Animal Care Specialist

Position Summary

The Animal Care Specialist oversees the health and welfare of a variety of farm animals. The ACS

will be responsible for the daily care of the animals including but not limited to training, schooling, animal

feeding, turn out, preparation and assistance with animals during animal assisted therapy sessions, grooming,

cleaning of stalls, aisles, water troughs, administering medications, and some general office duties. Maintains

therapeutic relationship with residents using praise and other reinforcers to encourage appropriate behaviors

and attitudes while setting limits.

Relationships and Contacts

Within the organization:  Initiates and maintains strong professional relationships with facility and

national leadership teams, and peers throughout the organization.

Outside the organization:  Initiates and maintains strong professional relationships with clients and families, clinical providers, referral partners and vendors, as needed.

Position Responsibilities

     Essential Responsibilities

1. Assists clinical staff at stables as needed, with animal assisted therapy sessions, including

grooming, family therapy, or extra sessions, with an emphasis on safety for residents and animals.

1. Ensures all utensils/tools/cleaning solutions/potential hazardous materials are securely stored

when not in use.

1. Assists in pasture rotation and planning with animals.
2. Participates in planning stable and farm improvements for animal safety, welfare, and program

advancement.

1. Reports any maintenance needs concerning, the barn, turnout pastures/shelters, arena, general

grounds, and equipment.

1. Assists with ensuring adequate amounts of feed, hay, medications, supplements, and supplies are

maintained.

1. Conduct daily observation of individual animal's condition.
2. Assists in routine socializing and handling/schooling of all animals.
3. Administers animal first aid and responds to animal emergencies, as necessary.
4. Supports farrier, veterinarian, and other professional service providers' visits.
5. Assists with orientation of new employees.
6. Ensures all animals are humanly treated and the standard put forth by I.A.H.A.1.O. are followed.

     Additional Responsibilities

1. Reliable and is rarely absent from work, notifying the supervisor if absent.

2. Ability to adapt to changes in the facility function, management styles, and facility routines.

3. Reads, understands, and adheres to all company policy statements on ethics, conduct, and conflict

    of interests.

4. Adheres to facility policies, procedures, rules, and regulations.

5. Maintains positive behaviors and acts as a team player with others.

6. Attends all training within assigned time frames, as required by the facility.

7. Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience

Position requires High School or equivalent, bachelor’s degree strongly preferred. Position requires a minimum of 2 years’ experience with farm equipment, animal care, barn and pasture management/maintenance.

     Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee will be required to communicate with peers, clients and/or vendors.
• Job performance will require the ability to move throughout the stables property as well as participate in activities outdoors and off facility grounds.
• Performs duties that require the employee to stand and walk for extended periods of time.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to talk or hear, sit, stand, walk, reach, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, taste, or smell.
• Ability to move up to fifty pounds.

     Additional Requirements

• Position requires incumbent to have a valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance and acceptable driving record.
• Clearance of criminal background, TB test, and any other mandatory state/federal requirements.
• Current CPR and First Aid certification

     Skill Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written skills
• Demonstrates a high level of follow through
• Demonstrates commitment to the mission, vision, and values of Renaissance Health Care, the Stables.
• Will possess the ability to read and interpret verbal and nonverbal body communication.
• Demonstrates an ability to adapt to changes in the facility function, management styles, and facility routines.
• Demonstrates knowledge about medication side-effects, medication reactions, and what to do should an event occur.

Renaissance Healthcare Group, LLC DBA Pasadena Villa  provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, ancestry, national origin, ethnicity, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, genetic information, service in the military, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment. Renaissance Healthcare Group, LLC DBA Pasadena Villa  reserves the rights to modify, interpret, or apply this job description in any way the organization desires. This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties, including essential duties, to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains “At-Will.”