Animal Impounding Officer

Kempsey Shire Council; Kempsey; On-site; AUD 62,000 - 70,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave entitlements

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development opportunities

Salary packaging options

Job summary

Kempsey Shire Council is offering a maternity leave cover role focused on day‑to‑day care and management of animals at the impounding facility. You will feed, exercise and assess animal health, maintain hygiene, and coordinate rehoming under relevant legislation.

This hands‑on position requires compassion and a practical approach to animal welfare. The role emphasises accuracy in record keeping, working with a team and balancing safety with community expectations.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in animal handling, animal health or animal wellbeing.
• Experience in animal rehoming or understanding responsible rehoming practices.
• Current Class C driver's licence.
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication, ability to resolve problems professionally.
• Sound computer skills including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work independently within a multidisciplinary team.
• Commitment to Council's values and exceptional customer service.
• Good physical fitness for animal care and facility maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily feeding, exercise and basic health assessments for impounded animals.
• Maintain a clean, safe pound environment and disinfect enclosures.
• Help prevent disease through cleaning and hygiene practices.
• Monitor facilities and report maintenance needs.
• Enter and maintain accurate data in Council systems.
• Coordinate suitable rehoming opportunities for eligible animals in line with legislation and procedures.
• Deliver professional, compassionate service to the community.

Skills

Animal handling

Animal welfare

Communication

Class C licence

Job description

Reporting to Council, you will be responsible for the day-to-day care and management of animals housed at Council’s impounding facility. From feeding and exercising animals to conducting daily health assessments and coordinating rehoming opportunities, you will help ensure animals receive appropriate care while maintaining high standards of animal welfare and facility hygiene. This is a fantastic opportunity to join Council in a maternity leave cover position.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Providing daily feeding, exercise and basic health and wellbeing assessments for impounded animals.
• Maintaining a clean, safe and hygienic pound environment, including cleaning occupied cages and disinfecting vacated enclosures.
• Helping prevent the spread of disease through appropriate cleaning, hygiene and animal care practices.
• Monitoring the condition of facilities and reporting maintenance issues, damage or repairs as required.
• Entering and maintaining accurate information in Council’s systems.
• Coordinating suitable rehoming opportunities for eligible impounded animals in accordance with relevant legislation and Council procedures.
• Supporting responsible animal management and delivering a professional, compassionate service to the community.
• Undertaking other reasonable duties within your skills, abilities and competency.

For a full list of the Key Accountabilities of the role, please refer to the Position Description.

About You

You are a compassionate, practical and reliable individual who genuinely cares about animals and understands the importance of responsible animal management. You are comfortable working hands-on with a variety of animals, including companion animals and livestock, and can balance animal welfare needs with legislative requirements, safety procedures and community expectations.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated experience in animal handling, animal health or animal wellbeing.
• Experience in animal rehoming or a strong understanding of responsible rehoming practices.
• A current Class C driver’s licence.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to resolve problems, negotiate and manage challenging interactions professionally.
• Sound computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office applications.
• The ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing positively to a multidisciplinary team.
• A commitment to Council’s values and to delivering high-quality customer service.
• Good physical fitness and the ability to undertake the practical demands of animal care and facility maintenance.

You understand that animal welfare is about more than daily care. It requires patience, sound judgement, attention to detail and a commitment to ensuring animals are treated with dignity, compassion and respect.

About Us

Kempsey Shire Council (KSC) is located on the Mid North Coast of NSW, known for its genuine hospitality, pristine beaches, sub-tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, rock river gorges, sprawling farmland and peaceful villages.

We are a progressive, proactive and dynamic organisation, and we pride ourselves on the respectful and supportive workplace we have cultivated. With 360+ dedicated staff managing $1.8 billion worth of assets across many sites throughout the Shire, KSC work closely with our community to build an inspired, connected Macleay Valley.

Why Join Us

As the successful candidate, you’ll enjoy:

• Temporary 12-month Part-time, 30 hour work week
• Weekly salaryof $1,361.37 to $1,532.21 Pro-rata (plus superannuation).
• Generous leave entitlements
• A working environment focussed on wellbeing, including flexible work arrangements, rostered days off, EAP access, social club, and health and wellbeing programs.
• Fitness Passports for discounted access to a range of gym and pool facilities.
• Career development and learning opportunities.
• Novated Leasing and salary packaging options.
• A supportive, collaborative working environment designed to help you grow!
• A fantastic lifestyle and work life balance, on the beautiful Mid-North Coast.

Applications Close: COB Wednesday, 18 November 2026

Please note that Council reserves the right to close this job advertisement before the stated closing date if a suitable candidate is found. Therefore, we encourage all interested applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible.

Have questions? Please contact Retha du Preez - Group Manager Development and Compliance for a confidential discussion onPh: 02 6566 3200.

Please Note: Our recruitment notification process is primarily via system generated emails. Please ensure your email is correct before submitting your application to avoid missing crucial updates.

• Completion of a pre-employment medical assessment is a requirement of KSC’s recruitment process for this position.
• Current immunisations against tetanus, Hepatitis A & B and Q Fever or willingness to obtain these vaccinationsis a requirement of KSC’s recruitment process for this position.

If you experience any difficulties applying online, please contact the Recruitment team on 02 6566 3200 or email [e-mail]

Thank you and good luck with your application.

Kempsey Shire Council is an equal opportunity employer and we celebrate our diverse, inclusive and values-led workforce. We welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse culture and linguistic backgrounds and people with a disability. In addition, Kempsey Shire Council will provide reasonable adjustments for suitably qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require additional assistance to participate in the recruitment process, please discuss with the advertised contact person. You can ask for reasonable adjustments to be made at any time during the recruitment process.