Animal Care Supervisor

Indian River County Board of County Commissioners; Vero Beach (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Indian River County Animal Services seeks an experienced Animal Care Specialist Supervisor to lead the animal care unit and oversee daily shelter operations. You will supervise staff, ensure humane handling, and manage intake, housing, adoptions and clinic support to uphold high welfare standards.

In this role you will coordinate daily staffing, monitor animal health, maintain records, and provide excellent service to the public and partner organizations.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required plus five years in animal care or related field.
• At least 1 year of supervisory or lead experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily shelter operations including feeding, cleaning, and animal monitoring.
• Ensure humane handling and care of all animals in accordance with policies and best practices.
• Monitor animal health and behavior and report concerns to veterinary staff or leadership.
• Assist with intake, reunification, adoptions, and transfers to rescue partners.
• Maintain accurate shelter records (intake, medical, outcomes, etc.).
• Coordinate daily staff assignments and workflow to ensure efficiency.
• Provide excellent customer service to the public and partner organizations.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

Skills

Staff supervision

Animal welfare

Training volunteers

Customer service

Policy compliance

Safety handling animals

Documentation

Emergency response

Education

High School Diploma or GED

1 year supervisory experience preferred

Tools

Chameleon software

Job description

Under general direction, this position oversees the daily operations and activities of Indian River County Animal Services animal care unit. This role supervises staff, ensures high standards of animal care and welfare, and supports all shelter functions including intake, housing, sanitation, enrichment, adoptions, foster, rescue transfer, and clinic support. The Animal Care Specialist Supervisor plays a key role in building a progressive, community-focused animal services program.

• Supervise, train, and evaluate Animal Care staff and volunteers
• Oversee daily shelter operations including feeding, cleaning, and animal monitoring
• Ensure humane handling and care of all animals in accordance with policies and best practices
• Monitor animal health and behavior, report concerns to veterinary staff or leadership
• Assist with intake, reunification, adoptions, and transfers to rescue partners
• Ensure proper sanitation, disease control, and biosecurity protocols are followed
• Maintain accurate records in shelter software (intake, medical, outcomes, etc.)
• Coordinate daily staff assignments and workflow to ensure efficiency
• Provide excellent customer service to the public and partner organizations
• Assist with euthanasia decisions and procedures in accordance with policy (if applicable)
• Support foster and volunteer programs as needed
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
• Maintain inventory of supplies and notify leadership of needs
• Assist with emergency response situations involving animals

Education/Experience:

High School Diploma / GED supplemented with 5 years of experience in animal care, animal sheltering, or related field.

At least 1 year of supervisory or lead experience is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a municipal animal shelter environment.
• Certification in animal care, animal control, or related field.
• Experience with shelter software (e.g., Chameleon or similar).
• Knowledge of Fear Free or Low-Stress Handling techniques.
• Knowledge of animal behavior, handling, and disease prevention.
• Ability to safely handle animals of all sizes and temperaments.
• Strong communication and leadership skills.
• Basic computer skills and ability to learn shelter management software.

Licenses, Certifications, or Registrations:

• Euthanasia Technician Certification
• Must meet all Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) requirements/prerequisites to handle controlled substances.

Knowledge, Abilities, and Skills:

Leadership and Management:Strong ability to lead, motivate, and manage a diverse team of staff and volunteers.

Compassion and Emotional Intelligence:A deep passion for animal welfare, coupled with the ability to handle emotional and high-stress situations with empathy.

Communication:Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interacting with the public, staff, donors, and other organizations.

Financial Acumen:Experience in budget management, fundraising, and grant writing.

Organizational Skills:Strong ability to multitask, prioritize, and maintain detailed records in a fast-paced environment.

Animal Knowledge:In-depth knowledge of animal behavior, health, handling, and disease control protocols.

Problem-solving: Capacity to anticipate and address operational challenges, such as staffing shortages or animal health crises.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS:

Work is primarily performed indoors but requires moderate exposure to environmental changes (e.g., outdoor weather and/or field conditions, warehouses, garages, etc.), extreme noise, odors, fumes or airborne particles; dangerous animals, toxic and caustic chemicals, heights and/or dust.
This position requires some exposure or risk to physical health and/or physical safety (e.g., exposure to environmentally hazardous material, heavy equipment, etc.). This position may require the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and may include completing and successfully passing medical evaluations or clearances.

This position requires stooping, crouching, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, hearing, visual acuity (i.e. seeing up close, seeing far away, depth perception), kneeling, reaching, pushing, talking, standing, climbing, finger movement, repetitive motions. This position requires dealing with animals, alive or dead, capturing, restraining, handling, lifting up to 50 lbs. and carrying up to 50lbs.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

This job description is not intended to be and should not be construed as an all-inclusive list of all the responsibilities, skills or working conditions associated with the position. While it is intended to accurately reflect the position activities and requirements, Management reserves the right to modify, add or remove duties and assign other duties as necessary that are a logical assignment to the position.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE/RECOVERY ACTIVITIES:

County employees are essential in providing services to our community and continuing services following a disaster or emergency. To maintain services during and/or following a disaster or emergency, and as a requirement of County employment, County employees may temporarily be assigned to work and perform duties outside the normal scope of their position, location, and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens.