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

Job Description:

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

Description

About This Position

Provides animal care and customer service; kennel space management; mediates animal related complaints; schedules, monitors performance, and trains/delegates Animal Services staff in performance of job duties.

Job Description:

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

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

• Receives, handles, and kennels animals of all species including those of unknown temperament, aggressive, sick, and injured.
  
• Performs basic maintenance to ensure the safety of all employees, the public, and animals.
  
• Performs a weekly inventory of supplies and orders. Maintains relevant written and electronic records; enters and retrieves information regarding animals’ behavior, health, and kennel needs.
  
• Assists the public with adoptions and finding lost animals by answering questions, providing education, and assisting potential adopters with animal handling and counsel, as needed.
  
• Monitors animals’ physical conditions and performs health care as directed by the veterinarian.
  
• Performs receiving, reclaiming, animal care, and adoption duties.
  
• Manages cage and kennel space by performing daily inventory/health inspections of animals.
  
• Attends training, maintains certifications, and trains other personnel on cleaning/disinfection, animal handling, and other animal care duties.
  
• Assists other personnel, law enforcement agencies, and other organizations as necessary.
  
• Provides animal husbandry; cleans, disinfects, and maintains animal areas to ensure disease management protocol and safety; conducts daily inspections of shelter animals and areas to ensure proper safety, health, and care.
  
• Reviews policies and procedures to ensure they are up to date.
  
• Facilitates aspects of daily animal care operations, including management of space, creates a staff roster, holds morning team meetings, adjusts daily plans for the unit, etc., as needed/assigned.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others
  

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.

• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
  
• Ability to adhere to disease management and safety protocols.
  
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  
• Ability to train others.
  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years of work experience one (1) year experience in a field related to the job.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• Valid Texas Class C Driver's License.
  

Notes to Candidate:

The Animal Care Specialist reports to the Animal Services Supervisor and Program Manager I and is responsible for the flow of day-to-day operations in the Animal Care Division. This position provides training and guidance to on duty staff, including inspecting staff on daily assigned duties to reinforce standard operating procedures. The Animal Care Specialist is also in charge of sending daily emails, duty roster, inventory, and maintaining kennel space.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Demonstrated experience multi-tasking multiple high level priority situations and delegate accordingly in a shelter environment.
  
• Demonstrated experience providing excellent customer service both internal and external customers while communicating goals & plans to staff, and de-escalating conflicts.
  
• Demonstrated experience monitoring the behavior and medical needs of animals and reporting these changes to the appropriate team to ensure the safety of our clients.
  
• Demonstrated experience managing and training staff, assigning tasks, and ensuring compliance with protocols.
  
• Demonstrated experience with an animal inventory system like Chameleon, Shelter Buddy, Pet Sense, or equivalent program.
  

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 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: $23.13 - $26.26

Hours: 8:30 am - 7:30 pm, Monday-Tuesday & Friday-Saturday

Four (4) 10-hour shifts

The Austin Animal Center is open seven days a week, so schedule will include at least one weekend day and holidays.

Depending on the needs of the organization, weekly hours may exceed 40 hours and scheduled days may change.

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

Driving Requirement:
This position requires a Valid Class “C” Texas Driver License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months. The job offer is contingent on having a driving record that meets the City’s Driver Record Evaluation Standards.

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 attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once the position has been unposted, it will no longer be viewable.

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JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM



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What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued, and innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
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By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

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EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2026-07-06