Shelter to Service Specialist

The Shelter to Service Specialist role involves evaluating and selecting animals for suitability in assistance dog or emotional support roles, collaborating closely with volunteer foster trainers, and managing the candidate population throughout the selection process. The Specialist will conduct behavioral assessments, provide guidance and support to fosters, document findings, and make informed recommendations on each candidates progression within the program.

The Specialist role also supports all aspects of the Emotional Support Animal (ESA) program, including reviewing applications, responding to applicants, coordination of appointments, adoption counseling, and follow-up support. In addition, the Specialist will assist with psychiatric service dog classes, both on and offsite. Strong communication, assessment skills, experience with positive-reinforcement-based dog training, and a solid understanding of assistance animal requirements are essential for success in this position.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

- Manage the candidate population to evaluate eligibility and determine appropriate program pathways. Gather observations, perform assessments, document findings, and communicate the animals potential suitability for assistance dog or emotional support roles.

- In collaboration with Admissions, travel regularly to animal shelters to conduct temperament assessments to evaluate potential candidates for Joybound and the Shelter to Service program.

- Conduct or assist trainers with on-site assessments of recent dog and cat ESA and PSD candidates.

- Record and maintain detailed records of all potential candidates for the program.

- Transport animals following Joybound protocols.

- Clean and maintain Joybound vehicles after use. Oversee the Shelter to Service vehicle calendar.

- Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with source shelter partners. This position serves as a primary point of contact to facilitate referrals of potential dogs for the program.

- Communicate regularly with other departments to provide updates on the Shelter to Service animal population, the coordination of admissions of animals, scheduling appointments, and any updates related to the fosters.

- Help develop and refine protocols, SOPs, manuals, handouts, and video trainings related to temperament assessment, ESA program, and volunteer foster training.

- Review, process, and assess applications for the ESA program while maintaining an active waitlist of applicants.

- Arrange showings, provide adoption counseling, and process adoptions of ESA animals.

- Conduct follow-up communication and in-person or phone training sessions with ESA adopters.

- Support Foster Department with onboarding and training for new volunteer foster trainers.

- Provide ongoing guidance, resources, and support to volunteer foster trainers through their participation in the program. Track volunteer hours for Shelter to Service fosters.

- Match selected dogs with volunteer foster trainers.

- Coordinate all logistics related to volunteer foster trainer dog placements, including scheduling pickups and drop-offs, scheduling clinic and grooming appointments, gathering supplies, etc.

- Perform Shelter to Service cleaning duties, including kennels, as needed.

- Assist Shelter to Service trainers with on-site PSD classes.

- Collaborate with Shelter to Service Trainers to oversee the health, wellness, and behavior management of candidates.

- In coordination with Shelter to Service staff, oversee on-site departmental volunteers.

- Participate in events to help support and promote recruitment of prospective volunteers and participants for the program. Other duties as assigned.

- Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

- Experience with dog and cat behavior and handling and assessing in a safe and humane manner.

- Demonstrated knowledge and prior experience with positive reinforcement training preferred. Priority will be given to candidates with certifications from nationally recognized programs (CCPDT, IAABC, Karen Pryor Academy, etc.)

- Working knowledge of shelter-related illnesses and treatments.

- Demonstrated skills in customer service, interpersonal communication, conflict resolution, and in building partnerships. Previous experience with adoption counseling is a plus.

- Desire and commitment to forming, supporting, elevating, and celebrating the human-animal bond

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Specific physical abilities required by this job include:

- Must be comfortable and able to complete assigned duties that may involve potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, animal allergens, cleaning/disinfectant products, constant loud noises, and bites or scratches during the normal course of work.

- Must adhere to all department and organizational policies, procedures, and safety protocols, including required adherence to department and facility safety protocols and the use of required PPE (e.g., gloves, gowns, booties, masks, and/or ear and eye protection), to maintain a safe, compliant, and professional work environment for both employees and animals.

- Ability to lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain animals when necessary.

- Ability to kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach, grasp and turn objects, stand, and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift.

- Tetanus and rabies inoculations required or must be waived.

- Ability to push/pull moderately heavy objects up to 25 pounds. Walk dogs weighing up to 150 pounds in a variety of weather conditions.

- Duties will include exposure to sun, wind, rain, and other elements, up to 75% of shifts may be outdoors.

- Ability to assess animals visually, audibly, and through other techniques.

- Dexterity to handle animals and small objects.

- Capacity to sit for long and short periods of time while using a computer.

- Must have a valid California Drivers License and must not have more than two at-fault incidents in a three-year period and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years and must be insured. Ability to become an authorized driver.

Hours:

Full-time, non-exempt, onsite position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week. Hours and workdays may vary according to the needs of the department. Occasional evening and/or weekend work may be required.

EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES

At Joybound, we value diversity and treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of or traits historically associated with race; color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.