Statement of Qualifications, Responsibilities and Duties
 

Paws for Purple Hearts is hiring a full time Assistant Trainer at the Menlo Park, CA facility, located at the Menlo Park VA.

1. The Paws for Purple Hearts’ Assistant Trainer is expected to have met the following specific educational requirements: 

a. AS degree 

b. Preferably volunteer experience with Paws for Purple Hearts or other assistance dog organizations; 

2. Prior experience preferred for this position includes: 

a. Two-years experience in human service/mental health field (licensing may be required based on assignment); 

b. One-year experience in dog handling/training or kennel work, desirable if one had been spent with assistance dogs; 

c. Work in or knowledge of the assistance dogs field; 

d. A background in teaching or human health services related to disabilities (particularly mental health or mobility). 

3. Basic qualifications include the following areas: 

a. A strong desire to teach dogs to help people; 

b. Knowledge of and or interest in teaching people to train puppies and dogs using positive methods; 

c. Knowledge of or an interest in understanding and working with Warriors (active-duty and Veteran military personnel) with physical and psychological injuries; 

d. Knowledge of or an interest in symptomatology related to Post Traumatic Stress acquired from military deployments and other 

circumstances; 

e. Licensing from a board of behavioral science may be required based

on assignment; 

f. Accurate reporting and record keeping; 

g. Good communication and interpersonal skills; 

h. Ability to make presentations to the general public or other interested parties; 

i. Compatibility with PPH’s direction and purpose. 

1. As assigned by and under close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the implementation and maintenance of the Paws for Purple Hearts Assistance Dog Training Program and the specialty management roles as appropriate to each regional site; 

2. As assigned by and under close supervision of the Senior 

Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog 

Program Director, assist with the concept of dogs helping 

veterans, active-duty military and other military personnel; 

3. As assigned by and under close supervision of the Senior 

Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog 

Program Director, assist in the development of an 

influential stakeholders group to compliment and sustain 

the program; 

4. Continuing professional education, including, if instructed for job promotional purposes, to attend Bergin University’s seven week seminar; 

5. Commitment to PPH’s mission, goals, objectives; 

6. All other duties as assigned by the Senior Program Instructor as approved by the National Dog Program Director or the National staff responsible for that specialty. 

1. As assigned by and with close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the implementation and maintenance of the Paws for Purple Hearts Assistance Dog Training Program and the specialty management roles as appropriate to each regional site: 

a. PPH puppies and dogs 

i. Involvement in the PPH Puppy Program in conjunction with 

PPH National staff and Bergin University staff by assisting

with: 

1. Caring for pups 

2. Pup petting program 

3. Early puppy training and enrichment efforts 

ii. Involvement in the Puppy Parent program by assisting with: 1. Weekend, evening and long-term placement of PPH puppies and dogs: 

a. Assist with the identification of and placement 

of pups with volunteer puppy parents in the 

PPH puppy program 

b. Assist with puppy parenting classes 

iii. Involvement in the dog/pup program for on-site volunteers by assisting with: 

1. Training orientations 

2. The organizing and preparation of duty lists for 

on-site volunteers 

a. Assisting with ensuring lists have progressions 

allowing for volunteer skill and responsibility 

level 

b. Helping train volunteers such that they are 

sufficiently knowledgeable to be of help 

iv. Involvement in supporting instructors with their assigned strings of pups and dogs by assisting with: 

1. Arranging for dogs to spend occasional evenings and weekends at an instructor’s home for home training 

and assessment; 

2. Taking PPH pup/dog on weekly outings for exposure; 3. Providing transportation for dogs to, emergency care 4. Potentially transporting dogs in your personal vehicle 

v. Involvement in supporting and helping oversee the health, well-being and training of PPH puppies and dogs 

(coordinating with Bergin University and local 

veterinarians) by assisting with: 

1. Immediate reviews of major medical issues with 

appropriate personnel 

2. Assist with Veterinarian visits 

3. Ensuring dogs and puppies are receiving all monthly and annual medical treatments and exams as needed 

b. Instructor specialty role involvement as assigned: i. Involvement in Kennel program 

ii. Involvement in the Pup Parent program 

iii. Involvement in the dog training program 

iv. Involvement in Client program

v. Involvement in Veteran/Active-Duty Military (Warrior) Program 

vi. Involvement in Dog Program Purchasing 

c. PPH site’s office: 

i. Involvement in the administration by assisting with: 

1. Filing 

2. Email, letter responses 

ii. Involvement in dog manager/Veteran recordkeeping by assisting with: 

1. Maintaining pup/dog/Veteran records 

2. Providing records to National Dog Program Director 

d. Client placement and graduations 

i. Involvement in the regional applications for assistance dogs by assisting with: 

1. The review of regional applications from Veterans and 

their immediate family members 

2. Selection of appropriate Veteran/dog matches 

ii. Involvement in client trainings and graduation of PPH assistance dogs by assisting with: 

1. Client trainings 

2. Graduation ceremonies 

2. As assigned by and with close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the concept of dogs helping veterans, 

active-duty military and other military personnel; 

a. Curriculums and materials in conjunction with Bergin University’s “Best Practices.” 

i. Involvement in providing information that may further 

improve the program and sessions by assisting with: 

1. Provision of statics that may further direct the 

improvement of the programs and sessions 

2. Provision of program sessions’ observations and ideas 

ii. Identify observations and opinions to improve dog 

interactions and roles with veterans 

b. Maintenance of the dogs in training and the training records: i. Involvement in updating the weekly command evaluation material 

ii. Involvement in submitting detailed health records 

3. As assigned by and with close supervision of the Senior Program Instructor under the direction of the National Dog Program Director, assist in the development of an 

influential stakeholders group to compliment and sustain 

the program;

a. Marketing PPH 

i. Involvement in the marketing of the PPH concept by 

assisting with: 

1. Engaging in PPH public relations activities as 

requested; 

2. Assisting in the marketing of the program concept at 

conferences and related venues. 

ii. Involvement in developing support for PPH by assisting 

with: 

1. The identification of potential stakeholders and 

supporters 

2. The cultivation and solicitation of potential donors 

1. Have the duties and responsibilities assigned to you been carried out in a manner advantageous to PPH and the military community; 

2. Have the quality and caliber of the PPH program and contracted services been upgraded and improved during your tenure; 

3. Has the reputation of the PPH program as a quality mental health solution been enhanced both publicly and specific to the PTSD programs; 4. Is the PPH program on a par with or better than its institutional peers