Volunteer Services Manager - Pet Therapy Program

Hartford HealthCare•Hartford, CT

42d

About The Position

The Pet Therapy Program Manager provides leadership in integrating pet therapy into patient, family, and staff support at Hartford Hospital. This role oversees all aspects of the program, including volunteer management, program development, and quality improvement. The manager advocates for the therapeutic impact of the human-animal bond and ensures the program operates safely, effectively, and in alignment with hospital standards.

Requirements

Associate's degree in psychology, animal behavior, health, or related field (required)
Minimum 2 years' experience in volunteer management or related human relations role
Strong animal handling and behavior assessment skills (required)

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in psychology, animal behavior, health, or related field (preferred)
Experience with therapy dog programs and animal-assisted interventions (preferred)
Background as a pet therapy volunteer (preferred)
Experience in healthcare settings (preferred)
Professional certifications preferred: Professional Dog Trainer experience such as Karen Pryor academy certification, CATCH trainer or Certified Behavior Consultant Canine (CBCC)
Pet Therapy Certifier experience
Animal Assisted Intervention Specialist (C-AAIS) or equivalent

Responsibilities

Manage daily program operations, including volunteer recruitment, onboarding, training, scheduling, and mentoring
Maintain accurate volunteer and animal records in compliance with hospital policies and regulatory standards
Assess and monitor animal behavior to ensure ongoing safety and suitability
Develop marketing and outreach strategies to engage staff, patients, and community partners
Build and strengthen relationships with national pet therapy organizations (e.g., Pet Partners, Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Intermountain Therapy Animals)
Partner with hospital departments to expand programming across sites, including the Cancer Centers, Institute of Living, Grace S. Webb School, and extended-care facilities
Support patient, family, and staff requests for visits; coordinate regular schedules and special requests
Design and implement volunteer recognition and retention initiatives
Oversee pet therapy simulations and Hartford Hospital's internal pet therapy registration process
Collect and report program outcomes, using data and feedback to guide continuous improvement
Contribute to research and professional activities that advance animal-assisted interventions