SUMMARY:

• This exciting position offers a unique opportunity to serve victims of cruelty and neglect in New York City and is open for non- veterinary Behavior Specialists or Veterinary Behaviorists who meet the qualifications.
  The Animal Recovery Center (ARC) and Canine Annex for Recovery and Enrichment (CARE) provide medical and behavioral interventions to recover and rehabilitate animals brought to the ASPCA by the NYPD and the ASPCA’s Humane Law Enforcement (HLE) and Community Engagement (CE) programs and, when appropriate, prepares them for adoption or return to owner.
  Our dedicated team of more than 45 sheltering, medical, and animal behavior professionals work closely with the ASPCA Animal Hospital, Forensics, Legal Advocacy and Investigations, Behavioral Sciences, Shelter Medicine Services, Community Engagement, Centralized Placement, Recovery and Rehabilitation Center, and Adoption Center teams to ensure coordinated response and operations, and holistic, balanced, high quality care for the animals we serve.
  The Senior Director oversees the behavioral care and pathway planning for the ARC and CARE animals, ensuring the medical and behavioral health and welfare of our animals in collaboration with the medical and sheltering leaders. The Senior Director ensures an integrated, holistic approach to animal care that prioritizes the overall quality of life of the ARC and CARE animals.
  In collaboration with the Behavior Sciences team (BST), the Strategy and Research team and organization leadership, this unique position will also identify, lead, and facilitate ARC and CARE research projects, which are strategically selected to advance the ASPCA’s mission related to animal behavior and cruelty prevention. The Senior Director will identify key knowledge gaps and determine how best to fill those gaps related to addressing and treating behavior problems that affect the welfare of animals and may prevent adoption.

The Senior Director of Behavior serves as a key member of the ARC and CARE leadership team, and the AAH, ARC, and CARE Senior Leadership Team, and will be integral to critically incorporating and monitoring science-based behavioral treatments for a population of approximately 100 dogs and cats. In addition, the Senior Director will foster strong relationships with medical and behavior team leaders across the organization for the advancement of the overall health of animals through research, application, and education, and will inform shelter programs across the country through sharing of research findings and best practices developed in our facilities. This position leads a team of nine behavior experts. Four Behavior Specialists, one Behavior Associate, and two Behavior Coordinators, and directly manages the Manager of Feline Behavior and the Manager of Behavior, ARC and CARE.

• The shift is Mon-Fri (9-5)

LEAD RESEARCH PROJECTS AND SHARE KNOWLEDGE (5%)

• Collaborate in contribution to the organization’s Behavior Strategy Plan to drive the direction of the ASPCA’s research in animal shelter behavior and forensic behavior.
• Identify and propose research projects with ARC/CARE animals that would advance the fields of forensic science and animal welfare.
• Contribute to develop clear goals, timelines, data collection and analysis processes for identified research projects.
• Communicate project goals and data collection through clearly outlined protocols for the data collection team to follow.
• Ensure all data collection and reporting is accurate and complete.
• Problem solve and recognize when the work needs to change in scope or direction to ensure research goals are achieved.
• Provide subject matter expertise to represent the ASPCA and the AAH/ARC/CARE departments.
• Effectively present research internally and externally at conferences when appropriate.
• Collaborate to contribute to writing scientific publications for peer reviewed journals as well as publications for non-scientific audiences and ASPCA departments.
• Mentor veterinarians and Behavior Specialists.

QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability to successfully work in a high-volume, fast-paced environment that combines emergency and shelter medicine and effectively multi-task with a high degree of integrity and accountability and without loss of attention to detail.
• Ability to work well within a team and communicate effectively and courteously with all levels of staff.
• Maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols.
• Able to successfully work in an environment working with behaviorally and medically compromised animals daily.
• Must feel comfortable participating in humane euthanasia decisions and procedures, and supporting the team in this work as needed.
• Fear Free certified within 6 months of hire.
• Interest in developing/overseeing research projects is preferred
• Interest in contributing to writing scientific publications for peer reviewed journals as well as publications for non-scientific audiences and ASPCA departments preferred
• Low Stress Handling – Silver certified or can obtain such certification by end of first year.
• Ability to work additional hours, weekends, cover shifts and/or stay late and respond to after-hours concerns, as needed.
• Provide support for disasters/weather coverage.

WORK EXPERIENCE FOR ALL CANDIDATES:

• 3+ years’ experience in people management
• Previous experience in shelters preferred but not required.
• Experience developing/overseeing research projects preferred
• Experience writing scientific publications for peer reviewed journals as well as publications for non-scientific audiences preferred

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE NON- VETERINARIAN BEHAVIORIST CANDIDATES:

• Master’s or PhD degree in animal Behavior or related discipline from an accredited program.
• Completed residency in an approved conforming program or non-conforming program approved by ACVB preferred.

EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE VETERINARY BEHAVIORIST CANDIDATES:

• DVM degree (or equivalent) from AVMA accredited veterinary school, with NY State veterinary license.
• Completed residency in an approved conforming program or non-conforming program approved by ACVB.
• Veterinary internship or minimum 5 years small animal medicine experience without internship.
• Board certified diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.

Additional Information:

• This is a full-time exempt position that works out of our 91st and 92nd Street offices, but the incumbent must be flexible, as some early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays will be required.
• To apply, please complete our application and upload a cover letter that outlines how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of this position. Applications without cover letters will not be reviewed.

QUALIFICATIONS:

See above for qualifications details.

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.
Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, 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 in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: