ANIMAL AND CLIENT CARE SPECIALIST - SM

SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY T; Pacer (CA); On-site; USD 35,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Santa Barbara Humane Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is seeking an Animal & Client Care Specialist to care for shelter animals and assist community members with admissions and adoptions. The role emphasizes daily feeding, cleaning, enrichment, and Fear Free handling while coordinating with veterinary and behavior teams.

You will collaborate with shelter operations, veterinary, foster, and volunteer teams to support humane, compassionate care and accurate recordkeeping.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years paid or volunteer experience in related field.
• Demonstrated interest in SB Humane mission and animal shelter work.
• Basic knowledge of animal breeds, behavior, health, and safe handling.
• Ability to communicate effectively in English, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work with dogs and cats of varying temperaments.

Responsibilities

• Perform daily animal care, kennel sanitation, and shelter operations.
• Provide enrichment, exercise, socialization, training, and behavioral observation.
• Utilize Fear Free handling techniques and report medical or welfare concerns.
• Deliver compassionate customer service for admissions, transfers, adoptions, and records.
• Maintain clean, safe housing areas and comply with safety protocols.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Team collaboration

Fear Free handling

Animal care

Job description

The Animal & Client Care Specialist is a hands-on role, you’ll care for shelter animals through daily feeding, cleaning, enrichment, and Fear Free handling. You’ll also help community members with admissions, adoptions, and other shelter services while working with our team to keep animals safe, healthy, and cared for.KEY RESPONSIBILITIESPerform daily animal care, kennel sanitation, and shelter operations duties in accordance with Santa Barbara Humane policies, Standard Operating Procedures, and animal welfare best practices.Provide animals with appropriate enrichment, exercise, socialization, training, and behavioral observation to support their physical and emotional well-being. Utilize Fear Free animal handling techniques at all times; monitor and promptly communicate medical, behavioral, or welfare concerns to veterinary and behavior staff.Deliver compassionate, solution-oriented customer services. Assist with animal admissions, transfers, adoptions, and other shelter services while ensuring accurate recordkeeping, data entry, and documentation of animal outcomes.Maintain clean, safe, and humane animal housing areas, ensuring compliance with sanitation, biosecurity, and safety protocols.Collaborate effectively with shelter operations, veterinary, behavior, foster, and volunteer teams to support organizational goals and provide exceptional care for animals and people.Perform other duties as assigned.ROLE QUALIFICATIONS1–2 years of paid or volunteer experience in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.Demonstrated interest in and commitment to supporting the mission, philosophies, policies, and principles of Santa Barbara Humane as a Socially Conscious Animal Shelter.Basic knowledge of animal breeds, behavior, health, and safe handling practices, with the ability to work safely around dogs and cats of varying temperaments, including large or reactive animals.Ability to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing, to collaborate with team members, provide client services, and ensure adherence to safety protocols.Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively with colleagues, clients, volunteers, and diverse community members.Commitment to humane, compassionate animal care and adherence to positive reinforcement and Fear Free principles.Work ScheduleAlternative Work Week: four 10-hour days; able to work weekends, overtime, and rotating holidays; work may be assigned at either SBH campus or off-site.