What are the responsibilities and job description for the Kennel Supervisor position at VCA Animal Hospitals?
About the Role:
VCA Smoketown Animal Hospital is seeking a dedicated Kennel Supervisor to lead our Boarding Department. This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll ensure high-quality care for dogs and cats staying with us, while also supervising and supporting our kennel team. The ideal candidate has experience with animal handling and behavior, is highly organized, and enjoys working in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Key Responsibilities:
Provide daily care for boarding dogs and cats, including feeding, medicating (medical boarders), exercising, and monitoring overall health and behavior.
Maintain a clean, safe, and comfortable environment for all boarding pets (kennels, runs, play areas, and common spaces).
Supervise kennel team members: create and manage staff schedules, monitor daily workflow, and ensure efficiency in the boarding department.
Assist with recruiting, hiring, training, and coaching new and seasonal team members.
Maintain department organization, including inventory of supplies and proper record-keeping.
Communicate effectively with veterinary staff and pet owners regarding the care and well-being of boarding pets.
Uphold VCA’s high standards of animal welfare, safety, and client service.
Qualifications:
Previous animal handling and animal behavior experience required (kennel, shelter, daycare, or veterinary setting preferred).
Strong leadership and organizational skills; prior supervisory experience is a plus.
Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
Comfortable administering medications to pets as directed by veterinary staff.
Flexibility in scheduling — must be able to work weekends, holidays, and varying shifts.
Strong communication and teamwork skills.
Passion for animals and commitment to their care and well-being.
Physical Requirements:
Ability to lift up to 40 lbs unassisted.
Comfortable standing, walking, bending, and working on your feet for extended periods.
Ability to work safely around animals of varying temperaments and sizes.
Benefits of Joining VCA:
At VCA, we recognize that our people are our strength. Full-time team members enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including:
Medical, dental, and vision insurance options.
Paid vacation and sick time.
Generous pet care discount policy.
401(k) with company match.
Opportunities for career growth and continuing education.
Education Advancement: After one year of employment, you are eligible for a full scholarship to Penn Foster programs, fully paid by VCA, to advance your career in veterinary medicine.
Why Join VCA Smoketown?
At VCA, we are committed to providing compassionate care for pets and a supportive workplace for our team. As Kennel Supervisor, you’ll play a vital role in both — ensuring that our boarding pets are cared for like family while helping your team succeed.
If you are a current associate, you will need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs.
Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more!
The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development)
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com