Animal Intake Technician

Maricopa County • Mesa, AZ

1d • Onsite

About The Position

As an Animal Intake Technician, you will play a critical role in supporting animal intake processes. This position is responsible for guiding customers through intake and diversion services, and for performing the physical and medical intake of animals entering the shelter, following Fear Free and positive reinforcement standards. You will serve as a key point of contact for the public—conducting intake interviews, reviewing animal history, and identifying diversion opportunities—while also safely handling animals, administering intake vaccinations, and ensuring proper kennel placement. This role requires flexibility, strong communication skills, and the ability to transition seamlessly between customer service and animal care responsibilities. This position is cross-trained to support multiple functional areas and may rotate between East and West Valley locations as needed. This position requires the employee to be in the office/field or customer-facing for all hours worked. Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation’s largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn first-hand about proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Two years of experience in animal care, animal handling, customer service, or administrative support in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or comparable environment
• Must possess, or have the ability to obtain by the time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license and have an acceptable driving record
• Must be flexible and able to work weekends and holidays
• Must be able to safely handle animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions
• Must complete all animal handling training within 60 days of hire
• Must be willing and able to participate on the euthanasia team as required

Nice To Haves

• Fear Free certifications
• Experience conducting client interviews or intake assessments
• Bilingual skills (English/Spanish)
• Experience with scheduling systems or case tracking tools
• RVT, CVT, or Veterinary Assistant Certifications

Responsibilities

• Perform initial intake evaluation, including reviewing animal history, performing safe animal handling, scanning for identification, documenting condition, taking identification photos, and ensuring appropriate kennel placement for animals arriving at the shelter
• Provide routine medical care, including safe animal handling, administering vaccinations, flea/tick preventatives, performing basic clinical testing (e.g., SNAP Parvo), and treatments to support animal health on animals arriving at the shelter
• Perform daily operational support tasks, including maintaining the cleanliness of intake areas, holding kennels, and shared workspaces, to ensure a safe, sanitary, and efficient environment
• Provide direct customer service by assisting with intake inquiries, walk-in services, and front desk coverage as needed; guide customers through processes and ensure a positive, professional experience
• Maintain accurate and timely data entry in shelter systems (e.g., Chameleon, intake trackers), including creating and updating animal and client records and scheduling intake appointments
• Collaborate with other team members and divisions to manage intake flow, support scheduling needs, and ensure timely processing of animals entering the shelter
• Engage pet owners in diversion, and Owner Requested Euthanasia (ORE) conversations, identifying alternatives to surrender when appropriate and coordinating resources or referrals to support positive outcomes
• Involved in and may perform humane euthanasia of animals when required, in accordance with departmental policies, procedures, and established protocols

Benefits

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Child care benefits, including access to our on-site center
• Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring a 12% monthly contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Economical and comprehensive healthcare options
• Robust retirement plans
• Tuition and loan payment programs
• Multiple paid leave options
• Overall generous compensation and benefits package

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED