Description

Job Title: Shelter Dog Program Coordinator

Job Status: Full-Time, Exempt 

Reports to: NAT Training Manager

Location: Carrollton, TX

Company Overview:

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in people's lives and have a soft spot for dogs? Look no further than Dogs for Better Lives (DBL)! As a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, DBL is dedicated to professionally training dogs to help people with disabilities and enhance their lives. Our mission is to create a lifelong commitment to all dogs rescued or bred and all people served, which is supported by our nationwide donor base. DBL is nationally recognized by Guidestar, Great Nonprofits, Charity Navigator (9 years with a continues four-star rating), Best of the Upper Cape 2022, Oregon Business’ 2021 “Oregon Top 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For,” and we are accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI). At DBL, we believe in empowering our employees to achieve our goals and serve our clients, dogs, and donors while embracing a work-life balance. As we continue to expand our organization and build upon our past successes, we provide ample opportunities for growth and continued learning. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we welcome employees from diverse backgrounds who share our values. Join us and be part of an employee-driven team that strives to serve more clients while upholding our unwavering commitment to our clients, dogs, and donors.

Job Summary:

The Shelter Dog Program Coordinator’s (SDPC), primary focus involves working with our partner shelter(s)to identify and evaluate shelter dogs to train to become Assistance Dogs (AD’s); working with shelter staff to seek out, develop, and train program foster volunteers living within a defined radius; and training shelter dogs to become AD’s. AD training will entail working with shelter dogs both through support and training of the volunteer foster but also focusing on site-based training both at our DBL training location and in public. SDPC will work in collaboration with the National Training manager to select clients and coordinate AD placements. All shelter dogs trained by the SDPC will meet or exceed DBL and ADI standards. 

Position will involve traveling to partner shelter(s) to evaluate and select shelter dogs suitable for training as AD’s; and traveling to program foster volunteer homes to train selected dogs. Adhering to and developing DBL training guidelines specific to shelter dogs while seeking the best possible living environment to increase their success rate in becoming AD’s. works with partner shelter(s) to secure a network of foster homes as a part of improving successful outcomes of the SDSP. Works with partner shelter(s) to assure dogs who are career changed are successfully returned to the partner shelter for adoption.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Oversees SDSP to ensure program goals are met.
• With the assistance of partner shelter(s) staff, ensures foster home program supports the training goals for each individual dog and supports the foster in their role as a DBL and shelter volunteer.
• Continually assesses selected SDSP dogs to evaluate dogs for continued appropriateness for DBL programs.
• Adheres to standardization of training methods (process/procedure/placement curriculum), providing input to improve successfulness.
• Works closely with VP of Programs, Program Advisor, National Training Manager and other SDSPs to maintain consistency in training standards.
• Works within DBLs established systems for tracking training progress, reporting behavioral or training concerns, scheduling AD preplacement testing and coordinating client selection and placement.
• Coordinates with staff to transport certified dogs for placement.
• Performs other duties/tasks as assigned.

Acquisition and Career Change

• As needed, refines behavioral evaluations for use in screening shelter dogs.
• Works with partner shelter(s) to find juvenile and/or adult dog candidates suitable for training as DBL candidates., including joining shelter intake staff on dog runs when necessary.
• Documents using DBL’s specific shelter dog evaluation, including public, car and training location evaluation, when possible.
• Reviews health and behavioral records on all dogs, prior to their training.
• Manages transition of shelter dogs from shelter to program foster volunteers’ homes, ensuring effective quarantine, socialization, and assessment protocols are in place.
• Assists partner shelter(s) when dogs return to shelter when training is not successful.
• Provides partner shelter(s)with written evaluation of dog’s strengths and weaknesses to share with dog’s new owner.

Training

• Works with up to 8 dogs in foster homes at various phases of training.
• Develops curriculum to help shelter dogs successfully complete training in DBL programs, while working in conjunction with National Training Manager.
• Trains and communicates with program foster volunteers to track necessary medical and behavioral information on all dogs selected.
• Works with program foster volunteers to promote healthy, well-mannered dogs according to Dogs for Better Lives standards.
• Maintains a record of all dogs selected from partner shelter and track specific data to assess how to improve training for shelter dogs to be successful in DBL programs.

Essential Qualifications:

• Preferred Certified AD Trainer with successful work history at an AD organization for at least 3 years.
• Minimum of three (3) years’ experience working with and training dogs of multiple breeds.
• Knowledge of, and experience using, operant conditioning techniques.
• Preferred, not required: Four (4) year college degree or equivalent work experience required.
• Minimum two (2) years of program coordination experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office 365.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Experienced in and comfortable with public speaking.
• Excellent written/oral communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to prioritize while working multiple tasks.
• Ability to teach others in a positive, enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to work with limited supervision.
• Ability to communicate using American Sign Language is desirable.

Essential Requirements:

• Must pass a criminal background check.
• Must be at least 25 years old and have a valid Driver’s License and excellent driving record.
• For the safety of the employee, other employees, and the dogs, an employee must have hearing within normal limits (for an adult, hearing thresholds no greater than 25 dB HL from 500 Hz through 4000 Hz, for both ears, with or without hearing aids, implants or other devices. Employees must be

able to hear the wide variety of sounds at different levels and pitches from a variety of directions and distances that dogs make while interacting with people and each other. This includes:

• Detect barking at all levels and tones
• Determine direction barking is coming from
• Detect change in type of bark, tone, volume
• Detect low growl, direction
• Hear a dog running behind them
• Hear talking in a normal range
• When training a dog, the trainer must be able to hear all the sounds and tones that he/she is training the dog to hear in order to reward behavior and ensure successful outcomes.

• Physically capable of lifting dogs up to 65 pounds, the ability to move quickly, climb stairs, operate office equipment and computers with ease, and the ability to get up and down easily while working and playing with the dogs.

Note: This is a job description, not an employment contract. This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by management. Dogs for Better Lives is an Equal Opportunity Employer.