Job Description
The Animal Care Specialist performs duties to support the operations of the City Animal Services Shelter. The job includes significant customer service work to provide animal information and answer questions of visitors or callers. The job also includes caring for animals, feeding, exercising, providing vaccinations and medical care, testing and evaluating temperament. The Animal Care Specialist cleans animal cages, holding areas and public areas. Seasonal work may include grounds keeping and landscaping work including mowing, trimming and weed control.
The job requires knowledge of animal care, building maintenance, and customer service including situations where persons may be upset or emotionally distraught. The job requires the ability to maintain a collaborative and cooperative working relationship with elected and appointed officials, other City employees, other organizations, and the general public.
The work environment includes animal care and control and a building and grounds maintenance environment that includes the use of power equipment and outdoor weather conditions including extreme temperatures. The job is occasionally exposed to animals that may be injured or aggressive and includes the hazard of exposure to drugs used to euthanize animals and zoonotic diseases, including rabies. The noise level is generally moderate but can occasionally be high.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
- Provides customer service to the public.
- Provides information, answers questions and inquiries in person and by telephone, shows animals available for placement, and assists in placements.
- Cares for animals including, but not limited to, feeding, exercising, providing vaccinations and medical care, testing, and evaluating temperament.
- Euthanizes animals, as directed, following Shelter policies and procedures. Operates incinerator as needed.
- Trains and monitors the work of work study and community service workers.
- Maintains the City Animal Services Shelter buildings and grounds including cleaning public areas, animal cages and holding areas, and animal evaluation and treatment areas. Performs seasonal grounds keeping and landscaping work including, but not limited to, mowing, trimming, and weed control.
- Assists animal control officers, as needed. Handles and transport dead animals.
- Performs other duties as assigned. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time.
ACCEPTABLE EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATIONS*
- High school diploma or GED
- Idaho driver's license
- Ability to obtain Euthanasia Technician certification required within one (1) year of hire
- Some animal care experience is preferred
An equivalent combination of education and experience that provides the required skills, knowledge and abilities to successfully perform the essential functions of the position may be considered.
The Animal Care Specialist position requires Euthanasia Technician certification within one year of hire. Failure to acquire this certification by the established date will violate the terms of the position and will result in layoff from the position.
Classification Requirements
The requirements listed below are representative of the minimum knowledge, skill, and/or ability required for an individual to satisfactorily perform each essential duty satisfactorily and be successful in the position.
Knowledge Of
- Building and grounds maintenance skills, including but not limited to, janitorial and cleaning, mowing, weeding, and snow removal;
- Methods, techniques, and objectives of animal care and control, including injured and aggressive animals;
- Customer service methods, techniques, and objectives;
- Method and techniques of providing medical evaluation and basic treatment to animals including, but not limited to, shots and vaccinations, wound treatment, and general health evaluations;
- Methods and techniques of humanely euthanizing animals;
- Building and grounds maintenance skills, including but not limited to, janitorial and cleaning, mowing, weeding, and snow removal;
- Federal regulations and City policies regarding safe work practices relating to use of janitorial equipment, power tools, and grounds keeping equipment;
- Federal, state, City, and other applicable rules and regulations regarding proper use, inventory, and disposal of drugs used in the treatment and/or euthanasia of animals;
- Operation of basic office equipment;
- Operation of a personal computer and job-related software applications.
Skill And Ability To
- Maintain the City Animal Services Shelter buildings and grounds including cleaning public areas, animal cages and holding areas, and animal evaluation and treatment areas;
- Administer and record medications;
- Perform seasonal grounds keeping and landscaping work including, but not limited to, mowing, trimming, weed control, and snow removal;
- Care for animals including, but not limited to, feeding, exercising, providing vaccinations and medical care, testing, and evaluating temperament;
- Provide customer service to the public. Provide information, answer questions and inquiries, show animals available for placement, and assist in placements;
- Euthanize animals, as directed, following Shelter policies and procedures;
- Assist animal control officers and other office staff, as needed;
- Operate and maintain power equipment, including but not limited to, grounds keeping, janitorial, and snow removal equipment;
- Operate specialized animal control and restraint equipment;
- Operate a motor vehicle, both manual and automatic;
- Operate hand tools;
- Maintain a professional demeanor at all times;
- Communicate effectively in the English language at a level necessary for efficient job performance;
- Complete assignments in a timely fashion; understand and comply with all rules, policies and regulations;
- Perform all duties in accordance with City policies and procedures with regard for personal safety and that of other employees and the public.
Physical Requirements
While performing the duties of this classification, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, and bend. The job requires hand/finger dexterity to handle animals, manipulate tools, operate janitorial and grounds keeping equipment, and reach with hands and arms. The job requires operation of job-related equipment and driving a vehicle. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 or more pounds with assistance. Sufficient visual acuity and hearing capacity to perform the essential functions and interact with the public is required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Company Description
The City of Pocatello with a population of 54,000 sits in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with an abundance of outdoor recreation.
The area, which has a semi-arid climate, will allow you to enjoy the activities that all four seasons have to offer, whether locally or within a short drive to other popular destinations such as Sun Valley, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Teton National Park, and Park City, Utah.
The City provides a comprehensive employee benefits package that includes medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, a health reimbursement account, employee assistance program, a health advocacy program, group life insurance, paid time off, tuition assistance, a deferred compensation plan, a 401K plan, and an award-winning employee wellness program. The City of Pocatello is a member of the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho.
All new hires are subject to criminal background screening prior to hire. All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.
Benefits
The City of Pocatello offers a generous benefits package to full-time employees:
- Medical
- Prescription
- Dental
- Vision
- Life Insurance
- PERSI Retirement
- PERSI Choice 401(k)
- 457 Retirement Planning
- HRA VEBA Contributions
- Employee Assistance Program
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Medical
- Dependent Care
- Vacation Time
- Sick Time
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Education Assistance
- Employee Wellness Program
- Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Eligible Employer