Animal Assisted Services Volunteer Associate

Are you passionate about making a difference through Animal Assisted Services at Paws With A Cause®? We’re looking for a dedicated and compassionate individual to join our team full-time as a Volunteer Associate supporting our Animal Assisted Services program! This position is responsible for coordinating on-campus volunteer activities and participating as a rotational trainer for our Visiting PAWS Dog handlers. This is a 40-hour, Monday-Friday position. Salary Range is $19-$22/hour. Commensurate with experience. 

What We Offer:

• Full-Time Benefits including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Employer-paid short-term disability
  • 403(b) retirement fund with up to a 2% match from PAWS
  • Generous PTO package
• Supportive Culture focused on work/life balance
• Opportunities to grow in a mission-driven organization

What We’re Looking For:

• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Passion for working with animals and people
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team

About Paws With A Cause

Paws With A Cause® (PAWS) exists to create opportunities to live with dignity, companionship, and confidence. We do our best work by embodying our core values: adaptability, dedication, innovation, optimism, and gratitude. 

PAWS transforms lives and strengthens communities through partnerships with custom-trained working dogs. 

About Animal Assisted Services

The AAS (Animal Assisted Services) Department oversees all Facility Dog, Social Support Dog, Visiting PAWS Dog, Partner Dog, and Pet Placement Dogs in addition to overseeing the Visiting Paws Programs. A Facility Dog is a working dog that partners with a handler in a health care, education, or visiting setting. EX. Schools, hospitals, courthouses, counseling centers. 

Key Accountabilities:

• Coordinate on-campus volunteer activities
• Visiting PAWS Dog handler classes
• Coordinate VPD calendar

Position Summary

This position is responsible for being a part of the trainer rotation for Visiting PAWS Dog handler classes, as well as coordinating the Visiting PAWS Dog (VPD) calendar. This position provides oversight to the on-campus volunteers in building B and the training department.

Essential Responsibilities

1. Maintain Better Impact
2. Assist in Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Certification Evaluations
3. Assist in organizing and maintaining communication regarding Animal Assisted Services (AAS) volunteer needs, growth, and management
4. Coordinate Visiting PAWS Dog calendar
5. Rotational Trainer for Visiting PAWS Dog handler classes
6. Other duties as assigned

Non-Essential Responsibilities

1. Assist with Visiting PAWS Dog visits as needed

Supervision Received

• Specific Direction – Follows established work procedures. Receives periodic checks for performance. Refers unique questions/conditions to immediate supervisor/program manager 

Supervisory Responsibilities

• No supervisory responsibilities 

Education & Experience

1. High School Diploma or G.E.D. equivalent  
2. Associate degree (Preferred) 

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

1. 2+ years of dog handling experience required
2. AKC CGC Evaluator status or willing to obtain
3. Ability to teach and lead individuals and groups
4. Excellent interpersonal skills both written and verbal
5. Strong record-keeping and reporting skills

Core competencies

• Innovative: Ability to go beyond the conventional, a willingness to try different solutions, and to encourage new ideas from employees and co-workers 
• Customer Orientation: A desire to serve clients by focusing efforts on listening and responding effectively to customer questions, resolving customer problems to their satisfaction, and evaluating customer satisfaction 
• Judgement: Ability to form sound opinions or make decisions by evaluating available information and making sensible conclusions 
• Team Player: Ability to be an active participant of a team and move the team toward the completion of goals 

Physical Requirements:

Average Daily Physical Requirements:

• Work in stationary position: 2 to 5 hours
• Move about work area: 2 to 5 hours
• Use hands/fingers to handle or feel: More than 5 hours
• Reach with hands and arms: More than 5 hours
• Ascend/Descend (stairs/ladder/etc.): Less than 2 hours
• Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl: Less than 2 hours      
• Communicate with various parties: More than 5 hours
• Detect flavors or smells: Less than 2 hours      
• Move containers up to 100 pounds: 2 to 5 hours
• Visual acuity: More than 5 hours
• Read and understand written word: More than 5 hours
• Drive/Travel: Less than 2 hours
• Operate computer and general office machines: 2 to 5 hours
• Operate machines or material handling equipment: Less than 2 hours      

Average Daily Environmental Conditions:

• Office Environment: No exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, chemicals or hazardous equipment.: 2 to 5 hours
• Manufacturing Environment: Exposure to dust, oil, various chemicals, solvents, or fumes: Less than 2 hours
• Medical Environment: Exposure to body fluids, radiation, medical equipment, solvents or chemicals. : None
• Noise: Exposure to constant or intermittent extreme sounds: 2 to 5 hours
• Temperature: Exposure to extreme heat or cold either indoors or outside: Less than 2 hours
• Other: None

This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties as needed. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and does not infringe upon the Company’s at will employment status.