Animal Care Team Lead

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES

The Animal Care Team Lead is responsible for leading the Animal Intake/Care Technicians and/or Animal Facility Cleaning Technicians with processing of incoming animals to the shelter, cleaning of animal shelter kennel areas, providing customer service to the public, and daily shelter operations, as needed.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
An employee in this class leads the Animal Intake/Care Technicians with the daily intake of animals or the Animal Facility Cleaning Technicians with the cleaning of animal shelter facilities.  The employee ensures compliance with laws, regulations and procedures; assists in leading several daily operations of the shelter, its staff and volunteers.  Work is performed under the general supervision of the Animal Care Supervisor.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leads either the daily intake of animals or the cleaning of animal shelter kennel areas.
• Maintains a clean and sanitary animal shelter environment, at all times.
• Ensures animals are cared for in accordance with generally accepted sheltering guidelines and standards.
• Leads Animal Intake/Care or Animal Facility Cleaning Technicians by assigning and reviewing work, maintaining standards, referring to supervisor on employee problems, and training new employees. 
• Assists in the evaluation of each animal at the time they are received.
• Assists with re-evaluation of each animal daily for signs of sickness or disease.
• Assists with managing animal placement/flow, behavior evaluation program, and overall animal care.
• Ensures animal intake/care and cleaning services are provided in alignment with the department’s overall mission to develop, implement, and meet short and long-term goals.

RECRUITMENT STANDARDS
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of methods of caring for animals and of humane methods of disposing of them.
• Knowledge of disease management, recognition, control, and prevention as it relates to general animal care.
• Knowledge of basic cleaning and disinfectant procedures.
• Knowledge and ability to perform general diagnostic testing to assist with determining health of animal.  
• Knowledge of animal shelter policies and procedures. 
• Knowledge of and ability to assist in performing physical exams and identifying and addressing medical problems/diseases. 
• Knowledge of federal and state laws governing the control and welfare of animals, the sheltering of animals, and animal euthanasia methods. 
• Knowledge of laboratory practices and physician protocols dealing with rabies. 
• Knowledge of laws, rules and regulations applicable to operating an animal shelter and managing personnel. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public and other employees.
• Ability to make sound decisions and problem solve in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to assign, direct, lead and evaluate activities of team members.
• Ability to deal tactfully, courteously, and firmly with the public.
• Ability to work afternoons and weekends.
• Ability to lead and coach subordinate staff in the absence of the Animal Care Supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

High school diploma or GED and two years of experience in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, animal rescue or other animal-related work.

Preferred qualifications 

Previous experience performing the animal intake/care and cleaning functions for a shelter or clinic.

Previous experience in an assistant supervisor or lead role overseeing, leading and coaching subordinate staff.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands of Work

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations. While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear; frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; frequently push and/or pull up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. 

 

Working conditions are in a kennel environment with frequent exposure to laboratory conditions including hazardous materials, unfavorable fumes and odors, and working with animal body fluids and infectious diseases, and loud noises. 

May Require Driving 

This position may require driving for this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business such as but not limited to attending conferences, meetings, or any other county related functions.   Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver’s license and that the driving record is compatible with the county’s driving criteria. 

If a personal vehicle is operated for county business proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County’s vehicle use policy. 

 

Special Note:  This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions, and recommended job requirements.  However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job questionnaire with a physical abilities checklist, which can give further details about that one specific position.   Those documents should be reviewed before initiating a selection process.  They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal and defensible personnel decisions.

Salary : $35,170 - $40,446