About RSPCA Victoria

RSPCA Victoria is a non-government, community-based, not-for-profit organisation whose vision is ‘ending cruelty to all animals’. We are Victoria’s best-known and most respected animal welfare organisation.

Our organisation’s purpose is to work with the community to achieve outstanding animal welfare through education, advocacy, animal care and protection. RSPCA Victoria’s values - clarity and accountability, respect and consideration, and expertise and collaboration - set clear expectations for all our staff and volunteers.

About the Role

The RSPCA Veterinary Behaviour Service is a new enterprise, offering veterinary behaviour consultations to the general public to assess and treat behaviour problems in pet dogs and cats. The clinic is situated at our Burwood shelter in Victoria. We are seeking two Animal Behaviour Consultants to join us in a part-time capacity of 2 days per week and 3 days per week. The Consultant will work alongside a veterinary specialist in animal behaviour, an additional veterinarian dedicated to behavioural medicine, and a highly experienced behavioural trainer. This is a force free service, using training techniques focussed on providing best practice animal welfare.

Duties and Responsibilities

Reporting to the Veterinarian (Behaviour), you will:

• Contribute to the development and management of the veterinary behaviour service, including providing expertise in animal behaviour and psychology, collecting history and making observations of animal behaviour to determine and treat the root cause of problematic animal behaviour;
• Provide behaviour rehabilitation, training and educational resources to clients of the veterinary behaviour service;
• In conjunction with the Veterinarian (Behaviour), provide behaviour case management for pet dogs and cats, including the collection of behavioural history, behavioural assessments, development of behaviour treatment plans, record keeping, case follow up and report writing;
• Contribute to the development of continuing education opportunities and resources for staff, volunteers and clients to further strengthen the capacity of the team to identify and treat root causes of complex animal behaviour issues;
• Development of ancillary training services (for example. puppy classes, public seminars) as required.

What we are looking for from you

Requirements:

• Experience in animal training and managing animal behavioural problems;
• Ability to work in a fast paced and challenging work environment, whilst showing great care and compassion to the animals in our shelter;
• Experience in conducting behaviour consultations.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively in a team environment.
• Position also requires a valid Victorian Driver’s License and a current tetanus vaccination;
• Compliance with the RSPCA Victoria COVID-19 Vaccination Policy, which requires employees and volunteer to be vaccinated with two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (primary course) plus a COVID-19 vaccine booster administered after the primary course (initial booster), unless a medical exemption applies.

Desirable:

• Membership with International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC) and/or Pet Professional Guild (PPG);
• Animal behaviour related qualifications.

What we can offer

This position offers an outstanding opportunity for a highly motivated, experienced professional to further their skills and knowledge in animal behaviour, whilst working in a supportive and collegial environment. The candidate will have the opportunity to work autonomously and play an active role in developing and managing a successful service. There is potential to expand the business to offer training classes and educational workshops and seminars if wanted. You will have the support of an animal behaviour specialist and experienced trainer to provide guidance as desired. CE opportunities provided in house include regular case discussions and journal club. Continued studies in animal behaviour are encouraged. On offer is one 3-day position and one 2-day position, 9-5 weekday roster, with opportunities for flexible hours and study leave. These are both part time positions.

The position includes 4 weeks annual leave and 1 week study leave (pro rata) with a CE allowance. Other benefits include:

• Encouraged work-life balance with flexible options for working from home on occasions, a broad range of leave entitlements, including annual leave, personal leave, additional leave (6 days per year pro-rata), purchased leave, paid parental leave, study leave and paid family and domestic violence leave.
• Access to a range of mental health and wellbeing supportive initiatives, including confidential counselling services through our EVAP (Employee and Volunteer Assistance Program), education programs and access to a wealth of resources.
• Generous discounts on products and services, including Royal Canin’s pet food, Hush Puppies footwear and RSPCA Victoria retail and vet clinic products and services
• Salary packaging and novated lease arrangements on offer with leading provider, Maxxia.
• Access to a range of learning and development opportunities that will benefit and support you in your role.

How to Apply

To learn more about our organisation and this job opportunity, please visit our website at www.rspcavic.org and download the Position Description attached to this advertisement.

Alternatively, please contact our friendly Recruitment Team via [email protected] or to have a confidential discussion about this role, for more information, or to chat about your suitability, please contact Dr. Gabrielle Carter (Animal Behaviour and Rehabilitation Specialist) via phone on 0498 732 978 or email [email protected] using the subject line: Animal Behaviour Consultant enquiry via EthicalJobs.

If this role is of interest to you, submit your application with your cover letter and resume, addressing how you meet the selection criteria. 

RSPCA Victoria is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and we strongly encourage people from all cultural backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Applicants are welcome to access RSPCA Victoria’s Diversity & Inclusion Policy here.