Animal Care Lead

Are you a passionate animal advocate with a desire to nurture and improve the lives of homeless animals? As one of the largest animal shelters in the nation, we need your support to make a difference!

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control is seeking a motivated and diligent Animal Care Lead to provide daily care and support for our shelter animals. You will provide leadership and guidance to our team of Animal Care Associates while advocating for the animals in our care and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of the people and animals of Maricopa County. This position requires the employee to work on campus, both indoors and outdoors, and be customer-facing for all hours worked.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to support our shelter and your community! Apply today!

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 first-hand about proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

• 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 the Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families
• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including an incentive
• Enrollment in the Arizona State Retirement System, a defined retirement benefit requiring an 11.98% per paycheck contribution rate that includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Want to learn more about the County’s Qualifying and Compensation Philosophy? Follow this link to learn more! Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

• High school diploma or GED
• Two years of working or volunteer experience with domestic animals in an animal welfare organization, veterinary facility, humane society, or similar animal care facility
• One year of in-person customer service work experience 
• A combination of post-secondary education and/or job-related experience may substitute for the minimum qualifications on a year-for-year basis 

• Candidates must be flexible and able to work all shifts, including starting as early as 6 am and finishing as late as 7 pm, working weekends and holidays. Animal Care Associates are assigned on any shift, with any combination of days off, determined by the needs of the Department.

• Must be willing and able to participate on the euthanasia team as needed

• One year of in-person customer service work experience 

• Experience with humane euthanasia and/or Humane Euthanasia Certification

• Experience working in an animal shelter

• Experience within a leadership role

• Canine handling experience with all types of breeds and behaviors

• Bilingual skills in English/Spanish

• Perform animal care and related duties, including cleaning, feeding, exercising, moving animals, and monitoring the behavior and health of those in our care. Ensure all shelter animals are properly housed and cared for within the guidelines of the Five Domains of Animal Welfare, and that positive reinforcement and Fear Free methods are utilized.
• Provides daily direction, guidance, and coaching for Animal Care Associates, assigns and prioritizes work, and ensures daily tasks are completed efficiently and accurately
• Trains and mentors staff on Department standards, procedures, animal handling, and safety practices; identifies additional training needs and communicates them to supervision
• Conducts daily shelter welfare rounds, creates and maintains necessary animal records, performs data entry, and records and addresses concerns following standard protocols
• Maintains or monitors necessary supplies, equipment, records, and assigned inventories, and communicates operational needs to supervision
• Provides quality customer service and cultivates positive relations with clients, volunteers, and staff while actively promoting our mission, services, programs, and events.
• Other job duties as assigned, including but not limited to assisting with in-shelter adoption meet and greets, animal enrichment, and animal intake as needed
• Involved in and may perform humane euthanasia of animals as needed, in accordance with departmental policies, procedures, and established protocols

• Work is predominantly performed in an animal shelter with exposure to extreme and varying temperatures, excessive noise, dogs and cats with unknown temperaments or behaviors, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic diseases
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and walk on all types of surfaces that are sometimes slippery, uneven, and rough
• Employees are required to adapt quickly to shifting priorities. Stand, walk, bend, and stoop for up to 10 hours per shift. Reach, push, and pull objects using hands and arms. Maintain steady stamina during fast-paced shifts
• Exerting 50-100 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10-20 lbs. constantly
• Work involves regular participation in animal care and control activities, including the humane euthanasia of animals, handling injured, ill, or aggressive animals, interacting with members of the public, and performing time-sensitive duties under varying stressful and high-pressure conditions

• 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 and is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants. If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application process or to perform the essential functions of the position under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact MHRFeedback@maricopa.gov to initiate the interactive process.