Animal Care Specialist / Horse Husbandry

Calcasieu Parish Police Jury•Animal Services - (OJJS TEC Building), LA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

This is the third of five levels in the Animal Care series. The incumbent helps support the day-to-day operations of Animal Services. Responsibilities include functioning in a Team Lead capacity for Animal Care Technicians, working closely with the Animal Care Supervisor to ensure all paperwork, records, and related reports are completed accurately and efficiently. The incumbent provides training and promotes the adoption of animals by taking animals to adoption events, entering animal information, and maintaining current content on the website. The role also involves providing customer service, assisting with professional handling of calls, serving as backup to Animal Care Technicians, and performing duties of lower levels.

Requirements

High School Diploma or equivalent (G.E.D.), and three years of experience working with animals; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.
Euthanasia Certification
Crematory Operation Certification
Valid Driver's License as per State law or requirement.
Knowledge of animal care and nutrition requirements.
Knowledge of adoption requirements.
Knowledge of common animal diseases.
Knowledge of animal handling techniques and applications.
Knowledge of animal behavior.
Knowledge of cleaning and sanitizing methods.
Knowledge of recordkeeping practices.
Knowledge of inventory and ordering supplies.
Knowledge of customer service principles.
Knowledge of current computer systems.
Ability to supervise all Kennel Technicians in the absence of Management.
Ability to withstand harsh comments from irate citizens.
Skill in caring for animals.
Skill in observing and documenting animal behavior.
Skill in identifying sick animals.
Skill in cleaning and sanitizing animal holding areas.
Skill in handling animals.
Skill in preparing and maintaining records and reports.
Skill in providing customer service.
Skill in using computers and related software applications.
Communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.
Reaching, standing, walking, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.
Ability to exert up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of forces constantly to move objects.

Responsibilities

Serves as Team Lead for Animal Care Technicians.
Trains Animal Care Technicians in proper care and handling of animals, proper cleaning techniques, and proper procedures for the position.
Promotes humane educational programs throughout the community.
Assists Animal Care Technicians with the daily cleaning of kennels and animal dwellings.
Provides care and maintains the well-being of exotic and large animals and/or livestock.
Assists in the euthanasia and disposal of animals as necessary.
Maintains proper working equipment and cleanliness of the shelter.
Shows rescue and shelter animals to interested parties and advocates for their adoption; answers questions regarding adoptability of animals and adoption processes; and assists in locating lost pets.
Updates and monitors the adoption website; takes and posts pictures of pets; and removes adopted pets from the listing.
Transports animals to adoption sites when necessary.
Loads and transports exotic and large animals and/or livestock when necessary.
Schedules animals for veterinary checks; logs related health information.
Prepares and maintains information related to animal tests, euthanasia, records, and adoptions, and prepares operational reports and records.
Helps maintain inventory by tracking and ordering inventory.
Performs other duties of a similar nature or lower level.
May serve as team lead to lower level staff.
Responsibilities include training employees; and assigning and directing work as needed.
Lead lower level staff to ensure they meet and exceed standards of performance.