocols and priorities.

• Strong organizational skills and a high level of attention to detail. Meticulous with data collection and record keeping.

• Collaborates effectively and maintains strong professional relationships.

• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks/projects and respond to shifting priorities

• Willing to learn from mistakes; enjoys problem solving and identifying ways to improve

• Willing to accept responsibility for sustaining a healthy work-life balance.

• Capable of standing for 8 or more hours and bending, crouching, kneeling and moving freely to perform responsibilities that include handling potentially dangerous animals in stressful conditions.

• Willing to occasionally work in challenging conditions, including harsh temperatures or unsanitary environments. Able to wear appropriate protective gear, including personal protective equipment and protective masks.

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

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Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

Language:

English

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma