Animal Care Specialist

Reporting directly to the Animal Care Supervisor, responsible for providing care to animals within the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter, by providing a positive quality of life to the animals, customer service to potential adopters, and always maintaining a clean and safe shelter. Level I of II in Animal Care Specialist.

•  Conducts daily cleaning and disinfection of kennel area, and other shelter areas, to include laundry, washing animal dishware, and other custodial tasks
• Supplies food, water, toys, clean bedding, socialization time, and routine enrichment care
• Offers assistance to potential adopters with the animals, answering questions, transporting animals to and from kennel areas, and assessing likelihood of matches for adoptions
• Performs customer service duties related to the intake and processing of animals for impoundment, adoption and redemption
• Administers routine well-being checks of all animals, documenting any concerns and communicating to Operations Manager for follow-up
• Assists medical staff with medical workups and vaccinations of animals
• Socializes fractious animals to help them become adoptable, and assist with behavior modification plans as written by the Animal Behavior Coordinator 
• Restocks cleaning and animal care supplies throughout the facility as needed
• Utilizes shelter software to record and communicate information about animals, including up-to-date medical and behavior histories
• Helps identify animals that are candidates for outside rescue organizations or foster care
• Transports animals to other facilities, as needed
• Provides supervision and training to volunteer staff and community service workers, by overseeing daily work tasks, offering guidance as needed
• Follows all safety measures and policies, including proper animal restraints and reading animal behavioral cues, and promptly reports any safety incidents to leadership
• Performs special duties as assigned

ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to – Animal Care Supervisor
• Direct Reports – No 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Position involves prolonged standing, walking, twisting, bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pushing, pulling, and other fine motor repetitive motions
• Position requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine motor coordination
• Position involves lifting and carrying of animals and equipment weighing up to fifty (50) pounds, or up to one hundred (100) pounds with assistance, and exertion of up to twenty-five (25) pounds of force to move objects
• Ability to hear and/or see alert cues regarding animal and staff security 

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• Work tasks are conducted indoors and outdoors
• May work outside in inclement weather, including extreme heat, cold and wet conditions
• Frequent handling of animals, including contact with waste and blood
• Exposure to unpleasant smells and a noisy and wet environment associated with a shelter
• Frequent exposure animals that are agitated or injured that may attempt to bite or scratch 

IRREGULAR HOURS

• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays is a schedule requirement
• May be deemed essential personnel for emergency situations, at discretion of Director

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.

• High school diploma/degree and six (6) months of experience working with animals in an animal hospital, shelter, or related animal facility; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Demonstrated customer service and communication skills

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Required within thirty (30) days of employment

• Valid driver’s license 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Two (2) years of experience working with animals in an animal hospital, shelter, or related animal facility 
• One (1) year of animal welfare experience
• Knowledge of dog and cat body language cues
• Euthanasia certification
• Basic Animal Control certification

EMPLOYMENT TESTING 
Employment is contingent on passing any post-offer pre-employment screening as listed below:

• Criminal background check: Yes
• Motor Vehicle Record check: Yes
• Drug screening: Yes
• Physical exam: No
• Psychological exam: No
• Additional: N/A

A Williamson County online application (resumes alone are not sufficient) must be received before the position is closed. Positions are open until filled, subject to close at any time after five (5) business days. The Human Resources Department is located at 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626. Phone (512) 943-1533 or visit our website at www.wilco.org/hr. 
 
 Williamson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).  If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.
 
TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE POLICY
 Williamson County is a tobacco free workplace. The use of tobacco and non-tobacco products such as vapor, e-cigarettes and the use of chewing tobacco or like products is prohibited on all Williamson County premises. Employees who violate this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.