Description
SALARY
$24.95- $29.64 Hourly
$51,896.00- $61,653.28 Annually
Are you passionate about animal welfare, community engagement, and making meaningful differences for people and pets? We’re excited to share an opportunity for someone who enjoys building connections, supporting the community, and improving the lives of animals.
We are currently accepting applications to fill
two (2) full-time, Animal Welfare Specialist positions. One (1) at the
Santa Maria Animal Shelter and one (1) at the
Santa Barbara Animal Shelter for the
County Health department
. County Classification title is
Animal Shelter Attendant.
NOTE: Animal Services has shelters in Santa Barbara, Lompoc, and Santa Maria, and this position can be assigned to work at any of these locations. Applicants must be willing to travel to and work at all three shelters with minimal notice.
To be considered, applicants must check "All Locations" in the location section of the application and the Supplemental Questionnaire.
We are also accepting applications to establish one employment list that will be used to fill current and future Full-time, Part-time, Extra Help and 1414* vacancies Animal Welfare Specialists in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and Lompoc. Please select all locations you would like to be considered for current and future vacancies.
- CSR 1414 (Leave of Absence): This type of recruitment is to fill a position vacated as a result of a leave of absence (CSR 1414) and the duration of the appointment shall be subject to the return of the individual who is on leave. A person who is appointed to a position under CSR 1414 may be able to transition into a regular position in the classification without re-application or re-testing, depending on the performance of the appointee and the needs of the department.
All County employees must reside in the State of California throughout the duration of employment.
Visa Sponsorship: Please note this position is not eligible for visa sponsorship. Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship by the start date of employment.
BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Click on the Benefits Tab above or CLICK HERE to view more information.
In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:
- Retirement reciprocity
- Time and service credit towards for an advanced vacation accrual rate
About The Position
The Animal Welfare Specialist (AWS) supports both animals and community members through compassionate animal care, responsive customer service, and clear communication. This position engages with the public in person, by phone, and in writing, while working with animals in the shelter and during community-based activities.
Under general supervision, the AWS provides daily care for shelter animals including feeding, cleaning, monitoring health and behavior, administering medications as directed, and providing enrichment. The AWS also assists customers with lost-and-found reports, animal adoptions, pet reunification, general inquiries, data entry, and documentation of animal control activities. Depending on daily assignments and trainings, the position may also conduct or assist with behavioral assessments, support veterinary procedures, participate in euthanasia procedures, maintain shelter facilities and grounds, and perform other duties as assigned.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: This class is distinguished from that of Animal Control Officer in that the major function of the Officer class involves patrolling an assigned area and enforcing the rules and regulations governing animal control.
The IDEAL CANDIDATE Will
- Have experience caring for animals, preferably in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, boarding facility or similar setting.
- Have a minimum of one year of experience in customer service.
- Approach animals and community members with empathy, patience, professionalism, and a problem-solving mindset.
- Communicate effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds, including individuals experiencing stressful or emotional situations.
- Be comfortable learning and using Microsoft Office, Goole Workspace, databases and/or animal related software systems.
- Be able to safely handle animals with varying medical, behavioral, and emotional needs.
- Be available to work rotating shifts, including weekends and holidays.
- Be able to perform physically and emotionally demanding work in a busy shelter environment.
- Although not required for this position, bilingual skills are a plus.
The Division
The Santa Barbara County Animal Services (SBCAS) Division operates three open admission animal shelters serving nearly 6,000 pets annually across all of Santa Barbara County with the exception of the City of Carpinteria. We provide field and shelter services, adoption and lost and found programs, and have a very robust volunteer program. We also lead Project Pet Safe in coordination with partners, which promotes responsible pet ownership through vaccination, licensing, spay and neuter, and microchipping of pets.
Click Here to learn more about County of Santa Barbara Health Animal Services.
Animal Shelter Locations:
- Santa Maria Animal Shelter, 548 W Foster Rd, Santa Maria, CA 93455 (map)
- Santa Barbara Animal Shelter, 5473 Overpass Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93111 (map)
- Lompoc Animal Shelter, 1501 W Central Ave, Lompoc, CA 93436 (map)
CLICK HERE to learn more about the County of Santa Barbara Health
and follow us on Social Media to stay up-to-date.
Examples of Duties
- Provides daily care for shelter animals, including preparing and distributing food and water, cleaning and disinfecting kennels and animal housing areas, washing bowls and litter pans, laundering bedding, removing animal waste, and maintaining clean and sanitary animal care spaces.
- Observes animals for signs of illness, injury, stress, or changes in behavior and promptly documents and reports concerns. Separates or isolates animals when appropriate and safely intervenes when animals present a risk to themselves or others.
- Assists veterinary staff with examinations, vaccinations, diagnostic procedures, and treatments. Administers medications and routine treatments as directed and within the employee’s training and authority.
