Animal Care Specialist DOQ

Manatee County Government; Bradenton (FL); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking dedicated individuals to join their team as Animal Care Specialists. This role is pivotal in ensuring the wellbeing of animals at the shelter while also providing exceptional customer service to visitors and adopters. You will be involved in hands-on animal care, assisting with adoptions, and engaging with the community to promote a no-kill mission. If you have a passion for animal welfare and enjoy working in a dynamic environment, this opportunity is perfect for you. Join a team that values compassion and teamwork while making a significant impact on the lives of animals and their future families.

Qualifications

• Experience in animal care or similar role.
• Strong customer service skills and ability to handle animals.

Responsibilities

• Provide care for animals including feeding, watering, and grooming.
• Assist with the adoption process and customer inquiries.

Skills

Customer Service

Animal Care

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

Database Management

Job description

Work Location: Bishop Animal Shelter, 5718 21st Avenue West, Bradenton, Florida 34209

Work Hours: 40 hours per week, schedule will vary based upon the needs of the shelter

Expected Starting Hourly Range:$18.40 - $24.38

Plays a direct role in achieving Manatee County’s no-kill mission and goal by providing hands-on care for animals in the shelter, working with internal departments to find those animals homes wherever possible, and serving as ambassadors for county residents, volunteers, and adopters who visit the shelter. Contributes to the health, wellbeing, and general care of dogs and cats. Plays a unique role as the direct day-to-day connector between the animals in our care and our residents.

Note: Position level and salary will be dependent on qualifications (DOQ).

Working Conditions
Primarily animal shelter or outdoor field environment. Regularly performs moderately strenuous work in varying and adverse weather conditions, including rain, extreme heat and humidity, and long exposure to sunlight. Daily exposure to dogs, cats, and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status. High noise environment while performing certain responsibilities. Lifting and carrying equipment up to 50 pounds alone and up to 100 pounds with assistance. Periodically required to drive county vehicles as part of the duties of the job. Able to climb and descend equipment and ladders. Able to bend, stoop, crawl, and reach. Position requires visual acuity and depth perception, as well as ability to hear and identify sounds. Periodic high stress situations that may involve angry or frustrated citizens. Regularly required to work other than normal business hours including nights, holidays, and weekends.

Essential Functions
These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position.

Assists with all aspects of the adoption process. Provide excellent customer service to visitors, volunteers, and adopters.

Positively interacts with volunteers and promotes a team environment.

Greets visitors to the shelter, answers questions, and assists visitors with their needs.

Delivers excellent, non-judgmental customer service to all visitors, adopters, fosters, and transfer partners in a friendly, informative and professional manner.

Provides basic and routine care for animals per department guidelines, including feeding, watering, and light grooming.

Supports animals with medical issues, which may include zoonotic disease, by medicating, treating, preparing special diets, observing and reporting, and assisting in the maintenance of required records.

Provides socialization, enrichment, and exercise for animals as directed.

Identifies behavioral issues and shares observations with team members and leaders. Follows behavior or training plans developed for specific animals.

Cleans work areas and preserves physical appearance of buildings and grounds, including scooping, raking, sweeping, mopping, and trash removal. Notes maintenance or repairs needed and reports per protocol.

Follows policies, procedures, and task lists for daily lifesaving outcome assignments, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.

Strictly adheres to established safety procedures to protect self, co-workers, and the general public.

Attends job-specific training classes as assigned by supervisor.

Animal Care Specialist I:

Assist Foster Coordinator with foster appointments, supplies, return surveys and inputting information to the database.

Support Front Desk function processing adoptions, licenses, money handling and provide good customer service.

Respond to customer service in box and provide information about services provided by the facility.

Take lost & found reports and follow-up when a match has been found.

Works emergency situations (including weather and other extreme conditions) as required, including work in the Emergency Operations Center and pet friendly shelters.

Animal Care Specialist II:

Works emergency situations (including weather and other extreme conditions) as required, including work in the Emergency Operations Center and pet friendly shelters.

High school diploma or equivalent.

Animal Care Specialist II:

One or more years of experience as an Animal Care Specialist or similar position.

Previous work or volunteer experience with an animal shelter or similar organization desired.

Previous customer service experience desired.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Animal Care Specialist I:

Able to comprehend and follow oral and written instructions and complete tasks within assigned timeframes. Able to resolve routine situations and problems.

Basic knowledge and understanding of open adoption processes.

Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns including shyness, fearfulness, and aggression; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs.

Basic knowledge and understanding of regulatory compliance necessary to successfully perform job duties.

Basic knowledge and understanding of computer applications and software programs required to perform job duties.

Good written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills to be able to interact professionally and effectively with co-workers, management, adopters, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Able to engage professionally during challenging conversations and accurately educate the public.

Capable of working under close supervision.

Animal Care Specialist II:

Able to comprehend and follow oral and written instructions. Organizes own work and completes tasks within assigned timeframes. Able to resolve routine situations and problems.

General knowledge and understanding of open adoption processes.

Able to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns including shyness, fearfulness, and aggression.

General ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs.

General knowledge and understanding of regulatory compliance necessary to successfully perform job duties.

General knowledge and understanding of computer applications and software programs required to perform job duties.

Good written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills to be able to interact professionally and effectively with co-workers, management, adopters, volunteers, and other stakeholders. Able to engage professionally during challenging conversations and accurately educate the public.

Capable of working under close supervision