Animal Care Technician

Animal Care Technician

Are you looking for an opportunity to work with and transform the lives of animals? Do you enjoy matching animals with their fur-ever family? Do you have some claw-ver marketing and outreach strategies? If yes, we are looking for you!

The City of Mission Viejo seeks a motivated candidate to serve as our next Animal Care Technician. This position is responsible for providing daily care and enrichment for shelter animals, assisting with adoption counseling, performing behavioral assessments of shelter animals, and providing excellent customer service.

There is one (1) full-time vacancy scheduled to work forty (40) hours per week: Tuesday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The schedule and assignment may change to include evenings, weekends, and special events depending on the needs of the City. This is an FLSA non-exempt position and is entitled to overtime. The eligibility list established for this position may be used to fill future full-time, part-time or temporary Animal Care Technician and/or Kennel Attendant vacancies.

Your impact and contributions include:

1. Promote positive relationships with the public, management team, fellow staff members, and volunteers.
2. Provide the highest of standards of animal husbandry, customer service, conflict resolution and communication to the public while upholding and promoting the Center's programs and policies.
3. Complete daily cleaning and feeding routines in a timely, organized, and professional manner.
4. Provide kennel enrichment for all domestic animals, and evaluate and socialize animals.
5. Monitor the health of shelter animals and report symptoms of illness.
6. Assist Senior Animal Care Technician and veterinarian with medical treatments, pre-surgical, surgical, and post-surgical procedures.
7. Drive City provided vehicle to transport animals, materials, and animal care supplies.
8. Safely handle domestic and wild animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles.
9. Enter clear and concise data and notes utilizing database software.
10. Actively engage with volunteers by providing training and supervision.
11. Learn about the personalities and traits of the adoptable pets in our care, promote great qualities to potential adopters via social media posts and facilitate animal/animal introductions utilizing Center protocols.

The ideal candidate:

• Is a reliable and flexible team player, enthusiastic about helping others; able to work both independently and in a group environment;
• Can establish and maintain effective and harmonious working relationships with all levels of staff, volunteers, and the public;
  • Can handle stressful situations, learn from setbacks, maintain a positive attitude in the face of challenges, and demonstrate the ability to remain calm when dealing with disgruntled people;
  • Strong work experience demonstrating sound independent judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions while using tact and discretion;
  • Possess strong animal handling skills including the ability to evaluate animal health and behavior, and a passion for animals; and
  • Knowledge of computer applications such Word, Excel, Outlook, Chameleon and has the ability to quickly learn new programs.

Equivalent to the completion of twelfth (12) grade and one (1) year of experience in working with domestic animals in a veterinary clinic or other animal facility. Positions in this classification occasionally lift, move, and carry animals that typically weigh up to 100 pounds.

Must possess and maintain a valid California class C driver's license and have a satisfactory driving record as transporting animals is an essential function of this position.