Puppy Socializing Program Supervisor

Contact at organisation: Alima Connan, Guide Dogs for the Blind

Phone: 4154882318

Email: aconnan@guidedogs.com

Help us prepare our puppies for their important mission.

At Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), we are passionately committed to breeding, raising, and socializing puppies who can thrive on their journey toward becoming a potential guide dog.
We’re looking for an experienced individual who is good with both puppies and people to join us at our San Rafael, California campus as Puppy Socializing Program Supervisor. You’ll be responsible for developing innovative strategies for managing the mental and physical health of our puppies while also directing staff and volunteers.

What you’ll do:

• Expand existing programs and implement state-of-the-art socialization-related practices, ensuring the highest caliber of husbandry, healthcare, environmental enrichment, and behavior modification for puppies on site.
• Monitor puppy health and social development tools for neonates (birth to 6 weeks) and puppies (6 weeks to 10 weeks).
• Identify puppies with specific temperament or physical needs, or those with delayed departure dates, and implement a specialized socialization/handling process to ensure effective development.
• Incorporate the use of computer technology to streamline tasks and record-keeping and to effectively analyze aspects of the program for further refinement or improvement.
• Effectively supervise, teach, recognize, guide, and monitor the performance of a large network of volunteers and staff who participate in the Puppy Socializing program.

What you’ll love:

• Our incredible puppies, our devoted team, and our enthusiastic volunteers.
• A collaborative environment where your innovative ideas will be welcome.
• An environment with the resources that will allow you to do your best work.
• A campus with extras like yoga, circuit training, and an onsite gym.

What you’ll need:

• Degree in animal behavior or psychology, CTC/CPDT/CAAB/CDBC certification or equivalent academic experience preferred.
• 3 years of experience in a supervisory capacity.
• Demonstrated understanding of canine health, behavior, and development.
• Experience in dog-handling positions and use of positive reinforcement and humane training.
• Ability to lift and handle puppies weighing 15-20 pounds, as well as the ability to interact with puppies in upright and bending positions, as well as sitting position at ground level.
• Occasional weekends required.

Guide Dogs for the Blind

At Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), we believe that everyone deserves to move through the world safely and confidently – to live the life they want to live. As the largest guide dog school in North America, we have graduated more than 16,000 guide dog teams from across the U.S. and Canada since our founding in 1942. GDB not only improves mobility for our clients, we further inclusion. Join our team of more than 300 employees and share your passion for our mission.

At Guide Dogs for the Blind, we respect, value, and appreciate all differences. We welcome all qualified candidates irrespective of your race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Individuals with disabilities, especially those who are blind or visually impaired, are encouraged to apply. If you have a disability and need assistance and/or accommodation with applying for a job, please feel free to contact Human Resources.