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The Animal Services Supervisor (Enrichment) is
responsible for planning, coordinating, training, and scheduling the Behavior Enrichment Specialists team. This role communicates professionally and respectfully with the public, staff, managers, volunteers, and other divisions. This position oversees and performs enrichment activities, playgroups, and behavior assessments for all dogs in care, including those with challenging behaviors. This position oversees the behavior process of the dogs’ care while in the shelter with the objective of defining valid and safe pathways for each individual dog. Additionally, this position develops, oversees, and provides behavior consultations and education to adopters, fosters, and volunteers.
Job Description:Purpose: Under general direction, this position oversees the daily operations and activities of the assigned work unit by supervising the personnel responsible for completing the day-to-day tasks related to Animal Services operations.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
- Coordinates unit activities with other divisions by evaluating operational needs and assignment of work activities. Develops operating procedures. Tracks operating information and write technical reports.
- Ensures compliance with unit procedures, policies, and protocols.
- Resolves customer conflicts and provides options to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Develops, revises, and implements standard operation practices, policies, and procedures for the unit.
- Determines goals, objectives, and resources requirements for the activities of the unit. Prepares performance measures, data, and reports for management review.
- Assists with planning, developing, organizing, evaluating, and monitoring the unit’s budget. Plans, develops, organizes, evaluates, manages, and monitors the unit’s programs, projects, and activities.
- Orders supplies, maintains inventory, makes purchases, monitors contracts, and recommends capital expenditures.
- Maintains and updates automated record keeping and files. Prepares, as necessary, notifications for the news media.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
- Coordinates unit activities with other divisions by evaluating operational needs and assignment of work activities. Develops operating procedures. Tracks operating information and write technical reports.
- Ensures compliance with unit procedures, policies, and protocols.
- Resolves customer conflicts and provides options to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Develops, revises, and implements standard operation practices, policies, and procedures for the unit. Determines goals, objectives, and resources requirements for the activities of the unit. Prepares performance measures, data, and reports for management review.
- Assists with planning, developing, organizing, evaluating, and monitoring the unit’s budget.
- Plans, develops, organizes, evaluates, manages, and monitors the unit’s programs, projects, and activities.
- Orders supplies, maintains inventory, makes purchases, monitors contracts, and recommends capital expenditures.
- Maintains and updates automated record keeping and files.
- Prepares, as necessary, notifications for the news media.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.
- Knowledge of animal and rabies control laws and ordinances including care, restraint, quarantine, animal behavior, anatomy, hygiene, nutrition, first-aid, and customer service.
- Knowledge of humane and safe animal care.
- Knowledge of good customer relations dealing tactfully and professional with customers and public in emotional or adversarial conditions.
- Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles including the evaluation of others and conflict resolution.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other employees and the public and making effective use of community resources.
- Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
- Ability to communicate effectively oral and in writing to respond to inquiries and prepare and present information.
- Ability to demonstrate leadership, management, and human relations skills to facilitate significant cultural and organizational change.
- Ability to guide, train, monitor, evaluate, and provide feedback on the work of others.
- Ability to effectively manage projects and delegate responsibilities.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a related field, plus three (3) years of relevant experience, including one (1) year of experience which was in a lead or supervisory capacity. Experience may substitute for education up to the maximum of four (4) years.
Notes to Candidate:PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:- Prior experience supervising or leading a team, providing regular feedback, and handling complex conversations.
- Demonstrated experience working in a fast paced, high stress environment while managing emotions and competing priorities.
- Experience in a shelter or rescue setting.
- Experience in managing high level behaviors in dogs through performance and documentation of behavior evaluations, assessments, and behavioral plans for all shelter animals, particularly those with more complex needs.
- Demonstrated experience working with animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and behavioral challenges. Experience with positive reinforcement-based training.
- Demonstrated experience in developing, implementing, and maintaining accurate records to track behavior modification plans and progress. Effectively communicate plans with staff, management, and customers.
- Certification as a certified professional animal trainer or equivalent credential is preferred and a shelter behavior affiliate credential is also valuable, o r the ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.
What is the Job? The Animal Services Supervisor (Enrichment) is
responsible for planning, coordinating, training, and scheduling the Behavior Enrichment Specialists team. This role communicates professionally and respectfully with the public, staff, managers, volunteers, and other divisions. This position oversees and performs enrichment activities, playgroups, and behavior assessments for all dogs in care, including those with challenging behaviors. This position oversees the behavior process of the dogs’ care while in the shelter with the objective of defining valid and safe pathways for each individual dog. Additionally, this position develops, oversees, and provides behavior consultations and education to adopters, fosters, and volunteers.
Who Are We? Austin Animal Center's mission is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of our animals by providing shelter, care, and lifesaving efforts. We are located in the largest No Kill community in the country and maintain a live outcome rate of 95 percent and above. As the City of Austin's municipal shelter, the Austin Animal Center strives to protect the health and wellbeing of residents and their pets, through rabies control, the sheltering of stray or lost pets, fostering
and adoption programs, and the enforcement of animal related laws.
This position is considered essential and may be required to report to work in extreme weather conditions (heat, cold, rain) or in a community emergency response situation.
Location: 7201 Levander Loop Bldg. A Austin, TX 78702
Days and Hours: This position will work Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week and might include some weekends. This position will work on business needs and will be required to work some City of Austin holidays.
This position is classified as "essential" and will be required to work during bad weather or emergencies when the City is otherwise closed.
Salary Range: $27.87 - $34.00/hour
Driving Requirement: This position requires a Valid Texas Class C Drivers License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the
City of Austin's Driver Record Evaluation (DRE). requisite.
To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.
Regarding Your Application: - Please be sure to detail on the application all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
- A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Be sure to provide job title and employment dates for all jobs you wish to be considered.
- A resume is required but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please include contact information from previous employers.
If you are selected to interview: - Military/Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 at the time of initial interview to receive military/veteran interview preference.
If you are selected for hire: - You must provide proof of education which may include your official college transcript, High School diploma, GED or equivalent degree and your professional licenses.
- A Criminal Background check (CBI) will be conducted.
Additional Information: - Animal Service Office worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any ASO worksite - including construction sites, parking lot, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.
- Please Note this posting may close any time after 7 days.
Important Note to Applicants:Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the
final day to apply, but the posting will
close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.
We also recommend that you
save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.
EEO Statement for City of Austin:
The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.
Closing Date/Time: 2025-11-03