Animal Enrichment Coordinator

Job Description

Job Description

Salary: $55,000 annually

The Animal Wellness & Enrichment Coordinator at Patty Baker Humane Society Naples is the person who helps shelter animals become their best, most adoptable selves. Youll lead our Open Paws program, run daily dog playgroups, create enrichment curriculum, and train staff and volunteers on how to help every dog and cat in our care develop the skills and confidence they need to find a loving home. If youre the kind of person who gets genuine joy from watching a nervous dog finally relax in a play session, or seeing a shy cat come out of their shell after patient socialization, this might be the most fulfilling job youve ever had.

This is a full-time (40 hrs) position with a semi-flexible/variable daily schedule. Were looking for someone who has the ability to work into the early evening (the shelter closes at 5 p.m. daily), at least one weekend day, and sometimes holidays.

WHO YOU ARE

• First and foremost, youre a hard worker. Youre diligent. You see things through. You care about doing the job, and ensuring that the job is done right. Also, youre a self-starter.
• Youre patient. Really patient. Progress with shelter animals is measured in small wins, and you find those small wins genuinely satisfying. You dont get frustrated when something takes longer than expected. You understand thats how this work goes.
• Youre a natural teacher. You enjoy showing others how to do things, whether thats training a dog, coaching a volunteer, or helping a new team member understand our protocols. Youre clear, youre encouraging, and you dont get impatient when people need things explained more than once.
• Youre detail-oriented. You track things. You follow up. You notice when somethings off. You like seeing progress through data and information. In this role, the details matter because they add up to better outcomes for every animal in our care.
• Youre a team player. Patty Baker Humane Society Naples is a big team and every part works together to help get pets adopted. The Animal Wellness team collaborates closely with Animal Care, Pet Services, and leadership. You understand that everyones working toward the same goal.
• You love animals. This probably goes without saying, but were an animal shelter. You should like dogs and cats. We all do! But its more than that, this work is about the feeling of fulfillment that comes from helping drive our mission to save lives forward.
  

JOB TASKS

OPEN PAWS PROGRAM & ENRICHMENT

Youll lead our Open Paws program day-to-day, ensuring every animal receives the enrichment and skill-building they need to present their best, most adoptable selves. This includes:

• Leading daily dog playgroups, pairing dogs by compatible play styles, energy levels, and size; managing group dynamics and intervening appropriately when needed
• Executing the four-level training progression for dogs: classical conditioning, leash and kennel manners, basic obedience commands, and real-world skills; tracking and logging progress for each animal
• Implementing cat enrichment protocols including stranger socialization, carrier training, trick training, and interactive play sessions
• Training Animal Care team members and volunteers on Open Paws protocols and playgroup support roles; ensuring consistent implementation across everyone who interacts with shelter animals
• Documenting daily observations about each animals personality, well-being, play style, social preferences, and training progress to inform adoption matching and pathway planning

PUBLIC TRAINING & HUMANE EDUCATION

Youll help build and deliver training programs for the public while supporting our humane education initiatives. This includes:

• Assisting in the development and delivery of public training classes including puppy socialization, basic obedience courses, and other curriculum consistent with our Open Paws approach, which helps ensure that not only are the pets exhibit best behaviors, but pet families are equipped with the skills to help them be their very best selves in every common situation
• Providing class instruction, demonstrating positive reinforcement training techniques and providing hands-on guidance to participants
• Helping create curriculum for the training classes, and assist in the creation of promotional and online materials (e.g. YouTube videos) to promote and supplement the work
• Supporting the PBHSNs Humane Education program with school visits, shelter tours, youth programming, and corporate volunteer events as needed

MISCELLANEOUS

Youll support various shelter operations and help connect the dots between teams. This includes:

• Capturing content (photos/videos) of animals during playgroups, enrichment sessions, and training activities to provide to Marketing and Pet Services teams for adoption promotion
• Providing behavioral and personality information to the Pet Services team and potential adopters to support successful adoption matching
• Participating in daily rounds and pathway planning discussions; supporting PBHSN events, outreach activities, and fundraising initiatives as requested
• Assisting with animal handling during medical procedures and transport; supporting disease management protocols as directed

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Minimum 1 year experience in animal care, training, or enrichment (shelter, veterinary clinic, kennel, rescue, or professional training environment).
• Understanding of positive reinforcement training principles and fear-free handling techniques.
• Ability to train and coach others effectively; comfortable presenting to groups.
• Self-motivated, organized, detail-oriented, and able to balance program development with hands-on execution.
• Working knowledge of basic computer systems and software; ability to learn shelter management software (ShelterLuv).
• Best case candidates would have 2+ years experience in animal training, enrichment, or shelter animal care but is not a requirement.
• Professional dog training certification (CPDT-KA, KPA-CTP, or similar) is a plus.
• Experience leading dog playgroups in a shelter or daycare environment is a plus.
• Familiarity with Open Paw or similar shelter enrichment programs is a plus.
• Fear Free Shelter certification or Low Stress Handling certification is a plus.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
• Ability to complete tasks easily and repeatedly like walking dogs, bending, and lifting up to 50 lbs. Must be physically able to walk and control large dogs. Ability to work in inclement weather.
• Reliable transportation is a must and the responsibility of the employee.

PAY AND BENEFITS

• $55,000 annually
• A generous benefits package that includes:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Paid time off and paid holidays
  • Paid parental leave
  • $25,000 life insurance policy at no cost to you
  • Optional enrollment in supplemental insurance plans (disability, accident, etc.)
  • Optional enrollment in 403(b) retirement plan; matching contributions after one year of service
  • Discounts on veterinary services and pet food

Application Instructions:

• Apply online at
• All communication with candidates will be over email and/or text - check your spam folder!
• If you have technical issues or questions, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com
• No phone calls or walk-ins please