Animal Care Worker - Shift

Kern County; Bakersfield (CA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

KCERA Retirement Plan

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Kern County Animal Services is seeking qualified applicants for the Animal Care Worker position through its civil service examination process.

Applicants must have a High School Diploma or GED (or equivalent) and a valid California driver’s license to perform essential duties in animal care within Kern County. Admittance requires proper ID; a background check may be conducted; post-offer tests may be required.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent or a combination of education and experience sufficient to perform the essential duties.
• Possession of a valid California Driver's License.
• Full Job Description: Animal Care Worker.

Education

High School Diploma / GED or equivalent

Job description

Position Information

Shift work: 5% additional pay for evening shift work; applicants must be willing to work any shift of a 24-hour period and any 5 to 7 days.

Examination Schedule

• Written exam: will be conducted on September 16, 2026.

Examinations

Written Exam (Weight 100%): Will be conducted for the purpose of assessing the applicant's knowledge of animal breeds, characteristics and diseases.

Applicants must attain at least 70% score on each phase of the examination process.

The Human Resources Division may solely conduct an appraisal of application materials should there be an insufficient number of candidates to warrant a written examination.

Minimum Qualifications / Employment Standards

High School Diploma, G.E.D. or equivalent OR a combination of education and experience sufficient to obtain the knowledge and skills to successfully perform the essential duties of the job.

Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Driver's License.

Full Job Description: Animal Care Worker

The position works within the Kern County Animal Services department. For more information about the department, please view their website here.

About Kern County

Kern County employees provide opportunities that are purposeful to our community. Every employee and every action contributes to the improvement and strengthening of our county.

To learn more about Kern County, click here or follow us:

Growth Mindset

We always encourage our employees to grow and develop. Kern County has a culture of innovation that allows employees to explore creative and more efficient ways to accomplish their work. We provide access to training and continued professional development in an effort to ensure that our employees have opportunities for career growth.

Additional Information

Admittance to the examination will require a valid government issued photograph identification. Applicants who are unable to present proper identification must make arrangements with the Human Resources Division prior to the test date.

A background check may be conducted for this classification.

Following an offer of employment, you may be required to submit to post offer medical and drug screening tests at County expense.

This examination will establish an eligible list from which an immediate appointment will be made at the Animal Services Department. Other permanent and temporary appointments will be made as needed.

Successful candidates will remain on the eligible list for a period of twelve-months, unless specified otherwise by the Civil Service Commission.

For more information regarding Kern County's recruitment process, please see our FAQ page.

Kern County is an ADA compliant and an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply.

Kern County Employee Benefits

• As a regular or provisional employee of Kern County, working twenty (20) hours or more per week, you are presently eligible for the following benefits as described below:

Health Insurance: (Medical/Dental/Vision): Kern County offers five affordable medical options. Kern Legacy Health Plans are medical and prescription health plan options administered directly by the County of Kern. Kaiser Permanente is also an option. Employees may also choose from two dental plans; Liberty Dental PPO or HMO. The vision coverage is provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP).

Retirement Program: Kern County Employees' Retirement Association (KCERA). This Section 401 (a) defined benefit retirement plan requires employer and employee contribution and pays retired employees a pension based on salary, years of service, and age upon retirement.

Deferred Compensation: This section 457 plan allows employees to contribute on a pre‑tax basis to a supplemental retirement account which is then paid out to them when they retire.

Social Security Administration

• The County of Kern withholds 6.2% for Social Security (FICA1) and 1.45% for Medicare (FICA2) from employee's payroll warrants
• The County matches the employee's 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare

Employee Assistance Program: EAP is available to help you take control of your life!

Voluntary Benefits: Chimienti & Associates (Administrator) offers the following voluntary benefits and can be deducted on a pre‑tax bases: Short Term Disability Coverage, Accident Plan, Cancer Plan and a Flexible Spending Account.

Paid Holiday Leave: 12 set days (per calendar year)