The Advisor Apprentice provides essential administrative and hands-on support to our Senior Advisors and the Puppy Raising Program. This is a learning-focused position designed for someone who is interested in becoming a Dogs Inc Advisor but may not have professional dog training experience yet. The Apprentice helps with organizing club activities, supporting volunteers, coordinating events, maintaining training records, and participating in learning opportunities alongside experienced staff.
Key Responsibilities
Administrative & Program Support
- Help schedule and organize puppy training sessions, volunteer meetings, and special events.
- Track training records, documentation, and assessments.
- Assist in preparing materials for puppy clubs and volunteer education.
- Support communication between Advisors, volunteers, and internal departments.
- Maintain detailed training records and submit records to program assessments.
Volunteer Engagement
- Attend puppy club meetings to provide logistical and volunteer support.
- Respond to basic volunteer questions and help connect them to the right resources.
- Contribute to a positive and inclusive volunteer experience.
Learning & Development
- Complete 18-month advisor apprenticeship under Puppy Training Manager.
- Work closely with Puppy Training Manager to ensure consistency and effectiveness of training approaches.
- Build comprehensive understanding of learning and behavior through apprenticeship.
- Develop individualized training strategies for puppy raisers and club leaders.
- Shadow Senior Advisors during training sessions, Walk & Talks, and club events.
- Learn about Dogs Inc training philosophy, positive reinforcement methods, and puppy development milestones.
- Participate in internal trainings and team meetings to grow into an Advisor role over time.
Qualifications
- Strong interest in animal behavior, volunteerism, or nonprofit work.
- Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills.
- Comfortable working with people and large dogs in a variety of settings.
- Willingness to learn and take feedback.
- Ability to travel and work occasional evenings/weekends.
Preferred but not required:
- Experience in a volunteer, nonprofit, or customer service setting.
- Familiarity with dogs or interest in dog training.
- Desire to grow into a full Advisor role at Dogs Inc.
Why Join Dogs Inc?
At Dogs Inc, we don’t just change lives—we transform them. When you join our pack, you’ll get:
- Comprehensive Benefits: Full dental and vision insurance premiums covered, competitive medical coverage, and a $15,000 life insurance policy.
- Retirement Match: A discretionary retirement plan match for all benefit-eligible employees after one full year of employment.
- Campus Perks: Free access to our fitness center and chef-prepared lunches served on campus (Monday-Friday).
- Time to Recharge: Generous Paid Time Off policies (12-20 days/year based on tenure). Enjoy 14 paid holidays—including your birthday!
- Reward-Based Programs: Our Learn and Earn education program and Pawsitive Strides walking program offer many opportunities to earn additional Paid Time Off.
- Dog-Friendly Workplace: Bring your well-behaved, pre-screened dog to work and enjoy the ultimate companion-friendly environment.
Skills Required
- Strong interest in animal behavior, volunteerism, or nonprofit work
- Excellent communication, organization, and interpersonal skills
- Comfortable working with people and large dogs in a variety of settings
- Willingness to learn and take feedback
- Ability to travel and work occasional evenings/weekends
What We Do
Dogs Inc trains and provides guide, service, skilled companion, and therapy dogs to people with vision loss, veterans with disabilities, and children with significant challenges, all at no cost.
