Animal Enrichment Assistant (PT)

Roanoke Valley SPCA; Roanoke (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Part time

Job summary

Roanoke Valley SPCA in Roanoke, VA seeks a Part-Time Animal Enrichment Assistant to support the behavioral and emotional well-being of sheltered animals through enrichment, exercise, training, social interaction, and individualized care under the Behavior Support Services Director.

The role requires 29 hours per week with Sunday 11:30am-5:00pm and Monday–Thursday 11:30am-6:00pm; weekend and holiday hours may be required.

Qualifications

• Must be 18+ years old.
• Must have valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to handle pets of all sizes, including large dogs.
• Ability to perform the physical duties, including lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Able to remain calm, patient, and professional with animals exhibiting challenging behavior.
• Preferred experience with basic animal training or behavior modification.
• Preferred Fear Free Certification.

Responsibilities

• Support the behavioral and emotional well-being of sheltered animals through enrichment, exercise, training, social interaction, and individualized behavior support.
• Work under the Behavior Support Services Director to provide appropriate enrichment and behavior support based on each animal’s needs.
• Identify behavioral concerns, implement established behavior plans, and share strategies with staff and volunteers.
• Communicate behavior observations to Animal Care, Medical, Foster, and Adoption teams to ensure consistent care and handling.

Job description

Have you always wanted to care for animals who are in need? If so, we are seeking a dedicated person to fill an open Part-Time Animal Enrichment Assistant position. The Roanoke Valley SPCA is a community-focused adoption facility working to keep pets and people together by providing pet adoption, retention, and education services in Virginia’s Blue Ridge.

CLASSIFICATION: Part-Time, Non-Exempt

SUPERVISOR: Operations Director

SCHEDULE: Typical schedule is 29 hours per week, at 11:30am-5:00pm on Sunday and 11:30pm-6:00pm on Monday through Thursday. May include weekends and holidays.

STARTING RANGE: $15/hour

POSITION SUMMARY:

Enrichment Assistants are responsible for supporting the behavioral and emotional well-being of sheltered animals through enrichment, exercise, training, social interaction, and individualized behavior support. Enrichment Assistants work under the direction of the Behavior Support Services Director to provide appropriate enrichment and behavior support based on each animal’s individual needs.

This position helps identify behavioral concerns, implements established behavior plans, and provides staff and volunteers with appropriate strategies for safely and effectively interacting with animals. The Enrichment Assistant will work closely with Animal Care, Medical, Foster, and Adoption staff to communicate behavior observations and help ensure consistency in the care and handling of animals.

EDUCATIONAL OR OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• Required 18+ years old.
• Required valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Required excellent communication skills.
• Required ability to handle pets of all sizes, including large dogs.
• Required ability to perform the physical duties of the position, including repetitive standing, bending, twisting, and lifting 50 pounds.
• Required ability to remain calm, patient, and professional when working with animals exhibiting challenging or unpredictable behavior.
• Preferred experience with basic animal training or behavior modification.
• Preferred Fear Free Certification.

NOTES: Changes to schedules may occur to accommodate vacation requests or sick leave. Weekend and holiday hours are required for this position. There are also rare instances where overnight care for the animals during inclement weather are possible, but not common (less than once a year).