Kennel Team Leader

Hamilton City Council; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Wellbeing days

Fully funded health insurance

Annual eye care

Job summary

Hamilton City Council is seeking a Kennels Team Leader to manage animal health and welfare, promote responsible dog ownership, and lead a dedicated kennels team in Hamilton. You will drive best-practice animal care, support adoptions, manage complex handling situations, and develop a high-performing team aligned with council goals.

Ideal candidates will have veterinary nursing or related experience, leadership ability, and a strong commitment to community wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Confident people leader with sound judgement, resilience and compassion for animals.
• Experience with dogs and other animals, including handling dogs of all temperaments.
• Previous leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop others.
• Experience interpreting and applying legislation, policies, or regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to manage challenging conversations and difficult situations with confidence and professionalism.
• Emotional resilience and the ability to support both customers and team members through sensitive and sometimes difficult circumstances.
• Strong administration and record-keeping skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• A full New Zealand drivers licence.

Responsibilities

• Leading, coaching, and developing the kennels team to deliver outstanding service and operational excellence.
• Managing the day-to-day operation of the kennel and reception functions, ensuring customers receive a professional, responsive, and positive experience.
• Overseeing kennel administration processes, records, compliance requirements, and operational procedures to support efficient service delivery.
• Ensuring the health, welfare, and care of all animals in our custody meets best-practice standards.
• Maintaining compliance with animal welfare regulations, kennel hygiene requirements, and Council procedures.
• Supporting and growing our successful dog adoption programme, helping dogs find their forever homes.
• Managing the weekly vet visits, veterinary-related processes and assisting with animal management procedures, including euthanasia.
• Building strong relationships with customers, veterinarians, contractors, community, organisations, and other stakeholders.
• Supporting your team to effectively manage difficult, emotional, and sometimes confrontational customer interactions with professionalism and empathy.
• Ensuring kennel operations are well-resourced, efficient, and aligned with organisational goals.
• Promoting a strong health, safety, and wellbeing culture across the team.

Skills

Leadership

Dog handling

Communication

Customer service

Emotional resilience

Education

Veterinary nursing

Animal behaviour

Animal management

Tools

Record-keeping software

Computer skills

Job description

At Hamilton City Council, our people are united by a shared purpose: helping make Hamilton the best place to live, work, and play. As one of New Zealand's largest city councils, we're proud to serve a growing and vibrant community while delivering services and projects that improve the wellbeing of Hamiltonians every day.

You'll join a team that values collaboration, innovation, and community impact. Together, we're on track to being one of New Zealand's leading community-focused councils, where everyone matters and every contribution helps shape the future of our city.

If you're looking for meaningful work, a supportive team, and the opportunity to make a real difference in your community, you'll find it here.

Job Description

He angituutanga: The opportunity

Lead with purpose. Make a difference for animals and our community.

At Hamilton City Council, we're committed to creating a city where people and communities thrive. As our Kennels Team Leader, you'll play a pivotal role in managing the health and wellbeing of animals in our care, promoting responsible dog ownership, and helping keep Hamilton a safe place for everyone.

You’ll lead a dedicated team responsible for the day-to-day operation of our kennel facilities. From driving best-practice animal care and welfare standards to supporting adoptions, managing complex animal handling situations, and developing a high-performing team, this is an opportunity to combine your leadership skills with your passion for animals.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading, coaching, and developing the kennels team to deliver outstanding service and operational excellence.
• Managing the day-to-day operation of the kennel and reception functions, ensuring customers receive a professional, responsive, and positive experience.
• Overseeing kennel administration processes, records, compliance requirements, and operational procedures to support efficient service delivery.
• Ensuring the health, welfare, and care of all animals in our custody meets best-practice standards.
• Maintaining compliance with animal welfare regulations, kennel hygiene requirements, and Council procedures.
• Supporting and growing our successful dog adoption programme, helping dogs find their forever homes.
• Managing the weekly vet visits, veterinary-related processes and assisting with animal management procedures, including euthanasia.
• Building strong relationships with customers, veterinarians, contractors, community, organisations, and other stakeholders.
• Supporting your team to effectively manage difficult, emotional, and sometimes confrontational customer interactions with professionalism and empathy.
• Ensuring kennel operations are well-resourced, efficient, and aligned with organisational goals.
• Promoting a strong health, safety, and wellbeing culture across the team.

Why join us?

This is more than a kennel leadership role. You'll be helping improve outcomes for animals, supporting responsible pet ownership, and contributing to the wellbeing and safety of the Hamilton community.

You’ll join a passionate and supportive team that genuinely cares about the work they do, the animals they care for, and each other's success. We recognise that this role can be both rewarding and emotionally demanding, which is why staff wellbeing is a priority. You'll be supported by leaders and colleagues who value open communication, teamwork, professional development, and mental wellbeing.

Every day brings a different challenge, an opportunity to lead a great team, and the chance to make a meaningful difference for both animals and people throughout Hamilton.

Qualifications

Oo puumanawa me oo wheako | Your skills and experience

We're looking for a confident people leader who combines sound judgement, resilience and compassion with a genuine commitment to the care and wellbeing of the animals in our care.

You’ll ideally have:

• Qualifications in veterinary nursing, animal behaviour, animal management, or equivalent experience.
• Experience working with dogs and other animals, including confidence handling dogs of all temperaments.
• Previous leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop others.
• Experience interpreting and applying legislation, policies, or regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong customer service skills and the ability to manage challenging conversations and difficult situations with confidence and professionalism.
• Emotional resilience and the ability to support both customers and team members through sensitive and sometimes difficult circumstances.
• A solutions-focused mindset and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Strong administration, computer, and record-keeping skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• A full New Zealand driver's licence.

Additional Information

Ngaa waahi whakarato painga kei a maatou: What we offer

We invest in our people, their wellbeing, and their future. That's why we offer a range of benefits designed to support you both inside and outside of work, including:

• We support flexible ways of working that balance individual wellbeing, team and business needs. And great outcomes for our community.
• We support professional development and opportunities to grow your career.
• Two wellbeing days each year to focus on what matters most to you (after one year of service).
• Fully funded Unimed health insurance, including hospital and surgical cover, with discounted rates for family members.
• Free annual health checks and flu vaccinations.
• The option to purchase additional annual leave for greater flexibility.
• Eye care support, including reimbursement towards eye testing and prescription glasses.
• Access to a wide range of local discounts, including gyms, cafes, healthcare providers, retail stores, and more.

Applications close on the: 30 October 2026

Note:

We will be shortlisting as we receive applications.

Council is committed to honouring the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi/Treaty of Waitangi through its relationship with Kiingitanga, Waikato Tainui, mana whenua and maataa waka within Hamilton Kirikiriroa.

All candidates will be notified of the outcome on their application via email. Short-listed candidates will be required to complete an interview process, reference checks and a criminal check. This role is Safety Sensitive so a pre-employment medical including drug and alcohol test will be required. View more information about these checks and our commitment to the Privacy act here by clicking here

It is important to us that we support you throughout our selection process (interview and assessments). If you have any access needs during this process, let us know in advance so we can make sure these are met.

As a council, we believe in creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and belongs. We value inclusiveness (Kotahitanga) - we respect and value the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents that everyone brings.

This role is being sourced directly. If/where Hamilton City Council requires the support of a recruitment agency, we will seek this support from our panel of selected agencies. Hamilton City Council will not be responsible for, and will not pay, any commissions, fees or other payments related to unsolicited contact.