Shelter Behavior Assistant

About Us

At the San Francisco SPCA, we believe every pet deserves compassionate shelter, high quality veterinary care, and a loving home. From the moment an animal arrives through intake to the day it finds a forever family, our amazing staff members focus their efforts on helping the animal to settle in, thrive, and build the connections and opportunities that lead to successful adoptions.

Full-time

At the San Francisco SPCA, we believe every pet deserves compassionate shelter, high quality veterinary care, and a loving home. From the moment an animal arrives through intake to the day it finds a forever family, our amazing staff members focus their efforts on helping the animal to settle in, thrive, and build the connections and opportunities that lead to successful adoptions.

The work we do goes beyond simply sheltering animals; we bring community together and strengthen the human-animal bond, making a lasting difference for all who walk through our doors, regardless of which side of that leash or wand toy they're on.

We are seeking a Shelter Behavior Assistant to join our Shelter Behavior department. The Shelter Behavior Assistant plays a critical role in providing administrative and operational support to the Shelter Behavior team to ensure accurate documentation, organization, and coordination of behavior cases for animals in the shelter and foster. This role is responsible for maintaining behavior records, updating visit plans, coordinating behavior services, documenting, and supporting the daily operational needs of the Shelter Behavior team.

This position requires strong attention to detail, organizational skills, excellent communication, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced shelter environment.

• Create and maintain accurate, up-to-date behavior records for shelter and foster animals, including assessments, summaries, behavior plans, videos, and supporting documentation.
• Update animal stages and case information based on trainer recommendations and case progression.
• Ensure consistent documentation to support behavior case tracking and program evaluation.

• Review and triage behavior concerns submitted by foster parents using established Shelter Behavior protocols.
• Provide first-line support and guidance to foster parents for common behavior questions and management strategies within the scope of the role.
• Coordinate and schedule behavior support between foster parent and Shelter Behavior trainers.
• Document foster communications, recommendations, and follow-up plans in the appropriate behavior record.
• Escalate complex or urgent behavior concerns to Shelter Behavior Trainers as appropriate.

• Assist with coordinating logistics of daily Shelter Behavior activities and manage behavior foster requests.
• Prepare and maintain organized, well-stocked training spaces and materials.
• Support efficient behavior assessments and training sessions.

• Work is performed in a busy animal shelter environment.
• Regular sitting at a computer workstation for data entry and record management (up to 6-8 hours per day)
• Frequent movement throughout the shelter to support training and assessment activities.
• Exposure to disinfectants, cleaning solutions, and animal-related environments.
• Regular exposure to dogs and other animals, including those displaying stress or behavior challenges.
• Exposure to animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
• Potential onset of compassion fatigue, moral stress, and burnout related to high caseloads, euthanasia, and the high-stress decision making and emotionally charged conversations that occur as a result.
• Subject to animal bites and scratches while handling animals

• Fear Free Shelter certification (or able to obtain within the first 30 days)
• CA Driver’s License and insurable driving record.
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least one year customer service experience
• At least one year of shelter-based experience or dog training with experience…