Animal Care Specialist, Austin Animal Services (Animal Care Division)

City of Austin•Austin, TX

1d•$23 - $26•Onsite

About The Position

Provides animal care and customer service; kennel space management; mediates animal related complaints; schedules, monitors performance, and trains/delegates Animal Services staff in performance of job duties. Receives, handles, and kennels animals of all species including those of unknown temperament, aggressive, sick, and injured. Performs basic maintenance to ensure the safety of all employees, the public, and animals. Performs a weekly inventory of supplies and orders. Maintains relevant written and electronic records; enters and retrieves information regarding animals’ behavior, health, and kennel needs. Assists the public with adoptions and finding lost animals by answering questions, providing education, and assisting potential adopters with animal handling and counsel, as needed. Monitors animals’ physical conditions and performs health care as directed by the veterinarian. Performs receiving, reclaiming, animal care, and adoption duties. Manages cage and kennel space by performing daily inventory/health inspections of animals. Attends training, maintains certifications, and trains other personnel on cleaning/disinfection, animal handling, and other animal care duties. Assists other personnel, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations as necessary. Provides animal husbandry; cleans, disinfects, and maintains animal areas to ensure disease management protocol and safety; conducts daily inspections of shelter animals and areas to ensure proper safety, health, and care. Reviews policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date. Facilitates aspects of daily animal care operations, including management of space, creates a staff roster, holds morning team meetings, adjusts daily plans for the unit, etc., as needed/assigned.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years of work experience one (1) year experience in a field related to the job.
Valid Texas Class C Driver's License.
Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
Skill in using computers and related software applications.
Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
Ability to adhere to disease management and safety protocols.
Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
Ability to train others.
External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite.
Applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience multi-tasking multiple high level priority situations and delegate accordingly in a shelter environment.
Demonstrated experience providing excellent customer service both internal and external customers while communicating goals & plans to staff, and de-escalating conflicts.
Demonstrated experience monitoring the behavior and medical needs of animals and reporting these changes to the appropriate team to ensure the safety of our clients.
Demonstrated experience managing and training staff, assigning tasks, and ensuring compliance with protocols.
Demonstrated experience with an animal inventory system like Chameleon, Shelter Buddy, Pet Sense, or equivalent program.

Responsibilities

Receives, handles, and kennels animals of all species including those of unknown temperament, aggressive, sick, and injured.
Performs basic maintenance to ensure the safety of all employees, the public, and animals.
Performs a weekly inventory of supplies and orders.
Maintains relevant written and electronic records; enters and retrieves information regarding animals’ behavior, health, and kennel needs.
Assists the public with adoptions and finding lost animals by answering questions, providing education, and assisting potential adopters with animal handling and counsel, as needed.
Monitors animals’ physical conditions and performs health care as directed by the veterinarian.
Performs receiving, reclaiming, animal care, and adoption duties.
Manages cage and kennel space by performing daily inventory/health inspections of animals.
Attends training, maintains certifications, and trains other personnel on cleaning/disinfection, animal handling, and other animal care duties.
Assists other personnel, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations as necessary.
Provides animal husbandry; cleans, disinfects, and maintains animal areas to ensure disease management protocol and safety; conducts daily inspections of shelter animals and areas to ensure proper safety, health, and care.
Reviews policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date.
Facilitates aspects of daily animal care operations, including management of space, creates a staff roster, holds morning team meetings, adjusts daily plans for the unit, etc., as needed/assigned.
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.