Behavior Enrichment Lead in Washington, District of Columbia at Washington Humane Society

About the Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA)

For more than 150 years, the Humane Rescue Alliance has championed the protection of animals, support for people, and service to the community. With campuses in the District of Columbia and New Jersey, along with the nation’s leading pet transport initiative, it stands as the largest and most comprehensive animal services provider in the region. Each year, HRA transforms the lives of tens of thousands of animals through rescue and adoption, humane protection, access to medical care, innovative community programs, and legislative leadership. Its broad reach and deep expertise enables HRA to reimagine traditional sheltering and address the most complex challenges facing animals and the people who love them. 

The Behavior & Enrichment Lead is responsible for leading and implementing HRA’s animal behavior and enrichment initiatives to ensure the well-being, safety, and successful placement of shelter animals. This role provides behavior support, training resources, and consultations to staff, volunteers, fosters, and community members, with the goal of reducing returns and relinquishments. The position oversees daily animal care and behavior programs, supervises staff and volunteers, conducts intake assessments, develops and facilitates advanced volunteer training, and ensures all behavior practices align with force-free, evidence-based methods.

• Always represent HRA in a professional and courteous manner. Provide quality service to the public, volunteers, and employees recognizing their individual contributions to the success of the organization.
• Supervise/delegate animal care tasks to ensure effective completion within HRA SOP/Gs' and best practices
• Provide and maintain an accurate euthanasia list and schedule for euthanasia to be performed in a timely manner.
• Provide fosters, adopters, and community members with behavior support, training resources, and consultations to reduce returns and relinquishments.
• Conduct regular revenue-generating behavioral consultations, as determined by the Chief of Operations
• Conduct intake interviews for all canines, as well as felines with behavior concerns.
• Coach and train new animal care staff through onboarding and ongoing professional development, providing guidance, feedback, and cross-training to strengthen knowledge of shelter operations, safe handling, enrichment, and behavior best practices for staff and advanced volunteer teams.
• Develop, update, and facilitate advanced volunteer training programs and related protocols (e.g., Volunteer Behavior Assistants, Purple Level)
• Design and provide enrichment and behavioral interventions for shelter animals (including requests for medication), especially higher-need cases (HLE, LOS, rapid deterioration) based on behavior and/or length of stay.
• Design, implement, and evaluate daily enrichment and behavior programs (e.g. playgroups, interactive feeding, sensory garden, individualized, and generalized enrichment plans) for all eligible in-shelter animals.
• Work alongside the Animal Care and Enrichment team in daily activities including cleaning, feeding, walking, and enrichment of all the animals in HRA’s care. Giving special attention to the animals in 15O housing space.
• Continuously improve behavioral and enrichment programs based on data and best practices.
• Ensuring timely reporting and addressing of all behavior concerns for in-shelter and foster animals
• Ensure all pertinent behavior information on an animal is communicated accordingly, including clear documentation in PetPoint.
• Observe and document unusual behavior, signs of illness and any injury of an animal daily.
• Conduct daily department and weekly shelter rounds to ensure all behavior, handling, housing, and enrichment practices are force-free, evidence-based, and aligned with Fear Free® methods and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters Communicate vital information to appropriate departments as needed, via protocols outlined in SOP/Gs'
• Provide expert input on placement suitability (e.g. adoption, transport, foster, field trip, euthanasia)
• Restrain, confine, and handle animals, including those who are ill, injured, quarantined, and aggressive, including during euthanasia procedures
• Bathe or clean animals as needed.
• Perform other duties and projects, as assigned
• “Develop and lead special projects for HRA, including continuing education initiatives and applied research to support professional growth and organizational advancement.

Qualifications – Education & Experience

• Strong knowledge of canine and feline behavior, body language, and enrichment strategies that support the physical and psychological well-being of shelter animals.

• Familiarity with safe handling, restraint, and general animal care practices across multiple species.

• Proficiency in behavior modification techniques using force-free, science-based methods.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including clear documentation and behavior reporting.

• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and conflict-resolution skills in a fast-paced, emotionally charged environment.

• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office, email, internet, and shelter software (e.g., PetPoint); ability to track and analyze program outcomes.

• Ability to train, coach, and deliver educational content to staff, volunteers, and community members.

• Ability to troubleshoot concerns and provide leadership support when supervisors/managers are unavailable.

• Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in animal welfare, sheltering, or training (direct shelter experience strongly preferred).

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the primary functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to safely handle animals of varying sizes and temperaments, including fearful or aggressive individuals.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs unassisted, 50+ lbs assisted, and walk large dogs.
• Comfort with strenuous physical activity (lifting, reaching, bending, squatting, moving about facilities).
• Ability to work in variable environments (extreme temperatures, noises, sights, odors) and outdoors in all weather.
• Comfortable working with cats, dogs, small animals, reptiles, fish, and wildlife.
• Due to the nature of shelter work, may be exposed to allergens, zoonotic diseases, fractious/aggressive/deceased animals, euthanasia procedures, hostile or irate persons, and emotionally difficult situations, with limited alterations available.

Ready to Make an Impact?

Apply today and become part of a team where your compassion, skills, and commitment will directly save lives and strengthen communities.

The Humane Rescue Alliance (HRA) offers a comprehensive benefits package including healthcare, vision, dental and select offerings for pets. Additional information may be provided upon request.

Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. A salary premium may be offered for multilingual candidates who demonstrate proficiency in written and oral testing.

HRA is committed to being an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin, disability, age, pregnancy, genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital status, citizenship status, or sexual orientation. Accommodation will be provided to qualified individuals requiring them.