Animal Care Technician I - Adoptions & Behavior Counselor - Pima Animal Care Center

Pima County•Tucson, AZ

About The Position

Pima Animal Care Center is hiring a full-time Adoptions & Behavior Counselor for its Outcomes Team. The role is customer-service centered and involves working directly with the community to help people find suitable animals for their homes. Work takes place indoors and outdoors with dogs of varying behavior types and includes leading large dog play groups, providing enrichment, and assessing dog behavior. The position provides humane care and safe handling for dogs, cats, and small pets; supports adoption, foster, intake, and admissions processes; and communicates with the public and volunteers about animal care and shelter services. It also involves documenting animal behavior, history, medical records, and outcomes; administering vaccinations and medications under veterinary guidance; maintaining facility sanitation; safeguarding drugs and funds; and operating County vehicles to transport animals and supplies. Pima Animal Care Center is open seven days a week, and the role requires nontraditional schedules, including weekends, evenings, and schedule rotation. The minimum qualification is a high school diploma or GED. Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted. Preferred qualifications include English-Spanish bilingual ability, at least one year of customer service experience, at least one year working or volunteering in an animal shelter or relevant animal care setting, and experience working or volunteering with dogs and/or cats. A post-offer physical and/or drug screen and proof of immunization(s) and/or TB screening are required. Employees must receive the full series of pre-exposure rabies immunizations within nine months of appointment, subject to the stated medical exceptions.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED; relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.
Minimum one year of customer service experience (preferred qualification).
Minimum one year working or volunteering in an animal shelter or other relevant animal care setting (preferred qualification).
Experience working or volunteering with dogs and/or cats (preferred qualification).
Ability to work nontraditional schedules, including weekends, evenings, and schedule rotation.
Must receive the full series of pre-exposure rabies immunizations within nine months of appointment, unless medically unable to be immunized or previously immunized as verified by the County Physician; recommended boosters are required during employment unless medically excused or unable to develop immunity.
Some positions require a valid Arizona Class D driver license at application or appointment; the posting does not specify whether this position requires one.
Ability to meet the position’s physical and sensory requirements, including frequent lifting, pushing, or pulling of objects weighing up to 100 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual in English and Spanish.
At least one year of customer service experience.
At least one year working or volunteering in an animal shelter or other relevant animal care setting.
Experience working or volunteering with dogs and/or cats.

Responsibilities

Provide humane care and safe handling for dogs, cats, and small pets while monitoring behavior and health.
Work outdoors in all weather and safely handle live animals, including animals that are injured, frightened, or offensive.
Answer questions and address concerns from the public and volunteers, guiding decisions about intakes, outcomes, redemptions, and animal care in accordance with PACC policies.
Handle animals for behavioral assessments and playgroups, identify placement or behavior concerns, and participate in outcome decisions, including euthanasia.
Organize and document animal behavior, history, medical records, and outcomes using shelter software and other recordkeeping, communication, and scheduling systems.
Administer vaccinations and medications under veterinary guidance; assess animals for signs of illness or injury and document and communicate health concerns.
Support adoption and foster processes through enrichment, behavioral evaluations, animal meet-and-greets, matchmaking, and note reviews.
Support intake and admissions by providing appropriate intake pathways, checking animals for health concerns, identifying ages and breeds, and finding kennel placements.
Maintain clean and sanitary kennels, workspaces, public lobbies, and treatment spaces.
Frequently lift and carry heavy objects and perform physical tasks such as bending, stooping, and reaching.
Safeguard and account for scheduled drugs and funds received for PACC services.
Operate County-owned vehicles to transport animals and supplies.