Animal Care Specialist

Position: Animal Care Specialists (Part Time and Full Time Hourly Positions)

Organizational Background:

Texas Humane Heroes (TXHH) is a private, non-profit organization with hopes to build a community where every pet has a lifetime home. TXHH is a dynamic, growth-oriented organization that operates adoption centers located in the greater Austin metropolitan area and the Killeen/Fort Hood area. Headquarters is located at 10930 E. Crystal Falls Parkway, Leander, Texas.

Position Overview:

TXHH Animal Care Specialist will understand and communicate Texas Humane Heroes mission, vision and goals, follow cleaning protocols, handle animals safely, and exhibit a positive and professional attitude. The position is responsible for the health, care, and wellbeing of all animals that are in the care of Texas Humane Heroes, for the entire duration of the time they are in our care.

Please note: this position is physically demanding. Approximately four hours each day are dedicated to deep cleaning of kennels and animal areas. Afternoon hours involve actively orchestrating and participating in animal enrichment and exercise.

Organizational Structure:

The Animal Care Specialists report directly to the Senior Adoption Center Manager, Assistant Manager, and Paw Pad and Intake Supervisors

Position Responsibilities:

TIER 1:

(Part Time or Full Time, $12.00-12.25/hr)

Animal Intake

• Prepare kennel space for new arrivals.

• Ability to evaluate animal behavior and medical issues.

• Help clean transport crates once animals have been secured.

• Assist Intake Coordinator on shelter visits and animal pulls.

Animal Care and Cleaning:

• Care, feed, water & ensure overall wellness of animals: Work with dogs and cats in a positive and safe manner.

• Cleaning and organizing animal housing facility, following cleaning and disease prevention procedures, taking pride in how the adoption center looks, feels and smells. Going above and beyond for the animals, customers and organization.

• Ensure that laundry and dishes are done daily and areas remain clean and organized

• Having all areas cleaned and organized by opening.

• Wearing uniform by opening.

Medical:

• Noticing sick or injured animals and immediately reporting it for review.

• Assist during vaccination and spay/neuter clinic as needed.

Other:

• Knowledgeable on all adoption and clinic pricing, adoption counseling standards, and current medical protocols

• Knowledge and understanding of the five freedoms of animal welfare

• Fear Free certification obtained within 30 days of hire

• Inform and communicate any and all animal behavior issues to all other staff verbally in morning meeting and electronically via email and Petpoint

TIER 2:

(Part Time or Full Time, $12.50-$12.75/hr)

*To encompass tier 1 responsibilities with the addition of the following:

Adoptions/Counseling:

• Observe and understand basic dog and cat body language. Ability to coordinate and supervise dog playgroups with shelter dogs. Ability to understand dog body language during a meet-and-greet with a public animal and educating the potential adopter on successful and unsuccessful meet-and-greets in order to ensure a positive adoption outcome.

• Enter/Exit kennels safely and attend Dog Handling Class.

• Knowledge and utilization of Weather Policies.

• Maintain solid coordination and communications with the team.

• Effectively counsel per TXHH policies and help customers find the right fit for their specific needs. Ensure that customers are well equipped to have a successful adoption outcome.

• Be an Adoption Ambassador for the VIP animals, picking a VIP cat and dog monthly to advocate for by posting to social media, creating flyers, etc.

Customer Service/Front Desk:

• Use Pet Point program to process adoptions, input animal behavior, care and medical, and ability to look up animal and people information.

• Ability to use the Google cloud-based system.

• Greet patrons and engage the community.

• Help visitors navigate adoption centers and provide guest focused customer service

• Direct volunteers and assist in training of tasks throughout the facility

• Respond to customer inquiries via phone and email

• Be an advocate for Texas Humane Heroes’ by sharing our mission and discussing our volunteer and fostering programs. Request for donations and donor program.

• Ensure safe, healthy, and humane treatment of all animals. Ensure safety, training, and well-being of staff, volunteers and clients.

TIER 3:

(Part Time or Full Time, $13.00+/hr)

*To encompass tier 1 and tier 2 responsibilities with the addition of the following:

Training and Development

• Takes and active role daily in the training and development of:

  • Current employees (ongoing training)

  • New employees

  • Current volunteers (ongoing training)

  • New volunteers (one-on-one trainings)

• Extension to Management Team

  • Act as team lead at all times

  • Fill in at Killeen Adoption Center when needed

  • Performs duties with little or no supervision

Work Environment:

• High degree of mobility required

• This includes prolonged standing, walking, climbing, pushing, pulling, lifting up to 50 lbs, etc.

• Frequent contact and handling of animals including those with zoonotic diseases.

• Working conditions - indoors, outdoors, excessive heat, excessive cold, extreme weather conditions, excessive humidity, excessive noise that is continuous, slippery and uneven walking surfaces, working in close proximity to others, exposure to offensive odors.