ANIMAL SERVICES TECHNICIAN

Salary: $33,710.00 - $42,137.50 Annually
Location : Columbia, SC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202600121
Department: PUBLIC WORKS ADMINISTRATION
Division: ANIMAL SERVICES
Opening Date: 05/18/2026
Closing Date: 6/19/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: 104


Description


This position performs and provides leadership in and participates in the activities and operations of the Animal Services Department, including maintaining daily shelter operations, caring for impounded animals and providing assistance to field officers; and performs related technical and clerical work as required. The incumbent works within a general outline of work to be performed, and develops work methods and sequences under general supervision.

The work is considered medium-to-heavy in nature and involves walking, standing, stooping, lifting, climbing, pushing or raising objects and also involves exerting between 20 and 50 pounds of force on a recurring basis and 50 to 100 pounds of force on an occasional basis. The work requires the following physical abilities to perform the essential job functions: crouching, feeling, fingering, handling, kneeling, lifting, reaching, repetitive motion, and talking.

Work environment may involve exposure to bright/dim light, animals/wildlife, fumes and/or noxious odors, disease/pathogens, toxic/caustic chemicals; and is dynamic that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.

Essential Job Functions

• Greets and assists customers and other department visitors;
• Answers the telephone; provides accurate information and/or forwards calls to appropriate staff person; takes messages as necessary;
• Performs other routine clerical duties as required, including but not limited to preparing forms, reports and correspondence, entering and retrieving computer data, copying and filing documents, etc.;
• Receives complaints of dogs, cats or other animals creating nuisances and notifies appropriate City personnel for investigation and response;
• Receives and responds to public inquiries and complaints in areas of responsibility;
• Communicates with animal control officers via two-way radio, providing information and assistance as requested;
• Receives and processes animals brought to the shelter for impoundment; conducts daily inventory of animals;
• Provides basic animal care, including bathing, feeding, and observing animal behavior;
• Provides public education regarding animal control; explains ordinances related to the care and keeping of animals;
• Redeems animals to proper owners;
• Processes animals for adoption;
• Collects, receipts and records various fees and fines; prepares daily deposits;
• Assists in coordinating department activities with the Department of Health and Environmental Control and other agencies as appropriate;
• Maintains assigned equipment; participates in the daily maintenance of facility;
• Maintains records of daily work activities;
• Assists in euthanasia of animals as necessary; prepares related paperwork;
• Attends training, meetings, workshops, etc., as necessary to maintain job knowledge, skills and required certifications;
• Assists in daily cleaning operations of all work areas as assigned;
• Assists the Veterinarian in providing medical care for animals, including but not limited to performing various diagnostic tests on animals, preparing animals for surgery, caring for animals after surgery, removing staples / stitches from surgery sites, preparing and administering medications, administering vaccinations and other shots, deworming animals, etc.;
• Maintains accurate records of medical care provided for each animal;
• Maintains assigned equipment; participates in the daily maintenance of facility;
• Conducts inventory and restocks supplies as needed;

• Prepares examination and procedure rooms for use;
• Maintains accurate records of medical care provided for each animal; and

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Requirements to Perform Work:

• High school diploma or GED;
• One (1) year of relevant prior experience;
• Valid South Carolina Class "D" Driver's License;
• S.C. Humane Euthanasia certification.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, and/or calculating ratios, rates and percentages;
• Ability to compute or perform arithmetic operations using data or information;
• Ability to speak or signal to people to convey or exchange information of a general nature;

• Ability to handle or use machines, tools or equipment requiring brief instruction or experience, such as computers for data entry, fax machines, copiers, telephones or similar equipment; may service office machines, including adding paper and changing toner;
• Ability to perform skilled work involving rules/systems with almost constant problem-solving;
• Ability to perform semi-routine work following procedures with occasional problems;
• Ability to read routine sentences, instructions, regulations, procedures or work orders; writing routine sentences and completing routine job forms and incident reports; speaking routine sentences using proper grammar;
• Ability to perform clerical, manual or technical tasks prescribed by standard practices but which may require computation, the use of several procedures, and the use of independent judgments with obvious choices; requires normal attention for accurate results; and
• Ability to guide others, requiring a few decisions affecting a few co-workers; works in a stable environment with clear and uncomplicated written/oral instructions but with some variations from the routine.

The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Part-time or temporary employees, including interns, are not eligible for City benefits.
To learn more details, visit our benefits page at:
01


Do you have a valid Driver's License?

• Yes
• No

02


Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed?

• Some high school, did not graduate
• High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (GED)
• Some college
• Associate degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Professional degree
• Doctorate degree

03


How many years of relevant experience do you have?

• No experience
• Less than 1 year of experience
• Over 1 year but less than 2 years of experience
• Over 2 years but less than 3 years of experience
• Over 3 years but less than 5 years of experience
• Over 5 years of experience

04


Do you have a S.C. Humane Euthanasia certification?

• Yes
• No

Required Question