Kennel Coordinator | Burnaby

OVERVIEW

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Advanced Training Program, the Kennel Coordinator cares for dogs and facilities in the Advanced Training Program at the Burnaby Campus, as well as supervises volunteers who support PADS kennel activities. The Kennel Coordinator provides support to the Advanced Training department as needed.

PADS’ training philosophy is relationship-centered, based on current, evidence-based training methods and follows a Least Invasive Minimally Aversive (LIMA) approach. We follow the 5 Domains Model of Animal Welfare, encompassing Nutrition, Environment, Health, Behaviour and Mental State, to ensure the well-being of the animals in our care.

ABOUT US

At PADS, we foster a constructive, cooperative, and welcoming team setting.  Our commitment is to cultivate an empowering environment for our team. We value a sustainable work-life balance and believe that work should be fun! We approach challenges with a growth mindset, striving for improvement and innovation. As the Kennel Coordinator, you’ll embody PADS’ core values, including a commitment to compassion, transparency, and the ethical treatment of dogs.  

ABOUT THE POSITION

Cleaning and Maintenance

• Ensuring the advanced kennels, training spaces, and exercise yards are cleaned and maintained daily to a safe and sanitary condition.
• Ability to use landscaping equipment to maintain outside areas around property including but not limited to raking, snow removal, leaf blowing, and pressure washing.
• As required, maintaining the cleanliness of the puppy/breeding kennels and yards before and after puppy assessments, etc. to a safe and sanitary condition.
• Maintain the administrative building yard as assigned.
• Clean dog dishes, wet and dry clean of kennel spaces, sweep/mop floors, laundry in advanced kennel building daily or throughout the day as needed.
• Assist with food deliveries and storage.

Coordinate Kennel and Advanced Dog Sitting Volunteers

• Assisting with onboarding and training of new Advanced Training Program volunteers, student interns and sitters.
• Scheduling of kennel volunteers (daytime and evening shifts) and weekend/relief sitters.
• Providing guidance and supervision to on-site volunteers and training support to Advanced Training sitters.
• Intake dogs on Monday from weekend sitters and hand off dogs on Friday back to sitters. Discuss weekend with sitters and provide update to dog’s Trainer.

Husbandry of Dogs in Advanced Training

• Providing routine care and grooming of advanced dogs, including periodic checks for illness, injury, or abnormalities, and nail trimmings, ear cleanings, and other basic treatments.
• Reporting concerns to the PADS Medical Team
• Scheduling and transporting dogs for veterinary appointments
• Responsibility for the welfare of dogs in advanced training, including behavioral enrichment for dogs in the kennel.
• Adhere to feeding schedule and prepare food. Monitor and check dog’s weight weekly.

Training Dogs in Advanced Training

• Assisting the Advanced Trainers with the obedience and skills training of dogs as requested as well as behavior plan implementation in the Advanced Training Program.
• Assist with exercise and toileting of dogs in Advanced Training Program.

Administrative Duties

• Actively participating in the maintenance of up-to-date, accurate and complete records regarding dogs in the Advanced Training Program, attend staff and departmental meetings, and respond to emails as required.
• Assisting Puppy Raising Program with new turn-in of dogs. Coordinating sitters, kennel-space, and other duties.

Other

• Complying with PADS procedures in order to meet ADI standards and ethics for the care of assistance dogs.
• Maintaining current knowledge of legal requirements regarding canines, as well as of assistance dog programs.
• If applicable, in public encounters or with volunteers on site, familiarizing the public about Assistance Dogs and the legal rights of people with disabilities who are partnered with them; and demonstrating appropriate behavior in working with dogs and volunteers (e.g., good personal and canine hygiene, courtesy and consideration to others and others’ property, proper training techniques in handling dogs).
• Additional duties as required.

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience & Behavioural Qualifications

• Demonstrated calm under pressure and ability to have compassion and support volunteers during a stressful time.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience supervising and training volunteers.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement, and maintain confidentiality.
• Effective time management and able to balance competing priorities.
• Solid record of having engaged in positive, productive working relationships.
• Demonstrated interest in learning new training techniques.
• Demonstrated capability in problem-solving, reasoning, and organizational skills
• Previous experience working (personal or professional) with animals is required.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a busy and at times, noisy work environment.
• Working knowledge of adult education and demonstrated skill for teaching adults is beneficial but not required.

Education & Technical Qualifications

• High school diploma is required.
• Valid B.C. Driver’s License, at a minimum level of Class 5.
• Efficient use of PC’s, the internet, and Microsoft 365 suite. Ability to learn new software as required.
• Experience with Salesforce is an asset.

The duties and responsibilities listed in this job description are not a comprehensive list. It is reasonable for the employee to expect that additional tasks may be assigned from time to time. In addition, the scope of the duties and responsibilities listed here may change as necessitated by PADS changing needs.

WORKING CONDITIONS & COMPENSATION

Physical Efforts

• This job position involves some physical tasks and requires working outside in all conditions.
• The ability to lift 40 lbs. of food products for up to periods of time and dogs weighing 90 lbs. for up to 10 ft.

Physical Environment

• Under regular working conditions, the employee will be working within shared workspaces on the PADS campus in Burnaby, BC, as well as at off-site training venues and in public locations.
• This is an on-site position at the PADS campus in Burnaby.
• There is interaction and physical contact with puppies and dogs in training for certification as assistance dogs.
• There is occasional contact with certified dogs and clients.

Sensory Attention

• There is daily interaction, and physical contact, with dogs that are in the Advanced Training Program and puppies visiting the PADS puppy kennel, as well as possible exposure to chemicals and other cleaning solutions needed to maintain the PADS kennel.
• Required to be visually aware of stress signals to observe if dogs are exhibiting stress signals.
• Dealing with dog bodily fluids on a regular basis
• Use of computer monitors is required.
• Interactions with the public.

Location: Burnaby, BC
Employment Type: Full-time 
Work Arrangement: Based at our Burnaby Campus in a kennel and standard office environment. This role involves frequent interaction with, and physical handling of, dogs and puppies.
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7.5 hours per day, with the occasional additional evenings and weekends.
Compensation: $55,000 annually as a starting salary based on a 37.5-hour work week. A benefits package is available after the 3-month probation period.  

BE YOU. WITH US.  

We serve communities that are greater and stronger because of their diversity. What makes YOU different is worth both celebrating and cultivating.   

PADS is committed to equality across race, gender, age, religion, identity, ability, and experience. We invite you to bring your whole self to our team, helping us to change lives, one dog — and person — at a time.   

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A GOOD FIT?

If you are a dedicated individual with a passion for helping others and a desire to grow your skills in a supportive environment, we encourage you to apply!  Submit your CV and cover letter by clicking the button below.  

Accommodation will be provided in all parts of the hiring process. Applicants are invited to make required accommodations known in advance.      

We thank all applicants for their interest and will contact only those applicants selected for further consideration. Please note that submissions will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, and therefore early submission is encouraged.