Animal Care Worker, Austin Animal Services, (Animal Care Division)

About This Position

The Animal Care Worker is responsible for the basic feeding and cleaning up of the animals at the Austin Animal Center. This includes dogs, cats, reptiles, livestock and more. This position reports to the Animal Services Supervisor, and the leads on duty who guide/mentor/assist with any questions concerning day-to-day operations. This is a physically demanding position that works in the elements, including summer heat and winter cold, and will be on their feet for upwards of 9 hours a day.

Job Description

Purpose

This position performs all aspects of human animal care duties to ensure animal safety and well-being and provides quality customer service by providing the public with assistance and accurate information regarding Animal Services" policies, programs, and procedures.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities

Essential duties and functions, pursual to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the follow. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Cleans, disinfects and maintains shelter areas as assigned.

• Feeds, waters, bathes, dips and exercises animals.  Provides humane sheltering services in compliance with State minimum standards and shelter policies.

• Safely and humanely handles animals, of unknown health and temperament.

• Assists in monitoring the medical/behavioral status of animals and performs related health care activities.

• Contributes to the programs and services that support the shelter’s live outcome goal.

• Loads dead animals onto trucks.

• Ensures the safety of animals and people in the shelter.

• Accurately maintains all required records in the shelter’s database.

• Provides information to the public.

• Assists in unloading trucks, stocking shelter areas and storing materials. Assists in preparation, transport and documentation of specimens for rabies testing.

• Maintains facility and grounds in a clean, neat and organized manner.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised

• None.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques and principles.

• Knowledge of animal services and related programs

• Skill in safely handling animals, including those with unknown temperament.

• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.

• Ability to adhere to disease management and safety protocols.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with City employees and the public.

Minimum Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus six (6) months of work experience.

Licenses and Certifications Required

• None.

Notes to Candidate

The Animal Care Worker is responsible for the basic feeding and cleaning up of the animals at the Austin Animal Center.This includes dogs, cats, reptiles, livestock and more. This position reports to the Animal Services Supervisor, and the leads on duty who guide/mentor/assist with any questions concerning day-to-day operations. This is a physically demanding position that works in the elements, including summer heat and winter cold, and will be on their feet for upwards of 9 hours a day.

PREFFERED QUALIFICATIONS

• Demonstrated experience working in a high stress shelter or rescue environment, and the ability to prioritize daily tasks with competing priorities.

• Demonstrated experience providing excellent customer service to both internal and external customers in a professional work setting, and the ability to de-escalate conflicts in a professional manner.

• Demonstrated attention to detail relating to cleaning, disinfecting, and reporting changes in dogs’ behavior and/or medical concerns in a professional work setting.

• Demonstrated experience in an animal-related field, including animal husbandry, health, and basic care.

• Demonstrated experience with 50+ lb. dogs with behavioral issues, in a professional work setting, including the ability to lift 50+ lb. dogs.

Who Are We?

Austin Animal Services’ mission is to enhance the lives of pets and people by preventing animal homelessness, to help lost pets find their way home or find new homes, to provide education and resources to preserve the human-animal bond, and to administer animal-related ordinances to ensure public and animal safety, all while achieving a 95% live outcome rate for sheltered pets.

We offer outstanding benefits including several health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more. Please click City of Austin Benefits for more information.

Regarding Your Application:  Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications. A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Be sure to provide job titles and employment dates for all jobs you wish to be considered. A cover letter and a résumé are required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please include contact information from previous employers.

Pay Rate: $22.05 - $24.26

Hours

Sunday - Wednesday: 7:00 am - 6:00 pm (Full-Time position schedule)

Thursday - Saturday, three (3) 10-hr. shifts, (TEMPORARY position schedule, 30 hrs. per week)

The Austin Animal Center is open seven days a week, schedule will include weekends and holidays. Depending on the needs of the organization, weekly schedule may exceed 40 hours.

PLEASE NOTE: Austin Animal Services is not a 100% remote operation.  This position is considered “essential;” employees may be required to report to work when the City of Austin offices are otherwise closed (bad weather, etc.).

Work Location:   Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, Bldg. A, Austin, TX 78702

If you are selected to interview: Military/Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 at the time of initial interview to receive military/veteran interview preference.

If you are selected for hire:  You must provide proof of education which may include your official college transcript, High School diploma, GED or equivalent degree and your professional licenses. A Criminal Background check (CBI) will be conducted.

Additional Information:  Austin Public Health/Austin Animal Services’ worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any APH/AAS worksite – including construction sites, parking lot, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

90-Day Provision for Additional Vacancy: This posting may be used to fill other vacancies in other sections within the Division. Decisions on assigned section will be made at the time of hire based on business needs.

PLEASE NOTE: this posting may close any time after 7 days .

Essential Employee:
This position has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a city-designated extraordinary situation or emergency condition, essential employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees, as well as ensure the continuity of essential operations. Essential Employees may be called back in during such events, required to modify their schedule, assigned to a City-designated work site, or retained on-site to assist with operations and recovery.

Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply , but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed . All application steps, including