Behavior and Training Program Coordinator

Behavior and Training Program Coordinator

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Previous experience with organizing and running playgroups is highly preferred for this role.

The Behavior and Training Program Coordinator plays a critical role in assessing, managing, and improving the behavioral health of shelter animals. This position conducts comprehensive behavior assessments for dogs and cats, develops and implements individualized modification plans, and monitors progress to promote positive outcomes. The coordinator leads structured playgroups, coordinates and delivers training for staff, volunteers, and the public, and provides adoption counseling and post‑adoption support focused on behavior.

They also oversee the pet retention program to help owners keep their pets by addressing behavior challenges and make final decisions regarding behavior‑based surrender requests. In addition, this role ensures accurate documentation of training and care, maintains general animal care and shelter cleanliness, employs safe animal handling techniques, and delivers exceptional customer service. The Behavior and Training Program Coordinator collaborates across shelter teams to support animal welfare and community education.

• Complete behavior assessments for both dogs and cats in shelter care, including identifying challenge behaviors, enrichment or stress reduction needs, housing evaluations, and/or humane euthanasia, if necessary.
• Based on evaluation, make recommendations for care including creating, implementing, and monitoring individual modification plans, training for staff and volunteers in handling, foster care or rescue placement, adoption matchmaking, or possible humane euthanasia, if necessary.
• Monitor animal behavior throughout shelter stay, using observations to contribute to discussions about an animal’s health, adjusting strategies, performing follow‑up assessments, and implementing updated behavior plans that keep animals moving toward a positive outcome.
• Develop and lead structured dog playgroups to encourage healthy socialization and reduce kennel stress, ensuring safety by observing and documenting social behaviors, managing negative interactions, and safely intervening to prevent or break up potential fights.
• Develop, coordinate and teach training classes for staff, volunteers, and the public on proper animal handling, behavioral interventions, and training techniques to ensure safety for all involved.
• Provide adoption counseling to potential adopters, leading behavior consults, meet‑and‑greet sessions, and dog‑dog introductions to ensure safe and successful adoption placements.
• Deliver post‑adoption support and guidance to adopters for animals with established behavior plans, offering guidance and resources to promote long‑term success.
• Oversee the pet retention program, providing behavior support to pet owners to address challenges and help them keep their pets rather than surrendering them.
• Make final determinations on behavior‑based surrender requests, considering assessment findings, available resources, and potential alternatives to surrender.
• Oversee and document training progress, enrichment participation, and care notes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely reporting of concerns to leadership.
• Lead group training classes for the public.
• Provide general care and maintenance of shelter animals including feeding, watering, medicating, bathing and grooming, providing enrichment and exercise opportunities, and monitoring for behavior or medical needs on a regular basis.
• Clean and disinfect all shelter areas and animal equipment including but not limited to kennels and cages, play yards, dishes, linens, and litter.
• Use proper animal restraint techniques for the safety and well‑being of the animal and the team for both medical and behavioral needs.
• Deliver excellent customer service with internal and external customers through in‑person and phone interactions answering questions and giving recommendations of care.
• Assist in other shelter areas, as needed.

• Minimum 3 years of professional animal behavior experience in a shelter or other training…