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 ASPCA's 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 organization's priorities.

What You'll 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 animal's 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 followed. In 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 You'll Work

• This position is an onsite role at our 92nd Street ASPCA Location.
• The schedule is Sunday-Thursday, 9-5 pm, with one work from home day as operationally permitted.
• Weekends, evenings and some holidays are required
• Deployment with the Behavioral Sciences Team or locally with NYPD/CE at least 1 time per year

What You'll 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 $87,000-$92,000 annually.

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.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

What You'll 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 ones 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 can-and should-actively 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 trainee's 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:

Language:

Education and Work Experience:

Our 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.

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act:
Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees' protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado and Oregon: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058 and ORS 659A.030, 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 through completion of the initial interview. We can require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant should redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

Indiana Applicants: Pursuant to Indiana law, we are providing notice that it is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against a prospective employee on the basis of status as a veteran by: (1) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a veteran of the armed forces of the United States; or (2) refusing to employ an applicant for employment on the basis that the applicant is a member of the Indiana National Guard or a member of a reserve component. Should you feel that you were a victim of discrimination on the basis of veteran status, please let us know at careers@aspca.org. Alternatively, you can file a complaint with the following agencies at any time: Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC) 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N103, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Office: (317) 232-2600 | Toll Free: (800) 628-2909; Hearing Impaired: (800) 743-3333 | Fax: (317) 232-6580; E-mail: icrc@crc.in.gov | Website: www.in.gov/icrc. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Indianapolis Field Office; 115 W. Washington Street South Tower Suite 600; Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone: 463-999-1240; Fax: 317-226-7953; TTY: 1-800-669-6820;ASL Video Phone: 844-234-5122.

Massachusetts Applicants: Per Massachusetts law, we are providing notice that it is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Philadelphia Applicants: You may view your rights under the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Act here.