PT Temporary Animal Enrichment Worker (3 Positions), Austin Animal Services (Behavioral Support Division)

About This Position

The Part Time Temporary Animal Enrichment Worker provides vital mental and physical enrichment for dogs and cats. This position walks dogs that cannot be handled by regular volunteers and specializes in animal behavioral evaluations and training.

This role safely handles animals of varying temperaments, provides crucial feedback to help expedite adoptions, and accurately maintains shelter records. This role ensures the safety of all animals and people while maintaining a clean, organized facility and grounds.

Job Description:

Performs all aspects of humane animal care duties to ensure animal safety and well-being. Provides quality customer service by assisting the public with and delivering accurate information regarding Animal Services' policies, programs, and procedures.

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.

• Provides and ensures enrichment to animals through regular exercise, including interacting, walking, and training dogs at the shelter.
• Assists behavior team with in/out of kennel enrichment activities and playgroup.
• Assists animal care with shelter space.
• Performs animal behavior assessments.
• Safely and humanely handles animals of unknown health and temperament, with the ability to manage dogs of higher-level behavior.
• Creates support programs for animals with behavior challenges. Consults with supervisors/managers about shelter enrichment activities to improve adoptability and to treat and prevent behavior problems.
• Assists in monitoring the medical/behavioral status of animals and performs related health care activities.
• Contributes to the programs and services that support the shelter’s live outcome goal.
• Ensures the safety of animals and people in the shelter.
• Accurately maintains all required records in the shelter’s database.
• Provides information to the public.
• Trains shelter staff and volunteers on animal behavior and safe handling of cats and dogs.
• Maintains facility and grounds in a clean, neat, and organized manner.

Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

None.

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.

• Knowledge of disease management and safety protocols.
• Knowledge of animal services and related programs. Knowledge of applicable processes, techniques, and principles.
• Skill in safely handling animals of all sizes, including those with unknown temperament.
• Skill in safely lifting and handling animals of varying sizes and weights.
• Skill in maintaining stamina during long periods of standing, walking, or performing manual tasks.
• Ability to quickly assess and address unexpected situations, especially when dealing with animals of unknown health or temperament, and to make sound decisions that ensure safety and well-being.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus six (6) months of work experience.

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• None.

Notes to Candidate:

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated dog handling & experience in a professional work setting such as a shelter, animal rescue, veterinary clinic, or a professional animal training environment.
• Demonstrated experience with various dog breeds and temperaments, including 50+ lb. dogs with behavioral issues.
• Demonstrated experience exercising sound judgment and the ability to make safe, quick decisions when handling animals with unknown or challenging temperaments.
• Demonstrated experience with an animal inventory system like Chameleon, Shelter Buddy, Pet Sense, or equivalent program, to update behavioral or health issues.

Who Are We? Austin Animal Services’ mission is to enhance the lives of pets and people by preventing animal homelessness, to help lost pets find their way home or find new homes, to provide education and resources to preserve the human-animal bond, and to administer animal-related ordinances to ensure public and animal safety, all while achieving a 95% live outcome rate for sheltered pets.

We offer outstanding benefits including several health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more. Please click City of Austin Benefits for more information.

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 titles 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.

Pay Rate: $22.05

Scheduled Shifts:

Wednesday-Saturday, 8:00 am - 1:00 pm

Wednesday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Sunday -Wednesday, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Note the Sunday - Wednesday shift incudes one day being a weekend day.

PLEASE NOTE: Austin Animal Services is not a 100% remote operation. This position is considered “essential;” employees may be required to report to work when the City of Austin offices are otherwise closed (bad weather, etc.).

Work Location: Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop, Bldg. A, Austin, TX 78702

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/Austin Animal Services’ worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any APH/AAS worksite – including construction sites, parking lot, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.

90-Day Provision for Additional Vacancy: This posting may be used to fill other vacancies in other sections within the Division. Decisions on assigned section will be made at the time of hire based on business needs.

PLEASE NOTE: this posting may close any time after 7 days.

Essential Employee: This position has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a city-designated extraordinary situation or emergency condition, essential employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees, as well as ensure the continuity of essential operations. Essential Employees may be called back in during such events, required to modify their schedule, assigned to a City-designated work site, or retained on-site to assist with operations and recovery.

Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once the position has been unposted, it will no longer be viewable.

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What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference: Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
• Value and Innovation: Work in an environment where employees are valued, and innovation thrives.
• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
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• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
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By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

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EEO Statement for City of Austin:

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.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with 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 Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.