Canine Specialist- Part time

KC Pet Project; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 19,000 - 28,000; Part time

Job summary

KC Pet Project is seeking a Canine Specialist for a part-time role at the KC Campus for Animal Care. You will perform daily tasks such as feeding, cleaning, walking, and socializing, and assist with matchmaking dogs with adopters.

The position requires animal handling experience, customer service skills, and teamwork with staff and volunteers. You will work three shifts, including one weekend day, with supervision by the Canine Operations Director and a focus on high-quality care in a busy

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Experience in animal care and training is preferred.
• Customer service experience is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Represent KC Pet Project in a professional, polite and enthusiastic manner.
• Provide for basic needs of the pets including feeding, cleaning kennels, walking and socialization.
• Ensure adherence to training philosophy and safety procedures.
• Communicate observations to veterinary/behavior teams and update shelter records.
• Assist adopters during meet-and-greet sessions and explain animal history as needed.
• Engage with volunteers, mentoring them to support department needs.
• Follow all policies and regulatory requirements; participate in problem solving with management.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Animal care

Dog handling

Customer service

Teamwork

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

Position: Canine Specialist - Part time
Department: Canine Operations

Location: KC Campus for Animal Care, 7077 Elmwood Ave, KCMO
Reports to: Canine Operations Director
Category: Full-time, Non-exempt; $17/hour
Supervises: Volunteers supporting the department

Schedule: 3 shifts including one weekend day

Job Purpose:
The Canine Specialist at KC Pet Project is responsible for the wellness care of canines at the shelter including the completion of daily tasks such as feeding, cleaning, walking, socialization and more. In addition to daily care, this position is responsible for matchmaking dogs with adopters. The ideal candidate will have experience with animal care and training, providing excellent customer service, progressive matchmaking, and working well within a team of staff and volunteers.

Position: Canine Specialist - Part time
Department: Canine Operations

Location: KC Campus for Animal Care, 7077 Elmwood Ave, KCMO
Reports to: Canine Operations Director
Category: Full-time, Non-exempt; $17/hour
Supervises: Volunteers supporting the department

Schedule: 3 shifts including one weekend day

Job Purpose:
The Canine Specialist at KC Pet Project is responsible for the wellness care of canines at the shelter including the completion of daily tasks such as feeding, cleaning, walking, socialization and more. In addition to daily care, this position is responsible for matchmaking dogs with adopters. The ideal candidate will have experience with animal care and training, providing excellent customer service, progressive matchmaking, and working well within a team of staff and volunteers.

Daily Duties and Responsibilities:

• Represent KC Pet Project in a professional, polite, and enthusiastic manner.
• Provide for the basic needs of the pets in the care and custody of KC Pet Project. Includes but not limited to feeding, cleaning of kennels, floors, and other areas, walking, enrichment, and socialization.
• Ensure adherence to KC Pet Project’s training philosophy and policies and procedures to promote safe handling practices.
• Provide daily observation of pets in the care of KC Pet Project, effectively communicate changes or concerns to a veterinary team or behavior team in a timely manner with accurate and complete observations noted in the shelter software system.
• Provide excellent customer service, including but not limited to interactions with potential adopters, facilitating meet-and-greet session, explaining any history we have on the animal, conducting dog to dog introductions, and dealing tactfully and effectively with the public.
• Must be able to engage politely and meaningfully with volunteers and to ensure a positive and welcoming environment. Willingness to teach and to mentor volunteers to ensure their success in meeting the department’s needs.
• Adheres to all KCPP organizational and departmental policies and procedures, and to all local and state requirements, including but not limited to OSHA, Department of Agriculture, Animal Services Division, etc.
• Communicates regularly with their manager about departmental issues and actively contributes to problem solving.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Performance Factors and Necessary Skills:

• Must be able to work in a high volume, fast paced, high stress environment.
• Self-motivated, great attitude, team-oriented a must.
• Working knowledge of dog handling and behavior, including pets with challenging temperaments and with severe health conditions.
• Ability to handle pets safely and with kindness always, without exception.
• Excellent time management ability; able to juggle multiple deadlines and contradictory projects.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills; being able to make decisions in an environment of competing priorities that are in the best interest of the animal and the organization.
• Be an example of punctuality and report to work on time.
• Basic Computer Literacy (Microsoft Office, ability to learn PetPoint Database system, etc.)

Working Conditions:

Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, high noise levels, extreme temperatures, hazardous chemicals, and sharp objects. Able to lift up to 50 lb., long periods of standing, bending, stooping, reaching, animal handling, and restraint in an animal shelter-type setting. Exposure to animals of all sizes and temperament.

Qualifications/Educational Background:

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Experience working in an animal shelter or rescue organization is preferred.
• Any combination of training and experience which demonstrates successful animal handling, sanitation practices, customer service, and/or the knowledge and skills necessary for this position.
• Full time, 20-29 hours a week, including one weekend day. Some holidays are required.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

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