Job Description

Posting number: 14.03463

Department: Animal Services

Job classification: AS_Senior Animal Care Specialist

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: Animal Services

Summary

Reporting directly to the Animal Care Supervisor, responsible for providing care to animals within the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, by providing a positive quality of life to the animals, customer service to potential adopters, providing supervision to Animal Care Specialists, and maintaining a clean and safe shelter at all times.

Examples of duties

• Assists with delegation and monitoring of animal care tasks
• Leads, trains, and provides feedback on daily tasks of Animal Care Specialists, Volunteers and Community Service workers, and assists as needed
• Assists with delegation and monitoring of Animal Care Specialists tasks, and provides disciplinary actions under guidance of the Operations Manager
• Oversees the general maintenance and cleanliness of the facility and ensuring laundry and feeding utensils are properly cleaned and sanitized
• Supplies food, water, toys, clean bedding, socialization time, and routine enrichment care
• Offers assistance to potential adopters with the animals, answering questions, transporting animals to and from kennel areas, and assessing likelihood of matches for adoptions
• Performs customer service duties related to the intake and processing of animals for impoundment, adoptions and redemption
• Administers routine well-being checks of all animals, documenting any concerns and communicating to Operations Manager for follow-up
• Assists medical staff with medical workups and vaccinations of animals
• Socializes fractious animals to help them become adoptable, and assist with behavior modification plans as written by the Animal Behavior Coordinator
• Restocks cleaning and animal care supplies throughout the facility as needed
• Utilizes shelter software to record and communicate information about animals, including up-to-date medical and behavior histories
• Helps identify animals that are candidates for outside rescue organizations or foster care
• Transports animals to other facilities, as needed
• Makes animal care decisions in absence of Animal Care Supervisor
• Follows all safety measures and policies, including proper animal restraints and reading animal behavioral cues, and promptly reports any safety incidents to leadership
• Performs special duties, and oversees special projects, as assigned

ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to – Animal Care Supervisor
• Direct Reports – No

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Position involves prolonged standing, walking, twisting, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and other fine motor repetitive motions
• Position requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine motor coordination
• Position involves lifting and carrying of animals and equipment weighing up to fifty (50) pounds, or up to one hundred (100) pounds with assistance, and exertion of up to twenty-five (25) pounds of force to move objects
• Position involves hearing and/or seeing alert cues regarding animal and staff security
• Position involves maintaining composure in a high-stress environment

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• Work tasks are conducted indoors and outdoors
• May work outside in inclement weather, including extreme heat, cold and wet conditions
• Frequent handling of animals, including contact with waste and blood
• Exposure to unpleasant smells and a noisy and wet environment associated with a shelter
• Frequent exposure animals that are agitated or injured that may attempt to bite or scratch
• Position involves working in a high-volume, fast-paced environment
• Position involves working with distressed individuals

IRREGULAR HOURS

• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays is a schedule requirement
• May be deemed essential personnel for emergency situations, at discretion of Director
• Regular attendance is required

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.

Qualifications

• High school diploma/degree and one (1) year of experience working with animals in an animal hospital, shelter, or related animal facility; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated customer service and communication skills
• Demonstrated experience in a lead, training, or supervisory capacity
• Working knowledge of computers and phone/iPad software and applications such as Microsoft Teams/instant messaging (IM), email, FaceTime, PetPoint, etc.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required within thirty (30) days of employment

• Valid driver’s license

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Two (2) years of experience working with animals in an animal hospital, shelter, or related animal facility
• One (1) year of animal welfare experience
• Knowledge of dog and cat body language cues
• Euthanasia certification
• Basic Animal Control certification
• Bilingual (Spanish)

EMPLOYMENT TESTING

Employment is contingent on passing any post-offer pre-employment screening as listed below:

• Criminal background check: Yes
• Motor Vehicle Record check: Yes
• Drug screening: Yes
• Physical exam: No
• Psychological exam: No
• Additional: N/A

Supplemental information

A Williamson County online application (resumes alone are not sufficient) must be received before the position is closed. Positions are open until filled, subject to close at any time after five (5) business days. The Human Resources Department is located at 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626. Phone (512) 943-1533 or visit our website at www.wilcotx.gov/469/Human-Resources.

Williamson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.

TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE POLICY

Williamson County is a tobacco free workplace. The use of tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, chew, etc.) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (e.g., vapor, e-cigarettes, etc.) is prohibited on all Williamson County premises. Employees who violate this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.