Supervisor Animal Services (Dog Trainer)

City of Toronto•Union, NJ

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Toronto is seeking a Supervisor Animal Services (Dog Trainer) to join their Municipal Licensing & Standards division. This permanent, full-time position involves developing and implementing policies, supervising staff, managing daily operations, and overseeing the dog training program. The role requires extensive knowledge of canine behavior modification, positive reinforcement training, and safe handling methods. The successful candidate will make recommendations on training plans, conduct behavioral assessments, and ensure compliance with relevant legislation. This position also involves liaising with various stakeholders, developing outreach programs, and managing shelter programs and external contracts. The role requires travel to different shelter locations and may involve representing Toronto Animal Services at community meetings and conferences.

Requirements

Extensive knowledge of behavioural modification, positive reinforcement training, counter conditioning, and safe handling methods for dogs and have experience in applying such knowledge in dogs with noted behavioural concerns.
Extensive experience making recommendations on dog training plans and dealing with behavioural rehabilitation.
Extensive experience with 100 hours per year of formal canine behavioural assessments.
Extensive experience with 100 hours per year of training utilizing operant and classical conditioning methods for dogs that have behavioural concerns such as food bowl aggression, stranger or dog reactivity.
Possession of and the ability to maintain a valid Province of Ontario, Class “G” Driver’s License, and ability to obtain a City of Operators Permit for assigned vehicle(s) and equipment.
Considerable knowledge of all relevant legislation pertaining to dogs.

Nice To Haves

Certifications in dog training to be considered an asset (e.g. certification from the Canadian Association of Professional Dog Trainers)

Responsibilities

Develops, reviews, amends and implements policies and procedures as required.
Participates in the development and implementation of operational plans (harmonization of services city-wide).
Supervises, motivates and trains assigned staff on key areas related to dogs in the City’s care, ensuring effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.
Supervises the day-to-day operation of all assigned staff including the scheduling, assigning and reviewing of work.
Authorizes and coordinates vacation and overtime requests.
Monitors and evaluates staff performance, approves salary increments, hears grievances and executes disciplinary action when necessary.
Provides input into and administers assigned budget, ensuring that expenditures are controlled and maintained within approved budget limitations.
Makes recommendations and assists the manager in effective planning, implementation and delivery of dog training services including private and/or group classes, behavioural assessments and rehabilitation needs.
Recommends, reviews and delivers internal and external canine training programs and enrichment activities recommending evidence-based training methods, outcome plans and options on matching dogs to appropriate adopters, fosters or rescue groups and implementing changes as required to improve operational performance and service delivery of the dog training program.
Travels to various shelter locations.
Ensures the development, implementation and maintenance of a quality assurance program for adopters, fosters, volunteers and front-line staff to ensure safe interactions with dogs and guidance on proper handling techniques.
Monitors staff’s daily activities to ensure proficiency and effective service delivery.
Supervises program delivery to ensure compliance with Animal Services by-laws and other related legislation.
Administers municipal and provincial statutes and ensures that they are delivered to the community using appropriate tools and strategies, such as education on responsible pet ownership and enforcement.
Conducts research and stays up to date on relevant legislation pertaining to dogs.
Acts as a Tribunal Member at Public Hearings with respect to Muzzle Orders issued by the city under the City of Toronto Municipal Code, Chapter 349.
Provides advice and expertise on Animal Services related issues to other city departments, other municipalities, provincial (i.e. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, Ministry of Natural Resources) and federal (i.e. Agriculture Canada) agencies, International Agencies (Society of Animal Welfare Administrators, HLP Inc. - the premier software solution provider to the Animal Service industry) and non-governmental organizations (i.e. Canadian Association of Humane Trapping, Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies).
Liaises with community residents, groups, agencies and councillors to address community needs and deliver programs and services.
Investigates, establishes and monitors revenue generating programs and partnerships (licences, Adopt-a-Thons, etc.).
Develops and delivers outreach programs to promote the human-animal bond (i.e. Toronto Animal Services Newsletter, Dog Bite Prevention Program, etc.).
Implements technological changes to increase public awareness and track program activities to improve the efficiency of the service (i.e. kiosks and Internet services to display animals for adoption and lost and found, activity tracking of field staff, etc.).
Develops behaviour-focused success stories and highlights progress for shelter social media platforms, showcasing training outcomes and supporting adoption efforts.
Compiles, collates and evaluates statistical data (i.e. adoption rates, number of sheltered animals, field service activities, etc.) and documents/prepares reports on dogs’ training plans, training progress, behaviour observations, concerns and recommendations and any incidents (i.e. bites or other injuries) involving canines for program tracking and quality assurance
Ensures that the provision of Animal Care and Husbandry is consistent with best practices and the guidelines as established by the Canadian Council on Animal Care.
Creates, implements and supervises all regional animal shelter programs (i.e. animal adoptions) and partnerships (animal adoption agency network, volunteer program).
Establishes and monitors external service delivery contracts including development, review and selection process for Requests for Quotation and Requests for Proposals (i.e. grounds maintenance, veterinary services, after hours emergency care, in-house spay/neuter clinics, microchip contracts, etc.)
Prepares, reviews and edits briefing notes on related issues, responds to public and councillor-generated complaints and inquiries.
Initiates press releases and respond to media inquiries including on-camera and on-air interviews on a regional basis.
Represents Toronto Animal Services at community meetings, conferences and seminars, presents papers and facilitates forums nationally and internationally.
Represents Toronto Animal Services on departmental and city-wide multidisciplinary committees and at events relating to adoption opportunities to assist with managing dogs and handling inquiries from the public.
Manages the maintenance and repair of the building, housekeeping requirements and projected costs in accordance with provincial regulations, program policy and established best practices.