What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate, Animal Care position at PAWS Chicago?
Job Summary
Playing one of the most crucial roles in the direct care of all PAWS Chicago internal animals, the Associate, Animal Care is responsible for the daily care and cleaning of all animals within PAWS Chicago. This includes daily feeding and cleaning of all animal areas (both dogs and cats), washing dishes, completing laundry, and other shelter chores. In addition, the Associate, Animal Care may be required to walk dogs when volunteers are not available.
The Associate, Animal Care must be willing to work closely with volunteers/staff. The Associate, Animal Care is responsible for closely monitoring and following through with medical/behavior observation logs to ensure each animal is receiving the PAWS Chicago care standard.
In addition to caring for all the internal animals at PAWS Chicago, the Associate, Animal Care is also responsible for ensuring that common areas that are a part of the rescue and recovery area are clean and maintained. This includes vacuuming, mopping, and taking out trash for all kennels and common areas (playroom, walkways, dog bathing room, and laundry areas).
Duties and Responsibilities
- Complete daily cleaning tasks as assigned, completing checklist items and cleanliness best practices.
- Maintain the appearance of animal housing areas, this would include bedding and the stocking of supplies.
- Monitor inventory of cleaning supplies and alert managers when restocking is needed.
- Coordinate with your manager, or other appropriate PAWS Chicago staff, on any observed changes or issues related to animal health or behavior as necessary.
- Assist with preparation of animals for surgical procedures by ensuring proper food and water protocols are followed and necessary notices are displayed.
- Communicate any maintenance or cleanliness concerns to your manager, or other appropriate PAWS Chicago facilities staff.
- Clean common areas at the PAWS Chicago Medical Center, this may include vacuuming, mopping, trash removal, laundry, and dishes.
- Notate animal walks/visits and daily observations in PACE.
- Fulfill any other duties as assigned by your manager.
Requirements
- Passion for animals and animal welfare.
- The Associate, Animal Care must be able to work one weekend day and holidays.
- Willingness to work collaboratively with team members and volunteers to maintain a clean and welcoming environment for shelter animals.
- The Associate, Animal Care is expected and relied upon to work the hours scheduled and to directly notify their supervisor by telephone or in person 2 hours in advance of schedule start time if they will not be able to work their scheduled hours.
Physical Requirements
- The Associate, Animal Care must be able to walk and hold large dogs on outdoor walks and on stairways.
- Physical stamina and ability to perform tasks that may require bending, lifting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, grasping, and prolonged standing or walking.
- Standing for sustained periods of time.
- Walking and moving about to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
- Ability to lift 50 lbs occasionally, 30 lbs frequently and 10 lbs constantly.
- Ability to perform repetitive motions and work comfortably in small or confined spaces.
PAWS Chicago Values-in-Action
- Respect: for each and every life.
- Community: of people and organizations committed to helping homeless pets.
- Innovation: to constantly improve best practices and seek out new ideas and strategies to save more lives. To be a Learning Center that evolves and grows.
- Pro-activity: to solve difficult problems and to be prepared to offer emergency and crisis support.
- Transparency: that informs the public about the fate of homeless animals.
- Education: that raises awareness about the realities that homeless animals face in the community and across the nation, providing a forum for people to get involved in effecting change, and promoting and supporting reasonable pet ownership.
- Sustainability: through financial management practices that maximize the impact and reach of our resources and endure that PAWS Chicago will always be a resource for homeless animals.
- Compassion: towards all people and animals.
NOTE: PAWS Chicago reserves the right to modify, interpret, or apply this job description, as it 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. This job description is not an employment contract, implied or otherwise. The employment relationship remains "at-will." The aforementioned job requirements may be changed to fulfill any obligation(s) to reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities.
Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through Blue Cross Blue Shield.
- 403(b) retirement plan with employer match.
- Paid time off, including vacation and sick days.