Animal Care Specialist

Location:  Kanab, Utah (Relocation assistance may be available)

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring rate is anticipated to be $22.50 per hour, plus great benefits!

Interviews will occur weekly until the position is filled.

Position Summary: Lifesaving and Care Specialists play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society's no-kill mission and goal by providing the hands-on care for the animals at the sanctuary, working with all departments to find those animals homes wherever possible, and serving as mission and brand ambassadors for the tens of thousands of guests, volunteers, and adopters who visit the sanctuary annually. The Dogtown Lifesaving & Care Specialists work within a team setting to oversee the health, wellbeing, and general care of dogs. They have a unique role as the direct day-to-day connector between the animals in our care and our supporters. As such these specialists represent Best Friends through in-person work, conversations, demonstrations, tour presentations, and other activities. 
 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Support lifesaving objectives throughout the department, providing feedback and support for outcome plans, assist with all aspects of the adoption process, regularly update animal photos and bios, provide superior customer service to visitors, volunteers, and adopters. 

• Serve as a sanctuary ambassador, representing Best Friends' work to visitors and volunteers, and speaking to the sanctuary's special role in Best Friends' no-kill goals.

• Support a "volunteers-first" team giving every volunteer the opportunity to maximize their skills and value towards Best Friends' lifesaving activities, and inspiring visitors to continue the work in their communities.

• Provide for the safety and hands-on training of volunteers, both individuals and groups, including orienting them to the assigned area and tasks; answering questions as needed.

• Greet and conduct tours, speak about specific animals, the work of Dogtown and the sanctuary, answer questions and assist visitors with their needs. 

• Work alongside and support interns, workshop attendees, and other categories of visitors.

• Provide basic and routine care for animals per department guidelines including but not limited to feeding, watering, transporting to appointments (clinic, hydrotherapy, grooming, etc.), and light grooming.

• Support animals with medical issues, which may include zoonotic disease, by medicating, treating, preparing special diets, observing and reporting, and assisting in the maintenance of required veterinary records.

• Providing socialization, enrichment, and exercise for animals as outlined by leadership; identifying behavioral issues and sharing observations with team members and leaders; following behavior or training plans as developed for the department or specific dogs.

• Cleaning work areas and preserving physical appearance of dog buildings and grounds: scooping, raking, sweeping, shoveling, dusting, mopping, trash removal, scrubbing, weeding, etc., noting maintenance or repairs needed and reporting per protocol. 

• Deliver superior customer service relating to all visitors, adopters, fosters and transfer partners in a friendly, informative and professional manner. 

• Follow Best Friends policies, procedures, and task lists for daily lifesaving outcome assignments, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping. 

• Travel to support partner shelters and working directly with their shelter staff on an occasional bass with the expectation of at least one shelter visit per year to help implement and support operational improvement and sustainable lifesaving.  

• Other duties as assigned.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience working with dogs in a professional setting or significant volunteer experience with dogs is required. Minimum of 1 year of experience is preferred. 

• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns including shyness, fearfulness, and aggression; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs.

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with an open adoption process, experience interacting with the public (customer service) preferred. 

• Ability to professionally speak about Best Friends activities and positions on issues.

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; ability to adopt to new work areas or processes; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until department goals are achieved. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, positive attitude, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds.  

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands; with accurate, appropriate, clear and concise written and verbal communication skills; and strong listening skills. 

• Basic experience with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software (Best Friends uses Shelterluv), or desire to learn.   

Physical Requirements:

• ​Routinely lift 65 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending. 

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion. 

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold. 

• Daily exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status. 

• Valid driver's license, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed. 

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights and holiday work. 

• Ability to travel occasionally to support partner shelters and partner shelter staff in sustainable lifesaving work.

*During the selection process, candidates may be asked to participate in an onsite working interview. 

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.