- Maintains accurate animal records, including daily population counts, medical and behavioral observations, medications administered, animal locations, and outcomes. Reports discrepancies or concerns to a supervisor or veterinarian.
- Participates in humane euthanasia procedures, including animal handling, preparation, documentation, and other related responsibilities, as trained and authorized. Assists with the preparation and timely delivery of rabies specimens for laboratory testing in accordance with applicable procedures.
- Assists community members in person, by telephone, and through written communication with animal adoptions, pet reunification, lost-and-found reports, animal redemptions, owner surrenders, and general shelter inquiries.
- Provides information and guidance regarding animal care, licensing, vaccinations, rabies prevention, spaying and neutering, responsible pet ownership, available community resources, and shelter programs and services.
- Introduces animals to prospective adopters and assists customers with identifying pets that may be appropriate for their household, experience, and lifestyle.
- Collects and processes adoption, redemption, licensing, and other applicable fees; issues receipts; and completes related financial and administrative records.
- Performs data entry and completes written and electronic records, including animal records, kennel cards, medication and controlled-substance logs, daily activity reports, repair requests, and other required documentation.
- Maintains inventories of animal food, medications, cleaning products, and other shelter supplies and notifies appropriate staff when additional supplies are needed.
- Maintains shelter facilities, grounds, equipment, and vehicles. Duties may include cleaning public and staff areas, restrooms, windows, walls, and floors; removing weeds and debris; stocking and cleaning vehicles; making minor repairs; and checking gates, locks, and other areas for safety and security concerns.
- Prepares and issues citations for animal licensing violations when assigned, trained, and authorized.
- Handles animals of varying sizes, species, medical conditions, and behavioral needs using appropriate equipment and established safety and animal-handling practices.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Employment Standards
- A combination of training, education, and experience that would provide the required knowledge and abilities.
Ability to: handle sick, injured, dangerous, or dead animals and decomposing animal carcasses in a safe and humane manner; learn the physical and behavioral characteristics of animals; learn and recognize symptoms of rabies and other common animal diseases;;participate in humane euthanasia of animals as authorized and n accordance with applicable laws, departmental policies, and established procedures; learn basic first aid treatments; learn the methods and techniques used in the care and handling of animals; use appropriate chemicals and cleaning agents; pick up fecal material; analyze a situation and adopt a course of action; develop and maintain working relationships with co-workers, volunteers, agencies, and organizations; make simple arithmetical calculations involving addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; learn applicable laws, regulations and ordinances; keep accurate records; understand and follow instructions; learn computer operations; use tools and equipment; work independently.
Additional Qualifications
Incumbents must be able to:
- Lift, move, or carry animals or objects weighing up to 75 lbs.
- Use strong chemicals for disinfecting kennels.
- Uniform is required.
- The ability to work weekends and shifts is required. Regardless of the initial work schedule assigned, transfers to others may be required.
- Bilingual – Speaking Preferred: The ability to converse fluently in English and Spanish is preferred. Note: You must self-certify on your application that you are fluent in English and Spanish. Hiring departments may test you on your fluency. If you do not demonstrate sufficient fluency, your name may be withheld from future certifications that require bilingual skills, in accordance to Civil Service Rules.
Supplemental Information
APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS
- Review applications and supplemental questionnaires to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
- Supplemental Questionnaire Rating – Responses to the required examination supplemental questions will be evaluated and scored. Candidates’ final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the responses to these questions. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.
Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the supplemental questionnaire rating examination to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those
candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s), rank on the employment list, and exact duration of the employment list.
VETERAN’S PREFERENCE POINTS: Veteran's preference credit is applicable for this recruitment (5 points for veterans, 10 points for disabled veterans). To be eligible for this credit, you must be applying for this position within five years from your most recent date of: (1) honorable discharge from active military service; or, (2) discharge from a military or veterans' hospital where treatment and confinement were for a disability incurred during active military service; or, (3) completion of education or training funded by a Federal Educational Assistance Act. No time limit exists for veterans with 30% or more disability.
To receive veteran's preference points, you must: (1) check the Veteran's Preference Points box on the employment application form, (2) submit a copy of your Form DD-214 and supporting materials to the Human Resources Department on or before the examination date, and (3) pass all phases of the examination process. The preference points will be added to your final test score.
REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of accommodation needed from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.
Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to
check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.
County of Santa Barbara Health (County Health) requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the PHD Employee Immunizations policy. This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations.
A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time.
Conditional Job Offer: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the candidate will be required to successfully complete a background check, which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.
Disaster Service Workers: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service. Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.
EQUAL EMPLOYMEMT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) STATEMENT
The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.
APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: This recruitment will be posted until 08/11/26 at 4:59 PM. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com .
Farrah Medrano, County Health Talent Acquisition Lead – PHDRecruiter@sbcphd.org