Shelter Attendant I

Nassau County Board of County Commissioners•Nassau County, FL

About The Position

The Shelter Attendant I is responsible for caring for animals and ensuring clean, humane living conditions for all animals housed in the shelter. The position requires rotating shifts, after-hours call-ins, and work on weekends, holidays, and during State of Emergencies. Daily exposure to heat and cold is required. The role includes animal care and monitoring, receiving and placing animals in the facility, maintaining animal records, assisting the public with lost pets and adoptions, and supporting shelter operations. Duties also include assisting with euthanasia, attending offsite adoption events, maintaining supplies and equipment, performing housekeeping and minor building and grounds maintenance, and operating a County vehicle to transport inedible waste and collect supplies. The attendant may answer phones and operate radio equipment to dispatch assignments to field units. Work takes place indoors and outdoors in various locations. The position may be required to work in a safety-sensitive capacity during an emergency declaration or other operational need. Applicants are subject to a criminal background check. Incomplete applications will not be considered; applications are accepted until the closing date or the position is filled, whichever occurs first. Nassau County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace, and the position is eligible for Veterans’ Preference in accordance with applicable laws.

Requirements

High school diploma or general equivalency diploma.
Obtain American Animal Cruelty Investigations School (AACIS) Animal Shelter Technician certification within six months of hire.
Valid State Driver’s License.
Knowledge of animal care, health, disease, and euthanasia procedures.
Knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, standards, regulations, methods, procedures, and policies, including those pertaining to Nassau County and the position’s duties.
Ability to prioritize service requests and daily assignments; plan and organize work and develop daily, short-term, and long-term goals.
Ability to take initiative and complete duties without direct supervision; learn and use new skills and information to improve performance and efficiency.
Knowledge of occupational hazards and industry safety precautions.
Good organizational, technical, and human relations skills.
Knowledge of modern office practices and technology, including computer use for word processing and records management.
Knowledge of departmental terminology and professional language.
Knowledge of proper English usage, punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other departments, professionals, and members of the public through contact and cooperation.
Ability to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations and communicate effectively.
Ability to perform the listed physical activities, including lifting and carrying up to 75 pounds.

Responsibilities

Maintain kennels and outdoor areas in a clean and sanitary manner.
Feed and water animals according to schedules and continuously monitor kennel animals for sickness, injury, or death.
Receive animals delivered to the shelter by officers or members of the public; intake and place animals according to size, sex, needs, and circumstances, while keeping each animal with its records.
Take photographs of stray animals for publication on social media.
Bathe, dip, inoculate, clip, groom, and provide minor first aid and lab tests to animals.
Handle animals, including animals that may be aggressive or dangerous.
Assist the public with locating lost pets or adopting animals; maintain assigned shelter-operation records, including having potential adopters sign the Constant Contact guest book before viewing animals.
Assist with euthanasia procedures, including holding, pulling, bagging, and placing animals in the freezer or Animal Control truck.
Prepare lists of kennel supplies and food.
Attend offsite adoption events.
Recognize signs of animal stress or disease and immediately report sick or injured animals to the assigned supervisor.
Move animals from temporary holding areas into appropriate kennels.
Compare intake reports with actual animal counts in the shelter.
Repair and maintain equipment.
Perform general housekeeping, yard duties, and minor building and grounds maintenance.
Maintain simple to moderate written reports and records/files.
Attend and remain at work regularly, follow attendance policies, and provide management adequate notice for vacation and leave requests.
Perform related duties as assigned, including assisting in other functional areas to balance workloads or cover peak work periods.
Operate a County vehicle to load and unload inedible waste and pick up supplies such as feed, disinfectants, and equipment.
Answer phones as needed and operate radio equipment to dispatch assignments to field units as needed.