Manager, Canine Care

Full Time, Permanent

Carleton Place, ON

Reports to: Director of Operations and Business Development

Compensation:$50,200- $63,000

Direct Reports: Yes

Join us in our mission to change what it is to be blind in Canada.

Founded in 1918, CNIB is one of Canada's oldest charities. We believe our new strategic plan, The Way Forward, will once again revolutionize the way we serve and support our community from coast to coast. Working with us means that you'll be part of an ambitious, diverse team that's committed to changing what it is to be blind today.

We're looking for a mission-driven Manager, Canine Care who is passionate about creating more accessible, inclusive, and equitable communities across Canada where people with low vision have unlimited opportunities and can experience life free from barriers and discrimination.

Your Impact at CNIB

• Responsible for recruitment, hiring, and scheduling of all Dog Care and Welfare staff to ensure optimal coverage of canine care needs and other duties.
• Actively supervises Dog Care and Welfare attendants, providing direct support to ensure program needs are met. Prioritizes and assigns duties, monitors performance against goals and objectives to ensure the day-to-day operations of the Canine Campus are running smoothly and efficiently.
• Manages day-to-day performance, selects and develops employees, coaches and counsels employees, holds each employee to performance standards and conducts performance evaluations.
• Assesses Dog Care and Welfare Attendant team member skills and knowledge checks for advancement to Shift Lead positions.
• Prepares and updates shift schedules for Attendants in collaboration with the technical training team, continues to develop, update and enforce dog care and welfare policies and procedures to ensure that the dogs living at the Canine Campus are always provided with the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.
• Designs and administers educational programs for Dog Care and Welfare staff to improve and foster their dog handling and canine health care skills. Coordinates with the Director, Guide Dog Training and Apprenticeships to ensure that dog handling is consistent with current CNIB Guide Dogs and IGDF organizational standards.
• Oversees and enforces the high standard of cleanliness, hygiene and maintenance of the Canine Campus buildings and facilities. To prevent disease and optimize health, ensures consistency in the use of CNIB Guide Dogs protocols and procedures among Dog Care and Welfare team and Technical Training staff.
• Coordinates intakes and exits of all dogs into Canine Campus, works collaboratively with the technical training team to mix dogs and ensure adequate pod space.
• Manages M4S Microchip account, registers new all new dogs and facilitates transfers
• Assists in facilitating adoption process for dogs withdrawn from the CNIB Guide Dogs program.
• Prints ID Cards for Handlers, Staff, Volunteers.
• Orders dog food for all dogs at Canine Campus and local boarders.
• Supports timely data entry into Salesforce Dog Tracker to meet CNIB Guide Dogs and IGDF Standards.
• Maintains an accurate inventory of equipment and supplies at Canine Campus and orders supplies and dog equipment as needed to effectively maintain the Canine Campus
• Renews Kennel License Annually.
• Keeps a log of maintenance issues at Canine Campus and reports to Property Team CNIB and Director of Operations and Business Development.
• Covers some CNIB Guide Dogs 24-Hour Emergency Hotline shifts.
• Monitor expenses and operates within approved Canine Campus budget parameters for food, training, uniform, PPE and kennel supplies.
• Ensures or supervises on-the-job instruction to new Dog Care and Welfare Attendant staff and volunteers in accepted care and handling standards.
• Collaborates with Dog Care and Welfare, Technical Training Team and Veterinary Services staff in understanding and following new standards.
• Maintain documentation of existing CNIB Guide Dogs Canine Campus protocols, policies and procedures.
• Develops and oversees projects designed to enhance physical and psychological care of all dogs residing in Canine Campus and local boarders.
• Monitors environmental conditions in the kennels and pursues corrections to conditions (heating, air-cooling, use of cleaning solutions and other chemicals) that may affect the dogs' wellbeing and comfort. Communicates with other departments to make environmental corrections as expeditiously as possible.
• Oversees CNIB's health and safety policies and procedures within Canine Campus. Investigates and completes incident reports for any incidents and accidents occurring on site.
• Undertakes Dog Care and Welfare duties as needed, such as grooming, bathing, vet checks, medications, feeding, campus walks, etc.
• Personal or professional experience relating to blindness and sight loss is considered an asset.
• Personal or professional experience working with assistive technology and/or accessible environments is considered an asset.

Requirements

Who you are:

Education and Certifications

• College or university degree in management, business administration and/or an animal care related field.
• Current Ontario driver's license.

Experience and Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years management and operational experience essential.
• Minimum 5 years experience in canine handling/health/behaviour with formal training/experience with positive reinforcement training methods.
• Proficiency in canine handling, behavior, and care using positive reinforcement methods, typically gained by 5-7 years' experience in training, veterinary or kennel position.
• Good working knowledge and experience with MS Office Suite, Salesforce.
• Other college or university degree in management, business administration and/or an animal care related field is desirable.
• Experience with Guide or Service Dogs is desirable.
• Dog Boarding Facility Manager or Supervisor experience is desirable.
• Strong leadership qualities, including the character, experience, wisdom, and discernment needed to build trust and influence with direct reports, peers, and organizational leadership.
• Expertise in the development and implementation of staff educational programs, and ability to positively influence the professional development of direct reports.
• A minimum of 5 years' kennel or dog boarding facility supervisory experience is desirable.
• Must demonstrate sound judgment, strong communications and team-building skills and the ability to make timely and prudent decisions.
• Exceptional administrative and organisational skills.
• Professional, compassionate and understanding when working with both people (staff, vets, volunteers and the general public) and dogs.

Work Environment

• CNIB Canine Campus "dog pods", facilities and agile office areas.
• CNIB Canine Campus property.
• Employee is exposed to kennel noise, cleaning and antibacterial solutions and animal dander and hair in confined areas such as vans and kennels.
• Physical stamina to handle large dogs.
• Occasionally long or flexible work hours.

Benefits

Perks

We offer industry leading comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards packages and a wide range of perks, including:

• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements and schedules.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth, including internal inclusion, diversity equity and accessibility (IDEA) initiatives.
• Competitive paid time off inclusive of annual vacation entitlement, additional paid holidays, wellness days, and personal days.
• Group insurance benefits include dental, health and vision care.
• Employer-sponsored pension plan.
• Years of service awards and year-round rewards as part of our employee recognition program.
• Enticing internal employee referral program.

Be Part of Our Mission

If this sounds like the role for you, please visit our website to submit an application. Be sure to include a resume, cover letter, and mention how you heard about this opportunity.

Closing date: December 3, 2024.

Please note that while we invite applications from all interested and qualified applicants, we are unable to follow-up with every applicant.

Working Together for Change

Our diversity is our strength – we take pride in our inclusive workplace. We are committed to recruiting and selecting candidates through fair, transparent, and accessible practices. We strongly encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, people who are blind, partially sighted, or Deafblind, and those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

CNIB is committed to accommodating applicants with disabilities and will work with applicants requesting accommodations at any stage of the hiring process.

Learn more about our mission here.