Animal care specialist job description

High school diploma or GED required as well as 2 year of experience working with individuals with mental illness or in the human services field. • Individual must be 18 years of age or older. • Must have a valid Kansas driver’s license and reliable transportation with auto insurance. • Be able to pass criminal background check and DCF Child & Adult Abuse Registry check. • Requires knowledge of basic computer skills. • Must be able to complete required KsTrain online trainings and program trainings. • Must be able to perform day-to-day physical requirements of the position, including but not limited to- 20% of scheduled time; data entry, answering the phone and computer work, 80% of scheduled time; ability to lift up to 25 pounds, frequently moving around the building and community, repetitive moving, carrying and lifting as the job demand. • Ability to work day, evening, night, weekend & holidays shifts based on the needs of the program.

Salary Range

$16.63 – $17.98**Valeo offers Shift Differential ~~ 2nd shift – 75 cents/hr., 3rd shift – $1.50/hr., weekend – $2.00/hr.**

Hours

Full time and Part time positions are benefit eligible

Full Time Hours

Fulltime 1st shift Sun-Thurs – 2 positions

Fulltime 1st shift Tues-Sat – 1 position

Fulltime 2nd shift Sun-Thurs – 2 positions

Fulltime 2nd shift Tues-Sat – 1 position

Fulltime 3rd shift Sun-Thurs- 1 position

Fulltime 3rd shift Tues-Sat- 1 position

Part Time Hours

Part Time 1st shift Fri, Sat, Sun, M – 2 positions

Part Time 2nd shift Fri, Sat, Sun, M – 2 positions

Part Time 3rd shift Fr, Sat, Sun, M – 2 positions

Are you looking to make a difference in the lives of pets and people? With an almost year-round beautiful blue sky and a scenic mountain backdrop, HSPPR is a nonprofit animal shelter serving El Paso, Pueblo, and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial. We employ a total of 200+ employees. We are an organization that celebrates and prioritizes diversity and inclusion.

The Animal Care Specialist is responsible for providing training to Animal Care Technicians (I & II) as well as Animal Care Assistants; ensuring that high quality animal care is being provided and that animals are being processed in an efficient and timely manner; assists to support staff for consistency and operates in a coordinated, efficient, and effective manner in accordance with department protocols. The Animal Care Specialist ensures an environment of compassionate and respectful animal and people care in accordance with HSPPR's mission, values, goals, and management philosophy.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Animal Care Operations
Adheres to high quality standards of animal care, handling, and sanitation and performance is consistent with protocols, including but not limited to ensuring that animals are fed according to dietary instructions; cleaning and disinfecting of animal enclosures, dishes and other equipment used; completing laundry duties; assists with the flow and movement of the animal population.
Performs intake and follow-up exams, including daily exam reviews, vaccine boosters, and health and weight checks. Responsible for identifying health concerns for animals and reporting findings to the medical team. Serves as the Euthanasia Lead, performing humane euthanasia of animals as well as proper care and disposal of deceased animals. Trains new and existing Animal Care Technicians (I & II) as well as Animal Care Assistants in all aspects of the animal care department, including high quality standards of animal care, handling, and sanitation and that staff performance is consistent with protocols. Assists in keeping all training manuals, procedures, checklists, and tests up to date. Makes appropriate routing decisions for animals based on health, behavior, and other considerations. Conducts audits of areas and reviews audits with staff; submits paperwork or digital results to supervisors/managers. Performs all Animal Care job duties as needed.


Relationships
Cultivates and maintains relationships with peers and volunteers. Supports staff and volunteers; provide quality services to clients, volunteers, and employees, recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization.


Communication
Communicates issues and concerns to the Animal Care Supervisors. Communicates effectively with staff and volunteers so pertinent parties are informed of animal care issues/information. Documents staff and volunteer complaints. Handles complaints and/or concerns with professionalism and good judgment. Involves Animal Care Manager as necessary. Communicates with and provides regular feedback and/or coaching to volunteers in a professional and timely manner. Informs Animal Care Manager of developments that may affect HSPPR or the department including department progress, media exposure, public image, client concerns, and personnel issues.


Fiscal Responsibility
Properly maintains equipment used. Restocks all supply items daily. Reports need for ordering, maintenance, and inventory of supplies and equipment. Plans and organizes in anticipation of future needs.


Other
Commitment to the mission, values, goals and success of HSPPR. Appropriately documents observed animal behaviors utilizing objective language as required in relevant procedures and/or policies. Perform all other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Duties
None
Physical Demands
Regularly sits at computer station, often in a shared office environment. The employee must regularly lift and/or move 25 or more pounds of moving weight and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 or more pounds of moving weight. Occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and smell. Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time. Must be able to use both hands and arms to grip, pull and push utilizing safety equipment such as, but not limited to catch poles, snappy snares, leashes, ropes, muzzles. Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available. Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception. Must handle various animals of various sizes, including aggressive animals Exposed to zoonotic diseases. Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions. Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing toxic or caustic chemicals.
Schedule Requirements
Schedule will include weekend and holiday work.
Education/Experience Necessary
One year of professional experience working with animals in an animal welfare, zoological organization, or other animal care field desired Certified to euthanize at HSPPR required; if not currently certified, must become fully trained and certified within sixty (60) days of start date Excellent verbal and written communications skills Previous teaching or training experience preferred Knowledge of veterinary care/animal health desired



The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care, our organization, and our community.

Core Values Statements-
Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness, respect, and compassion.
Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve.
Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission, always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community, and by standing united in our decisions.
Excellence: We are passionate about our mission, and strive for excellence through continual learning, innovation, and the development of our board, staff and volunteers.
Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people.
Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do.



Job Posted by ApplicantPro

The Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM) provides for the care, health and well-being of all research animals used in the pursuit of scientific achievement and excellence at Baylor College of Medicine. CCM provides the highest quality veterinary and animal care and acts as a resource for the faculty on veterinary and scientific issues relating to the use of laboratory animals. Animal Care Specialist completes more complex animal caretaking duties & begins to specialize in the care of individual species.All actions are completed strictly and consistently by following applicable CCM standard operating procedures (SOPs) including safety procedures & guidelines. They will report any suspected or actual deviations to standard operating procedures (SOP's) or non-routine situations immediately to the Lead or their Manager.Animal Care Specialist will arrive, leave & take breaks at work as scheduled.Strictly adheres to CCM attendance policy.
Completes animal caretaking duties specializing in the care of multiple species. Performs caretaking duties that involve specialized handling, feeding & general care of animals. Solves complex animal caretaking problems using extensive knowledge & experience. Provides training, mentoring & work direction to junior staff, assisting with problems as necessary. Conducts census counts. Euthanizes animals according to CCM policy. Organizes feed and bedding supplies in storage facilities and prepares refuse for disposal. Maintains efficient organization and flow of equipment through assigned areas. Provides coverage for shortage of staff in husbandry operations & other areas within the facility. Works with multiple species that includes dogs, pigs, primates and sheep are housed in the facility.



Minimum Qualifications



High School diploma or GED. One year of relevant experience. Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) by the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS).


Baylor College of Medicine requires employees to be fully vaccinated -subject to approved exemptions-against vaccine-preventable diseases including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and influenza.

Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.

13300

CA