Part-Time Programs Facilitator

Description

About Pawsability Dog Club
Pawsability Dog Club is a Bushwick-based non-profit that combines exceptional pet care with a powerful social mission.

  • For Dogs: We offer top-tier daycare, grooming, and walking services for our community’s canine residents.
  • For People: We empower autistic and neurodivergent individuals through free programming, including our flagship 70-hour vocational training program, providing skills, certifications, and career support to help them build successful careers in the pet care industry.

Role Overview

Pawsability is growing! Thanks to new funding, we are doubling the impact of our Vocational Training Program this fall by increasing our cohort size and moving into a new, larger classroom. We are seeking a dedicated Part-Time Programs Facilitator to anchor this expansion. In this role, you will take ownership of daily classroom instruction and provide direct, hands-on mentorship for program participants. Your leadership in the classroom is crucial to our success. Below we have outlined more details regarding this role.

Key Responsibilities

  • Classroom Instruction & Trainee Supervision
    • Serve as the primary on-site instructor for training sessions 3 days a week.
    • Teach Pawsability’s established curriculum and assist the PCDM with ongoing curriculum adaptations.
    • Plan and prepare daily lessons, including organizing physical materials and facilitating activities.
    • Provide 1:1 guidance, hands-on mentorship, and emotional support to Trainees.
    • Ensure all training maintains our strict 1:3 staff-to-participant ratio to guarantee safety and quality.
    • Lead and supervise Trainees during NYC-based field trips (e.g., animal shelters, pet stores).
    • Assist Trainees with the successful completion of online coursework.
  • Program Operations & Collaboration
    • Collaborate closely with the General Manager and PCDM to balance mentorship responsibilities with daycare schedules.
    • Assign roles and responsibilities to dog handlers (who also serve as incredible mentors for program participants!) during visits, emphasizing guest and dog safety.
    • Actively cultivate a supportive, sensory-safe, and accommodating environment for all participants.
    • As needed, assist with Pawsability’s other programs and initiatives that support our greater mission

Requirements

  • Qualifications
    • Dual Expertise: Demonstrated experience in both animal handling/behavior and special education, social work, or a related field.
    • Mission Alignment: Deep commitment to Pawsability's mission of empowering neurodivergent adults.
    • Lived Experience: We value diverse perspectives. Individuals who identify as neurodivergent, disabled, or otherwise underrepresented are encouraged to apply.
  • Skills:
    • Exceptional patience, empathy, and classroom management skills.
    • Strong communication skills to effectively mentor adults with varying learning styles.
    • Solid understanding of dog behavior in a social, group environment.
    • Highly organized with the ability to prepare lessons and manage daily schedules independently.
 
  • Physical Requirements
    • Ability to stand, walk, and be active for extended periods.
    • Comfortable and confident working directly with dogs of various sizes and temperaments in a group play environment.
    • Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.

Benefits

  • Compensation & Benefits
    • Hourly Rate: $20-22/ hr, commensurate with experience.
    • Paid Leave: Accrued paid Safe and Sick Leave.
    • Commuter Benefits: Option to enroll in a pre-tax TransitCheck program.
    • Supplemental Insurance: Access to voluntary Aflac supplemental health insurance plans.

Professional qualifications

  • High school or equivalent

Job industry

  • Human and Social Services

Pay amount

$20-22

Pay type

Hourly