Animal Rescue Specialist

Animal Care Centers of NYC; New York (NY); On-site; USD 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401K and Pension

Life Insurance

On-the-job training

Job summary

Animal Care Centers of NYC is seeking an Animal Rescue Specialist to provide emergency animal rescue and compassionate care across all five boroughs, serving as the front-line liaison between ACC and the community. You will handle various species with low-stress techniques, manage field assignments, perform data entry for animal intakes, and promote ACC services and adoptions to the public.

This is a union, full‑time role with a Monday–Sunday schedule (11 am–9 pm) and overtime as needed; ACC

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Valid Driver’s License required.
• 6 months of previous animal handling and/or customer service experience required.
• Must have basic computer skills.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Handle various species of animals using low-stress handling techniques and ensure safe transport from the field back to the shelter or for release.
• Prioritize and respond to rescue assignments across the five boroughs of NYC.
• Oversee routine maintenance of the transport van and related equipment.

Skills

Valid Driver's License

Animal handling

Basic computer skills

Customer service

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Job description

The working schedule for this position is Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Saturday from 11 am - 9 pm with Monday, Thursday, and Friday off.

This is a union position. Work schedules are subject to change based on seniority during the shift bid process and may include overtime as required.

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 20,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life‑saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals.

We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary

Keeping animals and people safe throughout the five boroughs is an essential function of ACC’s operations. The Animal Rescue Specialist is a community focused position responsible for helping promote a safe community for people, pets, and wildlife, by providing emergency animal rescue and response in all five boroughs. Under the direction of the Animal Rescue Team supervisors, they serve as the front line liaison between ACC and the community, delivering excellent customer service, compassionate animal care, and a top notch representation of who ACC is as an organization.

Required Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Valid Driver’s License required.
• 6 months of previous animal handling and/or customer service experience required.
• Must have basic computer skills.
• Must be able to lift at least 50 lbs.

ACC values work/life balance and offers a generous paid‑time‑off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on‑the‑job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff trainings to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax‑free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Please use this link for more details on our benefits package.

Essential Job Functions

• Handle various species of animals using low stress handling techniques, including; companion animals, native wildlife, exotic pets, and occasional farm animals while ensuring that animals are provided with a comfortable, safe transport from the field back to the shelter; or to the field for release.
• Using excellent time‑management, prioritize and respond to various assignments for animal rescues within the 5 boroughs of New York City.
• Oversee routine maintenance of the transport van which may include bringing the van to and from scheduled appointments.

Other Responsibilities

• Maintain a clean vehicle, disinfect cages, and equipment according to ACC policy and procedures.
• Maintain a clean driving record and practice safe driving habits.
• Work cooperatively with various ACC departments, programs, volunteers and external partners.
• Deliver compassionate and professional client service in emotional and stressful situations, provide appropriate onsite counseling, advice and direction for further follow up, and accurate information and representation of ACC as an organization.
• Be a proactive resource to the community, promoting ACC services and information aimed at adoption, surrender prevention, free vaccine clinics, food bank, low cost and free spay/neuter, and TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return).
• Gather extensive detail from various point people involved in any response; may include members of the public, partnering organizations, and internal stakeholders.
• Act as an ambassador for the organization in the community.
• Conduct data entry for animal intakes including creating comprehensive animal profiles and detailed reports, providing as much information as possible for pathway planning and delivery of services.
• Fear Free certification within 30 days of hire.
• Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous professional driving experience is preferred.
• Ability to excel in a fast‑paced, often high stress environment.
• Must be forward thinking and anticipate challenges, responding to them quickly and completely.
• Is an expert communicator, a people person, and a team player.
• Is organized, detail oriented, able to maintain composure when faced with emotional situations including medically and behaviorally compromised animals.

At ACC it's all hands‑on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. ACC houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance.

ACC offers many low‑cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end‑of‑life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.

Reports To

Field Services Manager

Overtime

This is a union position and is eligible for overtime.