Director, Behaviour and Training

Opportunity & Impact

The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity and has been operating for over 150 years. The Society provides care, comfort, and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario; we value all animals and advocate to treat them with respect and kindness. We strive to keep pets and families together and do so through a variety of community support services.

The Director, Behaviour & Training
, is a key member of the Operations Team who will implement and launch the new provincial strategic direction for all behavioural programming across Ontario SPCA Animal Centres, including the development of a provincial Behaviour Certification Program and the establishment of consistent, evidence-based standards for animal behaviour assessment, enrichment, handling, training, and community-facing behaviour services.

The Director ensures that all behaviour-related initiatives are grounded in a clear theory of change, supported by a defined program structure, and measurable through defined KPIs.

Working closely with Operations, Clinical Services, Provincial Operations Managers, Centre Managers, Humane Education, and external behaviour specialists, the Director ensures the organization delivers humane, trauma-informed, Fear Free–aligned, behavioural care that enhances animal well-being, reduces length of stay, supports successful adoptions, and supports the retention of pets in their home.

• Be part of an energetic team environment with others who share your passion for animal wellbeing!
• Competitive compensation package including medical, dental and vision benefits
• Employee Family Assistance Program
• 64 hours of paid sick time per year
• 4 weeks of vacation to start
• Primarily remote work with Provincial travel
• Discount on Ontario SPCA apparel, Paws & Give merchandise, Virtual pet care, and pet food too!

• Act as the provincial behavioural expert for the organization, providing strategic input for all canine and feline behaviour initiatives.
• Lead the full development of a multi-level Behaviour Certification Program, including competencies, curriculum design, delivery model, practicum requirements, and evaluation mechanisms.
• Develop and maintain the Ontario SPCA Behaviour Program Manual, including Tier model, assessment tools, documentation standards, and case-management pathways.
• Establish clear systems for tracking FAS+F levels, behaviour risk, safety planning, and intervention strategies.
• Oversee development of shelter behaviour tools including sociability assessments, handling tests, reactivity measures, and functional behaviour analyses.
• Develop and implement public-facing behaviour resources and guides including workshops, group training classes, pre/post adoption counselling, and at-risk guardian support.
• Engage external partners (municipalities, AWS, veterinarians, Peterborough HS) to strengthen referral pathways and shared learning opportunities.
• Provide expert consultation for complex behaviour cases, risk assessment, enrichment strategies, and placement decisions.
• Oversee training of Clinic and Centre teams in humane handling, safety equipment, behaviour plans, and stress-mitigation strategies.
• Ensure consistent practices across all Centres through audits, shadowing, coaching, and documentation review.

• Minimum 7–10 years in companion animal behaviour, with shelter-based experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced, nationally, or internationally recognized behaviour credentials are required, such as:
• IAABC (CABC, CDBC, CCBC, CSB-D/CSB-C)
• CAAB / ACAAB
• DACVB (Veterinary Behaviourist)
• Additional professional designations or certifications that support program design, animal welfare outcomes, and cross-functional leadership—including KPA-CTP, Fear Free, or equivalent—are considered strong assets.
• Demonstrated expertise in behaviour assessment, risk evaluation, enrichment, stress reduction, and case planning.
• Proven experience designing and scaling behaviour programs, training systems, or certification pathways.
• Experience with curriculum design, evaluation frameworks, or adult learning models.

Click Apply Now and…