What are the responsibilities and job description for the Dog Care Lead position at Austin Pets Alive!?
Dog Care Lead
Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work.
At APA!, care professionals are valued as animal champions, advocates, and guardians. Their passion and strong bonds glue the mission itself together. We believe quality care is dependent on quality relationships, because those relationships teach us about the individual animal and inform us of what we can share about them with others, in hopes of them finding a home.
BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW:
The Dog Care Lead staff position is a hands-on mentor and leader for people and pets, ensuring that animal care at APA! is timely, exact, and thorough for dogs and puppies. They work together to help the system run smoothly when it comes to essential daily tasks like cleaning and feeding, but they also pause when appropriate to recognize individual animals and their unique needs in that system.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Treats animals and teammates with the highest level of compassion and consideration
- In collaboration with supervisors, owns and drives the practical application of Quality of Care goals such as timely outings, enrichment, animal case management, improved mental and behavioral health, clean and comfortable housing, and more
- Ensures staff on the ground are up-to-date and knowledgeable about daily needs, priorities, and information about Dog Care and support activities
- Stewards attention items by shift such as temperature/weather accommodations, intakes and moves, various main opening duties, and various main closing duties
- Coaches and supports other teammates, which can include assisting them when they become overwhelmed, teaching new skills, or correcting small errors
- Ensures staff have completed all needed tasks prior to transitioning shifts and helps hold them accountable
- As a Lead, performs more complex animal case management and administrative tasks like enrichment routines, personality tracking, behavior tracking, animal data entry, etc.
- Helps team clean and sanitize animal enclosures, provide animals with fresh water and nutritious food, and perform daily outings as needed for smooth operations
- Models exemplary behavior for staff and volunteers, especially with regards to quality animal care, attendance, professionalism, and customer service
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
- Attends and participates in all required training sessions and meetings
- Maintains open and consistent communication with manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues
- Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned
- Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
- Able to work in a high volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPECTATIONS:
- Commitment to the wellbeing of every animal in the organization’s care
- Previous experience working in an animal care environment preferred
- Dedicated to being on time, with a sense of urgency
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills - can remain calm and professional at all times
- Maintains a positive and enthusiastic attitude
- Strong work ethic with a proven track record of accomplishment
- Knowledge of and passion for the No Kill movement and its aims in Austin and throughout the region
- Must embody APA!'s Core Values of Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion
- Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations
- Willing and committed to working well with volunteers and staff in all roles, and facilitating staff and volunteer integration into one community
PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds
- Must be able to push/pull a large cart over uneven ground
- Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather
- Be able to bend and use your arms in a repetitive manner
- Can be on your feet for an entire 8 hour shift
- Must have physical strength to perform cleaning duties quickly and on schedule
- If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job absent undue hardship to the organization.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, fluids, debris, and chemicals
- High levels of noise, such as dogs barking
- Potential for animal bites, scratches, and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people
TIME COMMITMENT:
- This is a full-time, nonexempt position with an average of 40 hours per week.
- Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change
- Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: This position reports directly to Dog Care Program Manager, or another individual designated by APA!.
LOCATION(S):
- APA! Main - Town Lake Animal Center 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703
- May travel to offsite locations as needed
BENEFITS:
Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including up to 95% subsidy on employer-sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short-term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, subsidized pet insurance, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employee’s will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life saving work.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:
Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply.
Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation.
