Animal Care Supervisor

POSITION SUMMARY

The Pet Resource Center Animal Care Supervisor will oversee the daily operations and performance of the Animal Care Department. This position provides direct leadership and supervision to Animal Caretakers and is responsible for ensuring animals receive consistent, humane, safe, and appropriate daily care.

The Animal Care Supervisor will provide hands-on leadership, coaching, training, and direction to the Animal Care team. This position will oversee daily animal care operations, including cleaning, feeding, animal movement, housing, enrichment, and maintaining appropriate standards of care throughout the Pet Resource Center.

This position will report directly to the Deputy Director of Animal Welfare Services and will work closely with other supervisors and leadership to ensure effective communication, animal flow, facility operations, and overall departmental efficiency.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

These tasks are illustrative only; to carry out the day-to-day functions of the job, other duties may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.

• Directly supervises and provides leadership to the Animal Caretaker team.
• Responsible for hiring, onboarding, coaching, training, performance management, and corrective action for assigned staff.
• Develop and maintain staff schedules to ensure appropriate daily coverage and efficient animal care operations.
• Oversees the daily care and welfare of all animals housed at the Pet Resource Center.
• Ensures Animal Caretakers consistently follow established animal care protocols, safety procedures, sanitation standards, and best practices.
• Oversee daily cleaning operations throughout animal housing areas and ensure appropriate sanitation standards are maintained.
• Oversee feeding operations, including ensuring animals receive appropriate diets, feeding schedules, and necessary accommodations.
• Oversee animal movement throughout the facility, including kennel moves, housing assignments, transfers between areas, and other animal movement needs.
• Monitors animal housing and facility conditions to ensure animals are appropriately housed and that concerns are promptly addressed.
• Oversee the development and implementation of daily enrichment activities for animals.
• Creates and coordinates the daily enrichment schedule, ensuring enrichment activities are appropriately planned, assigned, documented, and completed.
• Provides direction to Animal Caretakers regarding enrichment activities and ensures enrichment is appropriate for the individual animal and its needs.
• Monitors animal behavior and welfare and communicates behavioral or care concerns to appropriate leadership and/or medical staff.
• Works collaboratively with the Medical Department regarding animals requiring medical attention, special care, isolation, quarantine, or other accommodations.
• Ensures animals requiring special diets, medications, monitoring, or additional care are appropriately identified and that established instructions are followed.
• Ensures animal care records and required documentation are completed accurately and consistently.
• Conducts routine inspections of animal housing and common areas to identify cleanliness, maintenance, safety, or animal welfare concerns.
• Identifies operational challenges and works with leadership to develop and implement effective solutions.
• Ensure Animal Care Department staff maintain professional standards and provide humane and respectful care to animals at all times.
• Facilitates effective communication between Animal Care, Medical, Adoption, Intake, Foster/Rescue, Safety Net, and other departments.
• Assists leadership with the development, implementation, and enforcement of Animal Care policies, procedures, and Standard Operating Procedures.
• Assists with inventory management of animal care supplies and communicates supply needs to appropriate leadership.
• Participate in departmental meetings, leadership meetings, trainings, and other organizational activities as assigned.
• Performs humane euthanasia when needed and appropriately trained/certified.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Deputy Director of Animal Welfare Services or Director of Animal Welfare Services.
• This position is required to work Saturdays and Sundays on a rotating basis with other supervisors/leads to ensure appropriate leadership coverage and oversight of weekend Animal Care operations.
• Works as part of a 24/7/365 operation and is required to work holidays as scheduled, including rotating holiday coverage as needed to ensure continuous leadership and oversight of Animal Care operations.

NON-ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES

• Performs general administrative and office duties as required, including preparing reports, entering and retrieving computer data, maintaining records, copying and filing documents, answering the telephone, and other administrative tasks.
• Assists with special projects, events, training, and other Pet Resource Center activities as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Strong knowledge of animal care, handling, husbandry, sanitation, enrichment, and shelter animal welfare practices.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise, coach, train, and develop staff.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple operational needs.
• Highly developed emotional intelligence, ethical decision-making, and ability to navigate multiple interests to achieve positive outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with teammates, volunteers, leadership, and the public.
• Ability to provide clear direction and hold staff accountable to established expectations and standards.
• Ability to recognize animal welfare concerns and take appropriate action.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequently changing priorities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Working knowledge of animal restraint and handling techniques.
• Ability to safely handle animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and species.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work associated with animal care, including cleaning, lifting, moving animals and supplies, and standing/walking for extended periods.
• Ability to handle unpleasant, physically demanding, and emotionally demanding work.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.
• Basic computer proficiency and ability to learn and utilize animal shelter management software and other applicable systems.
• Passion for animal welfare and the mission of the Pet Resource Center.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Minimum Requirements

• High school diploma or GED.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience working in an animal shelter, veterinary, animal care, or related animal welfare environment.
• Minimum of 2 years of supervisory or leadership experience, preferably in animal care, veterinary, shelter, or animal welfare setting.
• Experience training, coaching, and providing performance feedback to staff.
• Experience developing staff schedules and coordinating daily operations.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with a diverse range of people and personalities.
• Supports a non-judgmental approach to people, adopters, and the community.
• Ability to adapt and respond to evolving priorities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including rotating weekends, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and other hours as operationally necessary.
• Ability to work without extensive additional training on fundamental animal care responsibilities.
• Working knowledge of animal handling, restraint, husbandry, sanitation, and enrichment practices.
• Ability to handle unpleasant, physically demanding, and emotionally demanding work.

LICENSE, CERTIFICATIONS, AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Certified in Humane Euthanasia, or ability to obtain certification.
• All regular full-time and part-time employees of Spartanburg County are required by state law to participate in the South Carolina Retirement System.

Possession of a valid driver's license issued in the state of South Carolina.

Pay: $56,572.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Bereavement leave
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $56,572