Director, Genetics & Reproduction

Job Details

Job Location: Dogs Inc Main Campus - Palmetto, FL 34221

The Genetics & Reproduction Director oversees the organization’s canine reproduction lifecycle, including genetic strategy, breeding decisions, reproductive management, whelping, and neonatal outcomes. This role ensures the ethical, evidence-based production of high-quality working dogs by integrating genetics, reproductive science, data analysis, and early-life care in alignment with animal welfare standards and organizational goals.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Genetic Strategy and Breeding Oversight

• Oversees all breeding colony candidates, evaluating DNA carrier status, family health history, temperament, and behavioral history to inform breeding decisions.
• Develops and implements a comprehensive, long-term strategy to maintain genetic diversity, quality, and sustainability within the breeding colony, including the acquisition of external breeders or genetic material as needed.
• Ensures breeding decisions align with program demand, health trends, and long-term working-dog outcomes.

 

Reproductive Management

• Oversees reproductive management of the breeding colony, including estrous cycle tracking using vaginal cytology, progesterone assays, behavioral indicators, and related diagnostics.
• Supervises semen evaluation and quality assessment of breeding males.
• Partners with veterinarians to support artificial insemination (AI), transcervical insemination (TCI), and live breeding as appropriate, without assuming veterinary scope.

 

Whelping and Neonatal Program Oversight

• Provides organizational authority and subject-matter leadership for all whelping and neonatal care programs within the Puppy Academy.
• Establishes, maintains, and continuously improves protocols related to pregnancy monitoring, whelping readiness, whelping management, neonatal monitoring, early intervention, lactation support, and post-partum dam care.
• Ensures continuity and alignment across breeding decisions, prenatal management, birth outcomes, and early neonatal development.
• Defines clinical decision thresholds and escalation pathways for whelping and neonatal cases in collaboration with Veterinary Services.
• Oversees analysis of whelping outcomes, neonatal health metrics, mortality trends, and early developmental indicators to inform genetic strategy and program improvement.
• Partners with the Puppy Academy Director to ensure staff are trained and supported in executing established protocols, while retaining accountability for clinical standards and outcome integrity.

Data Management and Analysis

• Maintains accurate, comprehensive reproductive, genetic, whelping, and neonatal records for active and retired breeding animals.
• Analyzes trends related to conception rates, litter outcomes, neonatal health, and early development.
• Produces projections and reports on breeding outcomes, colony health trends, and program performance to inform leadership and strategic planning.

 

Ethics, Welfare, and Compliance

• Ensures all genetics, breeding, whelping, and neonatal practices comply with organizational policy, animal welfare standards, and applicable regulations.
• Promotes a culture of humane, ethical, and responsible reproductive management across all related departments.

 

Innovation and Research

• Identifies and implements innovative, evidence-based, and cost-effective approaches to canine genetics, reproduction, whelping, and neonatal care.
• Stays current on advancements in canine theriogenology and reproductive science through conferences, professional development, and collaborative research.
• Collaborates with veterinarians and internal stakeholders on studies related to pregnancy, whelping, lactation, and neonatal development.

 

Interdepartmental Collaboration<