Lead Animal Care Specialist

SPCA of Texas; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

SPCA of Texas in Dallas is seeking a Lead Animal Care Specialist to oversee daily shelter operations and provide daily routine care for animals in our care. You will supervise team activities, ensure adherence to established protocols, and assist with customer inquiries and animal adoptions.

The role requires strong communication, animal handling knowledge, and the ability to coordinate across teams. You may perform minor medical procedures, monitor animal health, and help maintain equipment,

Qualifications

• Must possess clear verbal and written communication skills to ensure accurate reporting of staff, animal health, or equipment concerns.
• Working knowledge of breeds, diseases, medical conditions, and animal handling and behavior.
• Ability to learn and quickly adapt to changes in programs and procedures.
• Ability to create and sustain positive working relationships within the SPCA of Texas, with volunteers, the public, and be a team player.
• Certified euthanasia training

Responsibilities

• Create a supportive learning environment and teach technical skills to team members according to the outlined protocols.
• Open and close ACC daily; cover in absence of leads per supervisor.
• Fill in for other ACC areas and perform tasks as needed.
• Oversee daily shelter operations and animal care tasks.
• Maintain quality control by inspecting staff performance.
• Answer staff questions and report policy violations to supervisors.
• Assist with initial customer inquiries and issues.
• Report health or behavior issues to supervisors.
• Care for, feed, monitor, medicate and perform minor treatments.
• Perform minor medical procedures such as vaccinations and fecal testing.
• Assist prospective clients in selecting animals for adoption.
• Advise new owners on pet examinations and adoption benefits.
• Provide information to the public about SPCA of Texas programs.
• Keep inventory of program supplies and report shortages.
• Maintain equipment and report problems.
• Assist in euthanasia under supervision when needed.
• Assign staff to manage breaks and lunches.
• Protect confidential information on customers and donors.
• Attend work on time and adhere to breaks.
• Engage with volunteers to support them and improve the program.
• Be an ambassador for SPCA of Texas and promote support options.
• Additional tasks as assigned.
• Demonstrate SPCA of Texas core values

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Animal handling

Team player

Euthanasia training

Job description

Lead Animal Care Specialist

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full-time Regular Lone Star, Dallas, TX, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 2258

This position is supervised by: ACC Supervisor

This position supervises: None

Job Summary

Responsible for providing daily routine care for animals in our care. Oversees daily shelter operations by monitoring team to ensure compliance of established protocols. Assist in overseeing daily shelter operations, including, but not limited to morning cleaning assignments, area inspections, animal movement, animal care specialist tasks, as well as the general care of animals. Responsible for daily open/close procedures and assisting with customer inquiries and/or concerns.

Summary of Essential Responsibilities

• Create a supportive learning environment and assist in teaching technical skills to team members according to the outlined protocols.
• Open and/or close ACC on a daily basis and in the absence of other leads or at the request of the ACC Supervisor/Manager or Adoption Supervisor/Manager.
• Fill in for other areas/positions of the ACC by performing tasks/functions as needed.
• Assist in overseeing daily shelter operations, including, but not limited to morning cleaning assignments, area inspections, animal movement, animal care specialist tasks, as well as the general care of animals.
• Oversee the quality control of all areas within the shelter by inspecting and monitoring staff performance.
• Answer questions from staff and report any policy or procedure violations to the ACC Supervisor/Adoptions Supervisor or ACC Manager/Adoptions Manager.
• Assist staff and ACC Supervisor/Manager or Adoptions Supervisor/Manager with initial customer inquiries and/or issues
• Report observed health or behavior issues to o the ACC Supervisor/Adoptions Supervisor or ACC Manager/Adoptions Manager.
• Care for, feed, monitor, medicate and perform minor treatment on animals.
• Perform minor medical procedures such as, but not limited to, giving vaccinations, fecal testing, giving medical treatments, assisting with behavioral or medical evaluations.
• Assist prospective clients in the selection of animals for adoption.
• Advise new owners of pet examinations, adoption benefits, policies and procedures.
• Provide information to the public about SPCA of Texas programs and promote good animal care and responsible pet ownership.
• Keep current inventory of necessary program supplies and report shortages to ACC Supervisor.
• Maintain assigned equipment and supplies and report any problems or needed repairs to ACC Supervisor/Manager or Adoptions Supervisor/Manager.
• Under the guidance of the ACC Supervisor/Manager, perform/assist in euthanasia for an animal that is in severe medical distress with no viable option for treatment.
• Assign staff appropriately to help ensure breaks and lunches are properly managed.
• Protect the confidential information on customers and donors.
• Report to work at assigned start time; go to/return from breaks and lunch at assigned times; leave work at assigned quitting time.
• Actively engage with volunteers in such a way that provides support for our volunteers and staff and proactively improves our volunteer program.
• Be an ambassador for the SPCA of Texas, sharing the work and mission with your friends and family and be knowledgeable of the various ways to support our work.
• Additional tasks as assigned by the ACC Supervisor/Adoptions Supervisor or ACC Manager/Adoptions Manager.
• Demonstrate the Core Values of the SPCA of Texas on and off the job.

Required Experience

• The individual performing this job may be required to operate an SPCA of Texas vehicle and perform driver duties as directed if the individual meets the SPCA’s requirements to become a driver. To be eligible, the individual must be 21 years old to meet insurance requirements and must be qualified and licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the State of Texas.
• Must possess clear verbal and written communication skills to ensure accurate reporting of staff, animal health, or equipment concerns.
• Working knowledge of breeds, diseases, medical conditions, and animal handling and behavior.
• Ability to learn and quickly adapt to changes in programs and procedures.
• Ability to create and sustain positive working relationships within the SPCA of Texas, with volunteers, the public, and be a team player.
• Certified Euthanasia training

Typical Challenges

• Dealing with fractious animals
• Regular exposure to animal odors, diseases, possible contagious conditions, bites, scratches, animal waste, and moderate noise levels.
• Regular exposure to the outdoors in a variety of weather conditions.
• Managing multiple tasks simultaneously
• Customer and staffing issues

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• This position is regularly required to use hands to fingers, handle, and talk and hear. The incumbent is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel or crouch. The position holder must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
• While performing the duties of this job this position may be exposed to animal odors or airborne particles.
• The noise level in the work environment is occasionally high.
• Must be prepared to be outside under all weather conditions

Working Conditions

The individual performing this job may be required to work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

Normally scheduled 5 days per week, 8 hours per day between the hours of 7am and 7pm.