Animal Care Technician

SupportFinity™; Vancouver (WA); On-site; USD 23,639 - 28,722; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Employee discounts with partner organizations

Accrual of paid time off

Job summary

SupportFinity™ in Vancouver, Washington, is looking for dedicated Animal Care Technicians to join the Humane Society for Southwest Washington. The role involves daily animal husbandry, health monitoring, and facilities cleaning to ensure a safe and healthy environment for the animals.

The successful candidate will also assist with public interactions, preventative care, and team leadership in various animal care tasks. This position offers a rate between $17.16 to $20.85 hourly based on experience.

Qualifications

• Ability to read and follow instructions and SOPs.
• Certification in safe animal handling within 90 days.
• Successful completion of Fear Free Sheltering certification within 90 days.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily husbandry to all animals in the shelter.
• Assist with preventative medicine as directed.
• Conduct intake examinations and vaccinations.

Skills

Safe animal handling certification

Health monitoring skills

Customer service skills

Communication skills

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Physical stamina

Job description

Humane Society for Southwest Washington

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is currently seeking Animal Care Technicians to join our team. These opportunities may be full‑time or part‑time and are classified as FLSA non‑exempt.

Animal Care Technician (ACT Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4)

The Animal Care Technicians are the primary caretakers of the animals in the shelter, responsible for daily husbandry, health monitoring, preventive care, patron interactions, and facility cleanliness.

Roles & Responsibilities

ACT‑1: Basic Duties

• Provide daily husbandry to all animals in the shelter, including feeding, health monitoring, and cleaning of all animal areas.
• Perform daily cleaning of designated areas, including kennels, crates, supplies, laundry, and associated public areas.
• Follow disease‑control and safety protocols to ensure a safe, healthy environment.
• Take immediate action to address safety concerns or non‑compliance that could risk employees, volunteers, clients, animals, or the organization.
• Stock and maintain cleanliness of kennels and public areas throughout the day.
• Keep supervisor informed of animal behavior or health concerns.
• Perform other duties related to the above tasks.

ACT‑2: Additional Duties

• Public interaction & customer service, including adoption socials and leading lost‑animal walk‑throughs.
• Assist with preventative medicine as directed by team leadership.
• Assist with moving animals throughout the facility.
• Enter data into shelter‑based software.
• Support and assist Animal Care volunteers.
• Perform closing duties for designated areas.
• Cat Team specific: daily management of cattery areas; support preparation for off‑site cat programs.
• Dog Team specific: participate in dog‑to‑dog socials; support daily walks per outlined protocols.
• Small Animal Team specific: small animal intake and processing; support small animal behavior plans.

ACT‑3: Advanced Duties

• Work on Dog, Cat, and Small Animal teams as needed.
• Independent decision maker within procedures and protocols.
• Perform animal behavioral evaluations or risk assessments.
• Conduct intake examinations, vaccinations, microchipping, and appropriate testing.
• Provide mentorship for new hires, volunteers, and workforce partners.
• Cross‑train in areas related to daily care of animals and clinic services.

ACT‑4: Senior Duties

• Support advanced population management, making recommendations for complex cases.
• Participate in weekly behavior meetings, sharing observations and collaborating on plans.
• Escalate relevant population or behavior information to leadership.
• Develop and update team training materials in collaboration with leadership.
• Support team leadership with training and mentorship.
• Conduct behavior evaluations, implement individualized behavior plans, and provide behavioral support to animals and adopters.
• Contribute to process improvements related to behavioral programming and population flow.
• Support the behavior population in foster care.

General Expectations

• Follow safety guidelines.
• Use good verbal and written communication skills.
• Be visible to staff, volunteers, and workforce partners; communicate with supervisor and directors on developments.
• Promote positive communication and cooperation among departments.
• Exercise judgment when working with the public, volunteers, and staff.
• Commit to excellence individually and as part of the team.
• Adhere to policies and procedures.
• Act as a positive role model.
• Maintain a positive, respectful attitude.
• Demonstrate flexible, efficient time management and prioritization.
• Report to work on time and prepare to perform duties.
• Meet productivity standards.
• Use objective, positive language related to animal behavior.
• Support positive reinforcement as the sole training method.

Compensation

Hourly pay ranges from $17.16 to $20.85, depending on experience.

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance effective the first of the month following hire (full‑time employees).
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching contributions and a 3‑year graded vesting schedule; ROTH option available.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and household members.
• Section 125 FSA cafeteria plan for health or dependent daycare expenses.
• Access to life, disability, and accidental supplemental insurance.
• Employee discounts with partner organizations.
• Qualified for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). For more information, see https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation.

Paid Time Off

• Accrual: 1.6 hours per 40 hours worked.
• Additional paid time: floating holidays (full‑time employees), bereavement leave, pet bereavement leave.

Requirements

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Read, understand, and follow instructions and SOPs.
• Become certified in safe animal handling within 90 days.
• Complete Fear Free Sheltering certification within 90 days.
• Work safely with animals, disinfectants, and cleaning supplies.
• Perform physical work: scrubbing, mopping, bending, lifting, walking, and standing up to 10 hours per day with breaks.
• Lift up to fifty pounds with assistance.
• Work effectively in a fast‑paced environment with diverse people.
• Use a computer and Microsoft products.
• Retain knowledge of animal breeds, behavior, and handling.
• Identify ill health in animals.
• Have sincere interest in HSSW’s mission.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Comfortable speaking with the public.
• Work duties may involve walking, standing, sitting, stooping, squatting, bending, speaking, seeing, listening, using arms and hands for grasping, lifting, operating computers, answering telephone.
• May involve repetitive hand use and operating tools, computers, telephone, and cell phone.
• Requires reasonable accommodations for disabilities.
• Occasional lifting of up to fifty pounds with assistance.
• Typical work on weekends.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodations during the hiring process for qualified applicants with disabilities. HSSW participates in E‑Verify.