Animal Evaluation and Welfare Specialist

Posting Date

Application Deadline

Pay Range

Job Type

Department

About the Position

Join our passionate team dedicated to improving the lives of animals in our care. As the Animal Evaluation & Well-being Specialist, you'll play a key role in promoting the physical and emotional well-being of shelter animals. This position is ideal for someone with a deep understanding of animal behavior and a commitment to creating a safe, enriching environment. You will be responsible for leading behavior evaluations, monitoring animal behavior in the shelter, and overseeing playgroups, enrichment preparation, and activities to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals under care. This position requires the employee to be in the office and or customer-facing for all hours worked.

About Us

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation's largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn firsthand about the proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement

• Exceptional work-life balance

• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents

• Child care benefits including access to our upcoming on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families exclusively

• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave

• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts

• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12.27% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

• Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Two years of experience in an animal shelter, animal rescue, or similar facility, directly handling dogs of a variety of sizes, temperaments, and dispositions

• High school Diploma or higher

We Also Value

• Animal behavior certifications such as CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, KPA-CTP, CTC or equivalent

• Experience performing dog-to-dog introductions or playgroups in a shelter-like environment

• Experience leading or working directly with volunteers in an animal welfare setting

• 6 months or more performing dog-to-dog introductions or playgroups, preferably in a shelter or rescue environment

Job Contributions

• Ensure timely completion of behavior evaluations for animals ending their hold period, assigning handling levels, requirements, and recommendations, or submitting for review of alternate pathways to reduce length of stay

• Assist with handling for out-of-kennel enrichment activities such as Playgroups, dog-to-dog introductions, and Runbuddy by overseeing dog selection, staff/volunteer handling and assignments, overall monitoring, and intervening and assisting with emergent situations

• Review and complete all requested follow-up behavior evaluations on animals to make sure their assigned handling level is still accurate and still meets adoption criteria

• Oversee and complete daily monitoring of in-kennel stress for animals, reviewing animals' previous observations and adding indicated animals to daily behavior monitoring while submitting animals for higher-level review when necessary

• Act as lead for directing, guiding, and coaching staff and volunteers in the performance and completion of daily shelter enrichment activities, including playgroups, out-of-kennel enrichment, and in-kennel enrichment. Train and mentor new staff and volunteers on playgroup and enrichment processes and procedures

• Perform click for quiet routine daily with animals in their kennels to improve kennel behavior

• Assist other divisions as needed as a skilled or secondary handler

• Assist other divisions as needed to complete necessary daily shelter operations, not limited to cleaning kennels, adoption meet and greets, releasing dogs, etc., and other duties as assigned

Working Conditions

• Must be able to lift up to 20-25 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly

• Fast-paced animal shelter environment with exposure to extreme and varying temperatures, dogs and cats with unknown temperaments and behaviors, excessive noise, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic diseases

• Must possess, or have the ability to obtain by time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license

• A commitment to the use of positive reinforcement and fear-free training methods when engaging with dogs in our care.

• Fear Free Shelters certification must be obtained within the first month of employment

• Must be flexible and able to work all shifts, which include starting as early as 5 am and finishing as late as 7 pm, working weekends, and holidays, determined by the needs of the Department

• Flexibility to work at either our West and East shelter locations as needed

• Must complete animal handling training within 3 months of hire as this position is required to handle animals

Selection Procedure

• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!