Dog Care Technician (Full-Time)

Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA; Forest (VA); On-site; USD 17,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, and vision insurance

PTO with increases every other year

Employer sponsored life insurance

Supplemental insurance offerings (SSTD

Hill’s Pro Staff Feeding program

Discounts for multiple valley partners

Staff and volunteer appreciation

$0 adoption fee

Job summary

Rockingham-Harrisonburg SPCA is seeking an Animal Care Technician (Dog Team) to provide daily care for dogs, including feeding, cleaning, and monitoring health and behavior. The role supports the Shelter Operations department and requires flexibility for weekend and holiday work, with shifts from 7:00am to 4:00pm as a full-time position.

Responsibilities include humane animal care, records documentation, and collaboration with staff and volunteers.

Qualifications

• Good time management and oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to work well with staff, volunteers, and the public.
• High school diploma or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Clean animal housing areas, facilities, and equipment per SOPs.
• Feed animals and monitor daily medical and behavioral health; report concerns.
• Provide mental and physical exercise and humane care to animals.
• Assist with laundry, dishes, and deep cleaning of crates, traps, and equipment.

Skills

Time management

Oral & written communication

Teamwork

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Job description

JOB TITLE:Animal Care Technician (Dog Team)

DEPARTMENT:Shelter Operations

ACCOUNTABILITY:Animal Care Manager

SCHEDULE:Full-Time shifts are 7:00am to 4:00pm unless otherwise assigned. Flexibility in scheduling is a must.This position will include weekend and holiday work.

FUNCTION:Under direct responsibility of the Animal Care Manager, the primary responsibilities include daily feeding of animals, cleaning of animal housing areas, monitoring, and reporting on the medical and behavioral health of the animals, providing mental and physical exercise to the animals, and general cleaning and upkeep of facilities and equipment. Animal Care team members are also responsible for the deep cleaning of our crates, traps, and equipment and are required to assist with laundry and dishes as needed.

Why Join RHSPCA?

We’re a forward-thinking, optimistic team that values attention to detail, collaboration, and passionate care. If you enjoy working with talented people and want your work to make a tangible difference every day, we’d love to hear from you.

Staff Perks

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• PTO with increases every other year as well as time off for bereavement and your birthday
• Employer sponsored life insurance
• Supplemental insurance offerings (Short-Term Disability, Critical Care, Accident, Cancer, and Hospital Indemnity)
• All employees with the RHSPCA can take advantage of the Hill’s Pro Staff Feeding program, which offers significant discounts on their products.
• Discount offerings to multiple businesses throughout the valley
• Staff and volunteer appreciation events
• $0 adoption fee on your first pet adopted through the RHSPCA

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

General:

1. Perform duties in a manner which encourages attainment of RHSPCA goals.
2. Work courteously and cooperatively with the staff, volunteers, fosters, and the public.
3. Follow all RHSPCA policies and procedures, prioritizing people’s safety and animal wellbeing.
4. Ensure quality care and humane treatment for the animals owned by the RHSPCA.
5. Participates in meetings with other staff members and shares ideas and suggestions designed to improve working conditions, welfare of pets and the organization.

Communication:

1. Provide excellent people service and engagement to staff, volunteers, and the public alike.
2. Communicate effectively, written, and oral, to ensure pertinent information is exchanged in a productive and professional manner.
3. Proficiency with email and ability keep themselves abreast of new information shared via email.
4. Appropriately utilizes the shelter software to ensure thoroughness and completeness of animal records and to document health and behavioral concerns.

Animal Care & Husbandry:

1. Responsible for cleaning of animal areas, equipment, general facilities cleaning and laundry per operational guidelines.
2. Practice safe and humane treatment of animals with interactions geared towards improving adoptability of the animals.
3. Provide for the medical and behavioral needs of the animals as instructed.
4. Provides proper care and feeding of pets in assigned areas as directed by Animal Care Manager and indicated in the Standard Operating Procedures.
5. Notify appropriate staff of repairs and maintenance needed on premises and assist with such repairs and maintenance as needed.
6. Report any health, behavioral and safety concerns of animals being cared for. Monitors and reports changes in disposition and health daily.

Volunteers

1. Engage volunteers and share knowledge with them to best utilize their time with the RHSPCA.

Perform other duties as assigned.

TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

RHSPCA is seeking a hardworking, honest and resourceful person to help us provide excellent care for the animals in our care. The right person for this role should have commitment to and enthusiasm for our mission. Good time management and oral and written communication skills, the ability to work well with others and a desire to learn are a must.

High school diploma or equivalent preferred. Previous experience working with animals is not required.

PHYSICAL_REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to lift 35 lbs., stand for long periods of time, move quickly, work with and around animals (including diseased, injured and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, inclement weather along with evening, weekend and holiday work times.

COMPENSATION

This is an hourly position offering a starting rate of $15/hr.After a period of employment, the Animal Care Technician is eligible for health benefits and PTO.

NATURE OF EMPLOYMENT

There is no minimum period of employment guaranteed or implied by acceptance of an offer of employment. It is the policy of the RHSPCA that employment for this position is at will, which means that employment for no specified term and the employee or agency may terminate that employment at any time without cause. This job description serves as a guide.