Job Description

As a Program Instructor you will be directing, influencing and supporting clients, other Clever Canines team members, including assistant instructors and volunteers, through the facilitation of programs offered by Clever Canines. Being a clear and confident communicator enables you to build trust easily among your clients and other team members. Minimal administrative duties will be required, such as sending and responding to client emails, client reach-outs (via email or phone), team evaluations, team building, and other similar tasks. You will guide clients through new experiences with their dog and provide unconditional support along the way. Confident and passionate, you need to be as comfortable at the end of the leash as you are at the receiving end of questions and concerns. You are the first impression our clients have to Clever Canines methods and philosophies, therefore being professional, empathetic, enthusiastic, and having strong listening skills are vital. You will lead, motivate and inspire both clients and your team. You will be responsible for building and strengthening your program team, developing your team’s skills and knowledge, and encouraging company participation in events and initiatives. You may wish to participate in the hiring process specific for your team, as you understand the needs on your team best. Your ideas, skills, and understanding of both client and company needs will allow you to offer continuous ideas for improvement and development within any Clever Canines program offering. You are encouraged to participate in brainstorming new business ideas that may be implemented into regular offerings in the future.

Private sessions (home visits for behaviour, support, and/or treadmill instruction) will be optional based on your own interest and your level of training within the Clever Canines passport system.

Key Duties and Responsibilites

• coach clients for success by offering feedback, support, and encouragement

• deliver curriculum accurately and effectively

• demonstrate leadership and be a mentor for both clients and your team

• be responsible for the clients and the dogs, the progress of everyone; from assistants to volunteers

• take charge of the class, make final decisions (sometimes doing so quickly), delegate when necessary

• follow up with clients, team members, managers, office, etc. to ensure commitments made to clients have been seen through to completion

• brainstorm solutions with team manager to support clients and/or use Clever Canineslibrary resource to search answers

• understand what resources clients have access to, and direct them to appropriate tools that can support them in succeeding, example: relaxation protocol, handouts, coupons, etc.

• recognize when you may require additional support in your class or with a particular client and ask for it

• ensure assistants are meeting their position requirements

• report any and all concerns to your team manager (regarding curriculum, team members, clients, safety, etcetera)

• document assistants’ progress; prepare and facilitate performance evaluations twice a year

• steer team communications to reflect ‘above the line’ conversations and keep the team positive and solutions focused

• coach and assist clients, build their handling skills and perfect their techniques

• assist clients over and around obstacles

• ensure clients have the opportunity to receive instruction by dealing with distracting, challenging or difficult dogs

• interact with all clients; be conscious of the 80/20 rule at all times

• recognize when clients are becoming frustrated and offer support and/or delegate to Assistant Instructor

• ensure assistants and/or volunteers communicate to one client a positive comment, compliment, or feedback at the very end of every class; ensure the rest of the team does the same

• know all clients’ and dogs’ names in each class

• demonstrate skills in front of the class when required; select appropriate dogs for demonstrations

• understand each client’s goals, and revisit them throughout the program to ensure each client is on the right track for being able to achieve each goal

• respond to client questions, concerns and comments; researching answers when you are unsure and ensuring responses are communicated back to the client in a timely matter

• ensure clients have completed all paperwork and receive all class material

• be conscious when working with dogs and clients as to what they have learned to date

• coach, mentor, encourage, provide feedback, give direction and support volunteers; debrief after each class

• oversee Assistant management of ensuring volunteers’ individual goals have been met

• communicate to office any and all important messages and emergencies

• attend client pub nights (if applicable)

• hand-write thank you cards to each volunteer in your class at the end of each session

• hand-write cards to selected clients at the end of each session

• participate in client reach-outs by sending emails from the info@ address, or making phone calls from the office

• set up/tear down of equipment (if applicable)

• take attendance of all employees and submit timesheets bi-weekly

• take attendance of clients

• be responsible for the overall safety of the group

• take charge in an emergency situation

Skills and Attributes

• strong people skills

• strong communication skills

• professional appearance and demeanor

• passion for teaching and sharing

• leadership skills

• talent to motivate others

• customer service driven

• strong organizational skills

• solid conflict resolution skills

• understanding of how to use empathy to motivate, encourage and/or support

• ability to communicate clearly and concisely to large groups

• confidence with all breeds, ages and behaviours

• high level of physical fitness

• natural enjoyment of the outdoors in all conditions

• positive attitude

• open mind

• outgoing personality

• open to constructive criticism and coaching

• time management skills

• sales and marketing skills

• creative

• ability to work independently

• responsible and reliable

• ability to take initiative

• passion for helping people and their dogs achieve a balanced lifestyle

• flexibility in work hours

• basic computer skills

Additional Information

The Program Instructor training program will take between three and six months, depending on your time commitment, before you will be approved to instruct a program without a team trainer. The training program includes a combination of class observation, participation in training programs, classroom-style learning and mentorship. You must be available for a variety of training shifts prior to being approved to teach your own program.

Clever Canines training classes are run year-round, mostly on evenings and weekends. We do our best to be flexible with scheduling and our team members help to support flexibility by picking up shifts through our online scheduling system.

Most training classes are run in a variety of outdoor locations. You must have reliable transportation to each location and feel comfortable traveling throughout the city.

A smartphone is required to clock in and out of shifts.

Wages and Benefits

The salary range for part-time Program Instructor is between $15 and $27, which is paid on a per class basis.. You will receive minimum wage for any approved administration you do outside of class time, as well as minimum wage for all field training shifts, and all mandatory meetings. Becoming part of the Clever Canines team also gives you additional perks, such as free training programs, a great discount off Dayschool visits, free Club Evolve membership, staff discounts at various retailers, and more.