Animal Care Technician Lead

Y-Axis; Baltimore, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 22,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

Maryland SPCA is seeking an Animal Care Technician Lead to support daily kennel operations, mentor staff and ensure high standards of animal care in a busy shelter environment.

The role requires hands-on experience with canines and felines, strong leadership, and the ability to coordinate animal movements while maintaining safety and welfare for animals and staff. Salary starts at $19 per hour with a full-time schedule including Sundays and weekdays.

Qualifications

• Experience in animal care and welfare with canine/feline behavior knowledge.
• Demonstrated mentoring and leadership in a shelter setting.
• Familiarity with safety, enrichment, and humane handling practices.

Responsibilities

• Mentor and orient staff and volunteers and support daily kennel operations.
• Coordinate animal movements to reduce stress and improve welfare.
• Maintain SOPs, safety protocols, and cleanliness in the kennel.
• Assist in meetings and communicate staff concerns to management.
• Perform daily animal care tasks and ensure BAR status.

Skills

Animal Handling

Staff Mentorship

Canine Behavior

Feline Behavior

Animal Restraint

Positive Reinforcement

Customer Service

Inventory Management

Medical Terminology

Conflict Resolution

Operational Oversight

Safety Compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

TEAMS

Job description

Animal Care Technician Lead at Maryland SPCA

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 Oct, 26

19.0

Posted On

13 Jul, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

No

Skills

Animal Handling, Staff Mentorship, Canine Behavior, Feline Behavior, Animal Restraint, Positive Reinforcement, Customer Service, Inventory Management, Medical Terminology, Conflict Resolution, Operational Oversight, Safety Compliance

Veterinary Services

Description

Description Maryland SPCAJob DescriptionJob Title: Animal Care Technician LeadDepartment:Animal Care/KennelReports to: Animal Care and Length of Stay MangerSalary: $19.00 startingSchedule: Sunday 8am-6pm, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 9am-7:30pmFLSA Status: hourly/non-exempt, full-timeDate:7/13/2026Position Summary: To provide support to the Animal Care and Length of Stay Manager on day-to-day operations of the kennel. Provide positive mentorship for the staff, maintain proper care of the animals and a safe environment for the staff.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Staff:* Post tasks in TEAMS on the days you are here.* Ensure that the Animal Care Technicians keep up with their responsibilities and stay on task to complete areas in a timely fashion.* Ensure all tasks are completed, including checklists. Also, completing extras when there is opportunity to do so.* Maintain Confidentiality.* Maintain Extra Enrichment Room daily and product placement design* Coordinate strategic movement of cats and dogs with other departments to reduce stress and behavior issues.* Empowering staff to move animals when needed, putting up blue boards, put animals on extra enrichment, put up buckets etc...* Bring staffing concerns and issues to the Animal Care Manager or another manager as needed.* Assist or run kennel meetings when Animal Care Manager is off and writing Meeting notes.Mentoring/New Hires:* Mentor/orient current/new employees and volunteers.* Ensure Training sheets for new staff are printed, labeled, followed through on, and given back to the Animal Care Manager when completed.* Cultivate relationships with volunteer groups by providing mentorship and guidance.Kennel:* Perform and exceed all Animal Care responsibilities and uphold our core values.* Complete early morning assignments and walk through to be sure all things are set for the day (stocking missed things if needed, making sure animals are BAR and, in their cages, fill mops, water, food etc.)* Complete the end-of-day walk through with closing staff to be sure all is set for the next day a half hour before leaving. Stocking missed things if needed, making sure animals are BAR and, in their cages, dumping mops, water, food etc., locking doors and windows, making sure radios/fans/equipment is turned off. Report back to the Manager with concerns.* Enact and maintain quarantine procedures when necessary.* Address safety concerns through ticketing process and alerting MOD, as needed.* Participate in the review process by providing feedback to supervisor.* Address staff concerns in real time, navigate the differences between mediation, solutions based conversation, and when Human Resources or Management should be notified.* Handle aggressive animals, work with Do Not Enter plans and report new behaviors immediately to managers on duty when needed.* Report medical/behavior issues and assist with plans made by those departments.* Work occasional holidays throughout the year.* Open and close the building as needed.* Assist Animal Care Manager with the implementation of SOPs and follow through processes.* Perform both cat and dog BA’s.Maintenance:* Maintain the chemical dilution station, litter pan washing station, proper dilutions of the foamers, descaling of the dishwasher, and refilling of DAP and Feliway dispensers.* Assist with stocking and inventory checks.* Maintain Extra Enrichment Checklist 2x a month when scheduled to do so, and notify essential parties on emails sent.Meetings:* Participate in QOLP discussions to share strategies, collaborate and accept decisions about animal placement into program, rescue or humane euthanasia in a kind manner and report findings back to kennel staff when needed. While the lead is not responsible for QOLP announcements, they can share case updates with colleagues. The team lead is responsible for gathering information for QOLP meetings from kennel staff.* Perform other duties as assigned, which may include but are not limited to:* Assist in team building exercises with your manager.* Participate in webinars, seminars and present on those subjects.* Work on special projects with your manager, researching products and assisting with project designs.Qualifications:* High school diploma or GED preferred* Interest in animal welfare* Reliable and detailed oriented* Demonstrated initiative and good judgment* Demonstrated animal handling experience with knowledge of canine and feline behavior* Familiarity with animal restraint techniques and medical terminology* Ability to handle animals of various sizes and activity levels safely, compassionately and effectively* Excellent customer service skills, with ability to interact patiently and tactfully with a diverse customer base* Experience in the use of positive reinforcement methods, including appropriate use of food and humane products* Ability to accept decisions about animal placement into program or humane euthanasia* Committed to and enthusiastic about the mission, programs and services of the Maryland SPCAphysical Demands:* Work is performed in a shelter setting* Exposure to disinfecting solutions when cleaning, exposure to unpleasant odors and high noise levels when in kennel area* Exposure to various weather conditions when working outdoors* Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, sharp objects, hazardous chemicals, dangerous and fractious animals* Technician is regularly exposed to animals, animal waste, high noise and potentially hazardous conditions, including the risk of animal bites

Responsibilities

Responsibilities Support the Animal Care Manager in daily kennel operations, providing mentorship to staff and volunteers while ensuring high standards of animal care. Oversee facility maintenance, coordinate animal movements to reduce stress, and manage safety and quarantine procedures.