Training & Enrichment Director/ Lead Trainer

Organization Mission

Always & Furever is a no kill movement fully committed to the physical and emotional health of every dog and cat in our care. We believe behavior is communication, healing takes time, and every animal deserves a real chance to succeed. This role is central to that mission.

Position Overview

The Training & Enrichment Director leads the design, implementation, and oversight of a comprehensive behavior, training, and enrichment program across all locations including Osawatomie, Spring Hill, and the upcoming Kansas City Missouri campus. This leadership role builds structured pathways for animals with all behavior levels including aggression, fear, and reactivity while ensuring humane standards, safety, and consistency across teams.

This position combines hands on behavior work, staff education, program leadership, and systems development. The Director creates clear frameworks that help animals progress, teams feel confident, and adopters succeed.

Primary Responsibilities

Program Development and Oversight

Design and lead a multi location training and enrichment program including assessments, training plans, enrichment standards, handling levels, safety protocols, and progression benchmarks. Build systems that are consistent across locations while adaptable for individual animals. Maintain clear documentation standards and written protocols.

Behavior and Training Leadership

Create and oversee individualized behavior plans for animals displaying aggression, fear, reactivity, guarding, or other challenges. Ensure methods are humane, evidence based, and rooted in positive reinforcement with thoughtful management strategies that protect both safety and emotional wellbeing. Evaluate animals, set priorities, and determine readiness pathways.

Staff Education and Skill Building

Serve as the organization’s lead educator for behavior and handling. Train staff, volunteers, fosters, and leadership teams in body language, safe handling, prevention strategies, enrichment, and training plan execution. Develop onboarding modules, workshops, and continuing education resources.

Foster and Adopter Support

Provide behavioral guidance through consultations, written plans, and follow up support. Create tools that help adopters and fosters succeed and reduce returns while strengthening long term placements.

Team Leadership and Mentorship

Recruit, train, and mentor apprentices and trainees. Support managers in implementing protocols consistently. Foster a culture of curiosity, accountability, compassion, and growth.

Safety and Risk Management

Establish clear handling levels, safety procedures, and incident review systems. Lead post incident evaluations and refine protocols to strengthen prevention and staff confidence.

Data Tracking and Improvement

Track behavior progress, length of stay, training compliance, incidents, and adoption success. Use findings to refine programming and guide leadership decisions.

Required Experience

Extensive hands on experience working with animals displaying complex behaviors such as aggression, fear, or reactivity.

Demonstrated success developing or leading structured training or behavior programs.

Strong knowledge of behavior science, learning theory, and humane training principles.

Experience teaching and coaching adults.

Strong leadership and communication skills.

Must have one of the following Recognized certifications: CPDT KA, KPA CTP, IAABC ADT, or equivalent experience.

Preferred Background

Shelter or rescue behavior program experience.

Professional training certifications.

Curriculum or training development experience.

Team supervision or mentorship experience.

Leadership Traits

Calm under pressure

Observant and detail focused

Compassionate and grounded

Committed to humane care and safety

Reports To Director of Operations Works Closely With Executive Leadership and Veterinary Team

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full time leadership role offering competitive compensation with room for growth based on experience and impact.  Benefits include health insurance options, paid time off, holidays, retirement opportunities, continuing education support, and leadership development.

Measures of Success

Consistent behavior standards across locations

Improved outcomes for animals with behavior challenges

Increased team confidence and skill

Safe handling culture

Stronger adoption success rates

Sustainable training systems that grow with the organization

Always & Furever Commitment

We invest deeply in the animals we serve and the people who care for them. Our Training and Enrichment Director plays a defining role in shaping lives, building trust, and proving what is possible when compassion, structure, and leadership work together.