Kennel Technician

Location: McLean County Animal Services, 13060 E. 850 North Rd., Shirley, IL

Starting Pay Range: $18.3028 – $20.0697/hour

Schedule: Full-time; includes weekends, holidays, and occasional evening shifts

Make a Difference in the Lives of Animals

McLean County Animal Services is looking for a compassionate and detail-oriented Kennel Technician to join our team. This position plays a vital role in maintaining a clean, safe, and humane environment for animals in our care. From feeding and cleaning to assisting with medical treatment and adoptions, Kennel Technicians are essential to the daily operations that help animals find their forever homes.

What You’ll Do

• Provide daily care for shelter animals, including feeding, watering, cleaning, and enrichment
• Maintain sanitary conditions in kennels, work areas, and public spaces following disease control procedures
• Assist with animal handling during exams, treatments, and adoptions
• Observe and report animal health or behavior concerns to supervisors or veterinary staff
• Administer medications and vaccines under direction
• Support medical care by preparing specimens, assisting with microchipping, and documenting treatments
• Track supplies, maintain accurate records, and perform data entry in shelter management software
• Engage with the public in a courteous, professional, and empathetic manner

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required
• Credentialed Veterinary Technician certification or two years of related animal care experience (or equivalent combination)
• Valid Illinois driver’s license
• Pre-exposure rabies vaccination (or willingness to obtain upon hire)
• Knowledge of animal handling, behavior, and care practices
• Ability to lift and handle animals up to 100 pounds with or without assistance
• Strong attention to detail, teamwork, and communication skills
• Preferred: Prior experience in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or animal care facility

Work Environment

You’ll be part of a dynamic, mission-driven team in a setting that can be noisy, fast-paced, and sometimes emotional—but always rewarding. This role involves indoor and outdoor work in all weather conditions and daily contact with animals of all temperaments.

Why Join Us

At McLean County Animal Services, we’re passionate about animal welfare, public education, and supporting responsible pet ownership. If you’re looking for meaningful work that makes an impact every day, this is the place for you.

McLean County also offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Medical Member Rewards Program
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flex Spending Account (FSA)
• Dependent Spending Account (DSA)
• Supplemental Insurance: Life, Critical Illness and Accident
• County provided Life Insurance
• Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF Pension)
• Paid time off: vacation days, personal days, sick days, holidays
• Identity Protection
• Charitable Giving
• Employee Assistance Program
• Full pay range: $18.3028 – $27.9844 /hour (upper range based on long term career with McLean County)

About McLean County Government

McLean County Government takes pride in serving our dynamic and fast-growing community. We provide a wide range of services, including public safety, criminal justice, road and bridge maintenance, animal safety and adoptions, vital records management, personal health services, food safety inspections, and park management. Our dedicated team of over 800 employees work across 25 departments to ensure the well-being and growth of our community.

To learn more about McLean County Government and career opportunities, please visit https://mcleancountyil.gov/.

How to Apply

• If applying through a third party job board, please fill out an application via McLean County Government’s Job Board located at https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/2068/Jobs

Confidentiality of your application is maintained upon request.

McLean County Government is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.