Temporary Animal Care Associate - Animal Shelter - San Luis Valley

Dumb Friends League; Alamosa (CO); On-site; USD 10,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an established animal welfare organization dedicated to ending pet homelessness and animal suffering. As an Animal Care Associate, you'll provide essential care for sheltered animals, ensuring their health and well-being. This role involves working closely with volunteers and other departments, contributing to a positive team environment while handling various responsibilities, including animal care, documentation, and process improvement. If you're passionate about making a difference for animals and enjoy a dynamic work setting, this is the opportunity for you!

Qualifications

• Ability to communicate effectively and work within a team.
• Experience handling animals in a shelter or similar environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide care and health monitoring for sheltered animals.
• Assist with coordination of kenneling and movement of animals.
• Direct and provide guidance for animal care volunteers.

Skills

Teamwork

Attention to Detail

Communication Skills

Flexibility

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Are you compassionate about animals and have a desire to speak for those who cannot? For over 115 years, Humane Colorado has been working to end pet homelessness and animal suffering by providing a strong and steadfast voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. As the largest community-based animal welfare organization in the region, we care for more than 20,000 homeless pets and horses each year at our four facilities and are a national model in animal welfare. If you work well with people too, join our team and help us provide that voice. As an Animal Care Associate, you will be responsible for providing humane care for sheltered animals and maintain kennel facilities.

Position Type: Temporary (Approximately 6 Months)
Estimated Start Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Schedule:

• Four 10-hour shifts per week
• Workdays: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday

Responsibilities

• Provide care, health, and handling of the animals.
• Assist with coordination of kenneling and movement of animals.
• Direct and provide guidance for animal care volunteers.
• Interact with other departments and assist with additional animal care services such as delivery of medication and treatment.
• Monitor and maintain food and supplies.
• Perform or assist with maintenance of equipment.
• Contribute to and lead initiatives to improve processes and procedures.
• Perform euthanasia and related tasks.
• Perform data entry and documentation to update animal records.
• Act as a resource for volunteers by answering questions, providing training and coaching in the moment, and addressing concerns.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and League business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Key Competencies

Key competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes and actions. More in-depth definitions regarding these competencies are available from your manager, human resources, and can be found on the employee intranet.

Organizational Key Competencies

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Position Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Conflict Management

Compensation: Starting at $20.00 - $20.90 per hour (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Handle and restrain animals of various sizes, weights, and temperaments. Subject to animal bites or scratches. Work performed in high noise level areas. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Physical efforts require constant bending, stooping, standing, climbing stairs, and walking. Frequent lifting of animals and objects up to 75 lbs. with reasonable accommodation.

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on May 8, 2025.

Requirements

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Ability to effectively communicate and work within a team environment
• High attention to detail
• Ability to complete work without close supervision
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs
• Strong interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to follow timelines for projects, accomplish multiple tasks, and maintain flexibility in a dynamic work environment.

Required

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent

Preferred

• Experience: Worked with and/or handled animals in a shelter or similar environment