Advanced Animal Care & Behavior Specialist

Allegan County Government; Michigan; On-site; USD 28,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits start after hire date

Medical, Dental & Vision plans

County-funded HSA with high-deductible

Life insurance

Short-term disability

County retirement plan with 7% county‑

Tuition Reimbursement

Front-loaded PTO

13 paid holidays

Fitness centers

Job summary

Allegan County Government is seeking a dedicated Animal Care professional to provide advanced care, behavioral assessment, enrichment planning, and operational support at the Allegan County Animal Shelter. This role ensures humane handling and high-quality care while mentoring staff and backing up the Operations Supervisor to maintain daily shelter operations.

Responsibilities include intake assessments, behavior observations, enrichment plan development, daily care tasks, documentation, and

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Passion for helping and treating animals.
• Experience in animal care preferred.
• Ability to handle aggressive and/or injured animals safely.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with interruptions.

Responsibilities

• Assist with animal intake assessments and documentation.
• Lead behavioral observation and evaluation for safe handling and adoption matching.
• Develop and implement enrichment plans for animal well-being.
• Perform daily animal care duties: feeding, watering, grooming, exercise and health monitoring.
• Provide mentorship to Animal Care staff on safe handling and sanitation.
• Maintain accurate documentation for care, schedules, vaccinations and behavior.
• Maintain a clean, sanitary shelter environment in compliance with safety standards.
• Monitor inventory levels for animal food and supplies.
• Participate in shelter events and community education activities.
• Serve as backup to the Operations Supervisor for daily operations and escalation.

Skills

Animal care experience

Dog behavior understanding

Calm handling

Communication skills

Time management

Teamwork

Detail-oriented

Interpersonal skills

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

Allegan County Government is seeking a dedicated Animal Care professional to provide advanced care, behavioral assessment, enrichment planning, and operational support at the Allegan County Animal Shelter. This role ensures humane handling and high-quality care while mentoring staff and backing up the Operations Supervisor to maintain daily shelter operations.

Responsibilities include intake assessments, behavior observations, enrichment plan development, daily care tasks, documentation, and