Animal Care Technician

Position Description

If you're looking to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make an impact, explore our current opportunities in creating a better future for public health.

About Harris County Public Health:

Harris County Public Health (HCPH) includes a network of more than 1,100 public health professionals working together to improve health outcomes for the third most populous county in the United States. HCPH provides a multitude of services such as medical and dental services, community programming, and health education for the approximately 2.3 million people in unincorporated Harris County. Through its core values of innovation, engagement, and health equity, HCPH strives to bring meaningful solutions to public health issues while keeping Harris County healthy and vibrant.

HCPH embraces a foundation of progressive work anchored by the department's cornerstone values guiding our work to improve community's health and well-being.

• Transparency - We share information openly and honestly so that staff, partners, and the community understand our actions and the reasons behind them.
• Integrity - Our actions reflect strong ethical principles, ensuring we remain trustworthy, accountable, and consistent with our mission.
• Respect - We foster a supportive environment by valuing diverse perspectives, listening intentionally, and treating people with dignity in every interaction.
• Impact - We focus our efforts on activities that improve health, reduce disparities, and create meaningful, measurable outcomes for the communities we serve.
• Collaboration - We actively partner across teams, disciplines, organizations, and communities to align our efforts toward common goals.

Position Overview:

Under the supervision of the Kennel Supervisor, the Animal Care Technician is responsible for cleaning and sanitizing animal holding areas as required. The Animal Care Technician will be responsible for counseling citizens interested in pet adoptions, searching for lost pets, assisting in photographing animals and accurate data entry of animal and citizen information. This position also involves witnessing the humane euthanasia of animals.

Duties & Responsibilities:

• Responsible for daily sanitation and maintenance of animal holding pens and cages.
• Responsible for the daily feeding and watering of all animals in the shelter.
• Assists in reviewing health status of animals and advises veterinary staff of any medical problems with animals in the shelter.
• Humanely transports animals from unloading areas or reception area and ensures that animals are assigned kennels.
• Assists citizens and fosters search for lost or adoptable pets, counsel new adopters on responsible pet ownership, and approves/rejects adoption applications.
• Assists Kennel Supervisor with humane euthanasia as required.
• Assist in daily task of photographing and updating information in the database, on animals to be placed on the Internet.
• Data entry of applications for adoption.
• Cleans, stores and maintains all equipment necessary for feeding, watering and care of animals.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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Requirements

Education:

• High school diploma or GED equivalent

Experience:

• At least one (1) year experience working in an animal shelter, animal care environment, or pet ownership.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Must have working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Must be comfortable working with animals.
• Must be willing to assist the supervisor with humane euthanasia of animals.

• Data Analytics and Assessment Skills: Ability to use data to analyze community health needs and support decisions that improve community health outcomes.

• Communication Skills: This competency focuses on using clear and effective communication to engage audiences, address misinformation, and build trust, supporting informed decisions and stronger public health outcomes.

• Health Advancement Skills: This competency focuses on applying principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion to public health, addressing systemic barriers, and promoting fair access to resources for healthier communities.

• Community Partnership Skills: This competency focuses on collaborating with communities to address the systems and policies affecting health, fostering engagement, shared ownership, and sustainable improvements in well-being.

• Public Health Science Skills: This competency focuses on using public health science and evidence-based approaches to develop and improve policies and programs, ensuring effective delivery of the 10 Essential Public Health Services.

Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

General Information

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• This is a full-time position. Working 40 hours per week.
• This position requires flexibility in schedules.
• This position requires availability for on-call duties as needed, ensuring continuous support and coverage outside of regular business hours, holidays, and weekends.

Work Environment:

• This job operates in an animal shelter environment. Consistently exposed to animals and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.

Physical Demands:

• Will be required to bend, lift, stoop, and stand for long periods of time. Frequent lifting of animals or materials up to 50 pounds. Must be in good physical health.

Work Location:

• Harris County Pets - Veterinary Public Health: 612 Canino Rd, Houston, TX 77076

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

Harris County Employee Benefits

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*

* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of