City of Austin, TX
Austin, TX, United States
Jan 06, 2021
Full Time
Minimum Qualifications Education and/or Equivalent Experience: Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus two (2) years of work experience one (1) year experience in a field related to the job. Licenses or Certifications: Valid Texas Class C Drivers License. Notes to Applicants 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 90 percent and above. What is the Job? The Animal Care Specialist provides animal care and excellent customer service. Animal care responsibilities is management of kennel space including monitoring of animal services staff performance with feeding, walking, exercising, and bathing animals; bringing animals to and from the kennel during check-in and check-out times; and maintaining the guest buildings as a whole by performing tasks including, but not limited to, sweeping/mopping floors, wiping counters, taking out trash, and checking equipment and supplies. Providing excellent customer service responsibilities include mediating animal related complaints, maintaining animal service staff work schedules, and training/delegating job duties to animal services staff. 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 cover letter and résumé are required, but will not substitute for a complete employment application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please include contact information from previous employers. A cover letter is also required. In the cover letter candidates should describe, in concise detail, their interest in this position and highlight any prior experience that is relevant to this position. 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: Austin Public Health/Animal Service Office worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any APH / 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. Pay Range $15.91 - $18.77 Hours Open seven days a week, so schedule will include at least one weekend day and holidays. Depending on the needs of the organization, weekly schedule may exceed 40 hours. Job Close Date 01/24/2021 Type of Posting Departmental Only Department Animal Services Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Technical Location Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop 78702 Preferred Qualifications Experience supervising or leading a team, providing regular feedback and diffusing conflict within a team. Experience managing schedules and delegating team assignments. Experience working in a fast paced, high stress environment with competing priorities. Experience providing excellent customer service and de-escalating conflicts. Experience in an animal-related field including animal husbandry, health, and basic care. 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. 1. Receive, handle and kennel animals of all species, including those of unknown temperament, and aggressive, sick and injured animals. 2. Check for current rabies vaccinations and assist pet registration program. Perform basic maintenance to ensure the safety of all employees, the public and animals. 3. Counsel adopters, review applications and approve/deny applications. Assist the public with adoptions and finding lost animals by answering questions, providing education and assisting potential adopters with animal handling. 4. Maintain relevant written records; enter/retrieve information on computer. 5. Monitor physical condition of animals and perform health care as directed by veterinarian. Manage cage and kennel space by performing daily inventory of animals. 6. Attend training, maintain certifications and train other personnel on cleaning/disinfection, animal handling and other animal care duties. 7. Assist other personnel, law enforcement agencies and other organizations as necessary Perform weekly inventory of supplies and order as necessary. 8. Assist in the euthanasia of animals identified by veterinarians, management, supervisors and/or senior veterinary technicians with understanding and compassion for the animal Prepare and implement new protocol for line staff when procedures change. 9. Clean, disinfect and maintain animal holding areas to ensure disease management protocol. 10. Feed, water, bathe, dip and exercise animals (medical/behavioral observations). 11. Handle cash according to City policies Assign and coordinate animal care staff assignments while monitoring employee performance by conducting daily quality control inspections of assigned duties. 12. Perform receiving, reclaim, animal care and adoption duties. 13. Conduct volunteer orientations. 14. Provide input to supervisor regarding subordinate employees' performance for performance monitoring, completion of feedbacks and evaluations, and progress in meeting Unit goals. Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised: May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others 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. • Adhere to disease management and safety protocols. • Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations. • Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing. • Skill in using computers and related software applications. • Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public. • Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities. • Ability to train others. Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American 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 TTY (512) 974-2445. 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. Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview. Supplemental Questions Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*). * The minimum qualifications for this position are: Graduation from High School or equivalent, plus two (2) years of work experience one (1) year experience in a field related to the job. Do you meet these minimum qualifications? Yes No * Describe your work, volunteer, or personal experience with animals. (Open Ended Question) * Please describe your experience leading teams comprised of non-direct reports. (Open Ended Question) * Describe your experience in scheduling staff. List the number employees you were responsible for scheduling. (Open Ended Question) * Providing first class customer service is essential for this position, please describe your experience communicating with internal and external customers. (Open Ended Question) * Please describe your skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations. (Open Ended Question) * This position requires continuous outdoor activity, frequent sitting, standing, walking, squatting, bending, twisting upper body, climbing, exposure to extreme heat, cold, inclement weather, noise, mechanical hazards, fume/odor/dust hazards, electrical hazards, occasional kneeling, crawling, carrying/lifting up to a minimum of 50lbs., client/ customer contact, and indoor activity. Do you meet the physical requirements for this position? Yes No * Are you willing to work weekends, holidays, and extended shifts as required by the position. Yes No * In the prior twelve months have you been employed by, owned any interest in, or been an officer or board member, for any business entity, including a non-profit organization, that is transacting any business with the City of Austin, including a recipient of any contracts, grants, or any funds of any kind from the City of Austin? Yes No Don't know * If identified as the top candidate, do you agree to a criminal background investigation? Yes No * Do you have a valid Texas Driver's license or the abiity to acquire by date of hire? Yes No Optional & Required Documents Required Documents Cover Letter Resume Optional Documents
