Job Description
Have you been looking for a rewarding opportunity where you can make a difference in the lives of pets and the people who love them? Have you been looking for a rewarding position in a community-centric, no-kill animal welfare environment where you can work alongside a professional team to make a real difference for your community? Do you excel in environments that involve communication and coordination with others, working independently and as part of a team?
What You Will Do
You’ll be responsible for providing direct daily care and behavioral enrichment to pets at the Burlington Animal Services Pet Adoption & Resource Center (BPARC). Working independently and as part of a team, your responsibilities will involve handling pets and providing them with exercise and enrichment, cleaning and maintaining pet living environments and the BPARC facility. You’ll assist with helping visitors and volunteers feel welcomed and supporting various department functional areas and programs. Throughout your day, you will apply your knowledge and skills with basic animal health and care, Fear-Free© handling of dogs, cats, and other types of pets, organization, orientation to detail, and modern technology in making a positive difference in the lives of pets and people.
About Us
BAS is a department of the City of Burlington, NC, which serves residents across Alamance County and is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of pets and people through our commitment to pet lifesaving, public service, proactive support, community collaboration, and solutions-oriented, positive outcomes. Empowering our community through compassion and responsibility, BAS envisions a future where every pet and person thrives together. We are committed to providing comprehensive care and support through innovative programs, proactive initiatives, and collaboration with our community. Our vision is to create a community where pets and their families are united and positive outcomes are achieved through our dedication to public service. BAS is committed to a no-kill philosophy and practice, which means we are transparent and work collaboratively with our community to save every pet that can be saved. BAS cared for more than 7k pets last year at the PARC and maintains more than 90% of pet life-saving rate. Learn more about us at burlingtonnc.gov/pets.
Examples of Duties
- Provide pets with prescribed behavioral enrichment and exercise activities.
- Clean and maintain enclosures, general areas of the facility, laundry, equipment, instruments, toys, etc.
- Provide food to pets according to established feeding protocols and prescribed diets.
- Handle pets with varying dispositions routinely, including during examinations, procedures, exercise, and enrichment.
- Monitor, identify, and report changes in the health and/or behavior of pets to veterinary staff
- Assist veterinary staff with animal examinations and treatments.
- Receive admitted pets and assist with preliminary assessments, photographs, and microchip scans.
- Administer prescribed vaccinations and medications to pets.
- Document activities, observations, and notes related to pets in digital and/or written records.
- Maintain positive, collaborative, and cooperative interpersonal communications and professional relationships with all internal and external contacts.
- Provide assistance and information to visitors related to pet admission, lost pet recovery, pet help support programming, and pet placement.
- Assist with maintaining a safe work environment and perform safe work practices
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements pertaining to records set forth by the NCDA&CS, and BAS policy within functional areas of responsibility and individual performance.
- Practice Fear-Free© technique when interacting with pets and engage in safe work practices in performing duties.
- Assist with supporting core operational needs as an essential staff member during inclement weather closures, disasters, or emergencies.
- Communicate orally and in writing to staff, volunteers, and placement partners.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications
- You will obtain knowledge and skill with humane, Fear-Free© animal handling and care; inclusive and open adoption practices; and modern, community-centric animal services operations.
- You will obtain knowledge and skills with modern best practices for animal welfare, behavior, enrichment, housing, and care.
- You will obtain knowledge of laws, codes, and regulations pertaining to animal welfare
- Skill in the care and treatment of animals, handling animals, administering medications, vaccinations, and behavioral enrichment.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective, harmonious working relationships with co-workers and the public.
- Skill in communicating effectively and professionally with coworkers and the public.
- Skill in completing and maintaining digital files, records, and forms.
- Ability to read, interpret, and follow departmental rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Flexible in adapting to changes in priorities, assignments, and other interruptions.
- Skill in maintaining positive, collaborative, and professional working relations with co-workers, volunteers, and others.
- Ability to be flexible in adapting to change and resilience in managing stressful situations.
- Skill in managing and responding to emotional stress in self and others appropriately.
- Knowledge and basic skills with email and modern office technology.
- Skilled with effective listening, reading, and understanding of detailed information and procedures.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making under pressure.
- Skill and ability to use safe work practices and maintain a safe work environment for self and others.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in any major OR an equivalent combination of education and work experience that includes a high school diploma and one year of work experience will be considered if there are not enough applicants who meet the minimum qualifications.
- Valid driver’s license.
Special Requirements
- Fear Free © Certification (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous animal care-related work experience
Supplemental Information
Physical Requirements And Working Conditions
- Handle animals that are sick or injured, frightened or dangerous, or who may display unpredictable behavior.
- Individuals must be able to lift up to 75 pounds.
- Stand, sit, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl to inspect and/or clean shelter enclosures.
- Must be able to lift, carry, and restrain animals and operate vehicles and equipment.
- Work requires exposure to potentially hazardous conditions such as aggressive animals and zoonotic diseases.
- Work in this position is primarily performed indoors.
The City of Burlington does not offer benefits to part-time positions which require less than 1000 work hours per calendar year.
01
This position requires the ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and during inclement weather closures or in the event of disaster/emergency. The typical work schedule is an average of up to 20 hours per week on weekdays, weekend days, and holidays between 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. During daylight savings time, business hours are between 8:00 am—7:00 pm on two weekday evenings. If selected for this position, would you be able to accommodate this work schedule?
02
As a follow-up to the first question, please let us know if there are days of the week or times you typically would not be available to be scheduled to work.
03
Do you have a valid NC drivers license?
04
Are there any types of common domestic animals or wild animals that are commonly found in NC that you are unable or unwilling to handle or be around?
