Part-Time Animal Shelter Assistant

City of Rohnert Park; Rohnert Park (CA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 1,378,000; Part time

Job summary

The City of Rohnert Park is seeking two Part-Time Animal Shelter Assistants to support operations at the city’s animal shelter. Work involves animal care, front desk duties, and coordinating volunteers. This is a part-time, at-will role with no fringe benefits and potential for an eligibility list for future openings.

Two positions exist; bilingual Spanish is preferred but not required. Schedule averages 20 hours per week with flexibility across a year, and shifts may include weekends or

Qualifications

• Education equivalent to a high school diploma.
• Two years of animal-related work experience preferred.
• Valid California driver’s license is required.

Responsibilities

• Clean, feed, and medicate animals.
• Maintain clean animal enclosures and cages; manage litter boxes.
• Assist with adoption events and license sales; process payments.
• Answer front desk inquiries and maintain daily records; assist with website/social media updates.
• Coordinate volunteer program activities and training.
• Provide customer service at the front counter and over the phone.
• Assist with intake of strays or owner-surrendered animals and with euthanasia as needed.
• May drive animals to veterinary offices for medical attention.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Data entry

Computer skills

Public interaction

Animal handling

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Office software

Job description

Do you like animals?? Love working with the public? Have excellent computer skills? The City of RP is looking for an outgoing, organized, hard-working Part-time Animal Shelter Assistant.

The City of Rohnert Park is seeking two (2) compassionate, caring and hardworking individuals to fill a Part Time Animal Shelter Assistant position. This recruitment is open until filled and will also create an eligibility list which may be used for future openings.

*Bilingual in Spanish is preferred but not required

This position is budgeted to work an average of 20 hours per week (up to a maximum of 1,000 hours per fiscal year, i.e. July 1st through June 30th) and requires flexibility in work hours at the City's 365 days a year Animal Shelter. There are no fringe benefits with this part-time hourly "at will" position.

PLEASE NOTE:

CalPERS retirees may not work for the City of Rohnert Park more than 960 hours per fiscal year, nor in a permanent position. Work assignments must be temporary, i.e. typically limited to 12 months.

DEFINITION

Under direct supervision, assists in the operation and maintenance of the Rohnert Park Animal Shelter, including cleaning kennels, cages, dishes and litter boxes; feeding, medicating and exercising the animals; cooperatively works with other staff and volunteers, including junior volunteers; assists in the intake of strays and owner-surrendered animals, and the redemption and adoption of animals from the Shelter; helps maintain records; provides front counter and phone coverage; and performs related work as required.

The Part-Time Animal Shelter Assistant is responsible for performing a wide variety of office and field duties at the City's Animal Shelter. This classification differs from the Animal Shelter Technician in that the latter class is primarily responsible for carrying out the direction of a licensed veterinarian in providing medical treatment and care to animals.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED

General supervision is provided by the Animal Shelter Supervisor or his/her designee.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Cleans, feeds, and medicates animals
• Clean animal enclosures and cages, scoop and change out litterboxes, and keeps all areas of the Shelter clean and sanitary
• Ensures animals are properly cared for
• Assists with the sale of animal licenses and the collection of established fees
• Assists members of the public seeking to redeem an impounded animal or adopt an animal
• Performs front office duties including maintaining daily records, answering incoming calls and completes simple reports; answers citizen inquiries and provides shelter information to the public; conduct tours of the facility
• Oversees adoption events at business, farmers markets and other off site locations
• Assists in Volunteer Program coordination including recruiting volunteers, training new volunteers, tracking work schedules, and providing orientations to new volunteers
• Receives and records payment for licenses and adoptions as needed
• Provides customer service at the front counter in person and on the phone
• Utilizes computers and computer software programs; assists with updating website and social media sites that promote Animal Shelter programs, services and events
• Washes dishes, laundry, and performs janitorial duties
• Exercises good judgment when dealing with difficult situations and customers
• Assists in the intake of strays or owner-surrendered animals
• Assists with euthanasia of animals as necessary
• Provides input on temperament of animals
• May drive animals to vet offices for medical attention
• May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker in the event of a disaster or emergency
• May attend and/or oversee adoption events that include transporting animals and oversight of on-site adoptions
• Performs other duties as assigned

CITY EMPLOYEES ARE EXPECTED TO:

• Provide outstanding and friendly customer service
• Create and maintain a respectful and collaborative working environment
• Communicate honestly and behave in a manner that is ethical, legal and fiscally responsible
• Demonstrate care for the organization, customers and coworkers
• Practice and encourage initiative and innovation to improve the workplace

QUALIFICATIONS

Sufficient education, training and/or experience to successfully perform the duties assigned to the Part-time Animal Shelter Assistant.

EDUCATION/TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE

• Education equivalent to a high school diploma
• Two years of animal-related work experience, paid or unpaid, is preferred

LICENSING AND CERTIFICATION:

• Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License and a good driving record is required
• Possession of a Euthanasia Certificate is desirable

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• Techniques for properly handling and caring for animals
• Operation and functions of an animal shelter
• Physical and behavioral characteristics of domestic animals; breed identificationbasic office functions, working with the public, and customer service skills
• Basic math and cashiering skills
• Computers and standard software programs and web-based programs
• Risk management policies, procedures and techniques
• Proper documentation and recordkeeping

SKILL TO:

• Safely assess and handle scared or fractious animals
• Perform data entry quickly and accurately
• Write legibly

ABILITY TO:

• Effectively and safely handle a variety of animals, including fractious dogs, feral cats, and occasionally, exotic animals
• Lift and carry a maximum of 50 pounds (i.e. animals, bags of litter, etc.)
• Process payments
• Perform basic math transactions
• Maintain accurate records
• Follow oral and written directions
• Deal effectively and tactfully with the general public
• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships
• Learn and utilize new technology

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must be 18 years of age
• Must be available year-round and able to work a flexible schedule.The Animal Shelter is staffed 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to approximately 8 p.m., including all holidays.Work shifts are 6-11 hours typically.
• Per California State Law, smoking is not permitted inside City facilities/vehicles or within 20 feet of main entrances, exits and operable windows.

Position requires extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, and turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping in the performance of daily activities. This position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in preparing statistical reports and data, using a computer keyboard. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Hearing is required when providing phone and counter service. The incumbent is frequently around animals that are agitated or injured and may attempt to bite or scratch. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is exposed to outside weather conditions, wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, fur, hay, dust and vibration. The noise level in the work environment may be moderate to loud, depending on working conditions.

~EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER~INFORMATION SUBJECT TO CHANGE