Care Center Specialist 

Summary 

 The Care Center Specialist is the backbone of the Staten Island Care Center, responsible for providing professional, supportive service to clients and progressive, compassionate care to some 3,000 animals that come through the facility each year. As Animal Care Center's smallest full service care center, the small staff at Staten Island get the benefit of having roles and responsibilities across all functions and departments, making them some of our most well-rounded team members. The Care Center Specialist creates a healthy environment for all animals by monitoring behavior, maintaining the cleanliness of kennels, providing exercise and socialization, and supporting veterinary services functions. Of equal importance, they create a warm and inviting atmosphere for clients by providing and connecting to internal and external services and acting as ambassador for all things Animal Care Center. With such varied and wide ranging responsibilities, their overarching goal is to ensure that each interaction – whether human or animal – is of the highest quality, thoughtful, and providing for the needs of all parties. 

Salary and Benefits:

$15.00/Hour 

Responsibilities 

Communications (25%) 

• Observe and document unusual behavior, signs of illness and any injury of an animal on a daily basis. Communicate vital information to relevant personnel as appropriate. 
• Support the success of placement efforts by proactively participating in animal enrichment, writing animal bios, and taking great animal photos, as well as communicating with the Media team on “rock star” animals 
• Maintain records, reports and perform extensive data entry work in animal sheltering software; including creating people and animal profiles, documenting communications via thorough notes, and being able to find required information in the software. 
• Effectively and professionally communicate policies concerning intakes, adoptions, euthanasia and relinquishment's to Animal Care Center clients, members of the public, and other organizations 

Animal Care (25%) 

• Maintain a high standard of animal care and welfare, which includes providing scheduled feedings, clean water at all times, proper bedding and enrichment toys 
• Properly clean and sanitize kennels, cages, equipment and areas of shelter as assigned, according to Animal Care Center's policy and
  procedure. Bathe or clean animals immediately if they become soiled 
• Exercise and socialize with animals on a regular basis  
• Restrain, confine, handle animals, including those which are ill, injured, quarantined, and aggressive 
• As directed by medical staff or supervisor, provide pre-surgery care and preparation to animals 

Customer Service (40%) 

• Accurately perform Lost/Found checks using all available methods of contact (phone, email, letter) to locate
  possible owners 
• Be knowledgeable and conversational on Animal Care Center policies and common animal welfare practices 
• Provide excellent customer service to individuals utilizing Animal Care Center services 
• Administer said services including admission of animals, adoption, reunification, lost and found, etc.  
• Work cooperatively with Animal Care Center volunteers, staff and partners 
• Register pets for NYC licenses online and collect appropriate fees 
• Present professional and friendly demeanor to clients at all times, smiling and greeting with well-informed and enthusiastic responses upon entry to our care centers and thanking them for
  visiting upon departure 
• Interact with the public in a professional, personalized and sincere manner via phone, email and in person to answer questions about services provided by Animal Care Center 

Other (10%) 

• Maintain accurate cash drawers (money and receipts); perform end of day reconciliations 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications 

Ability to excel in a fast-paced, often high stress environment; treats animals and people with respect; has attention to detail and a strong work ethic to complete tasks correctly; is a confident communicator; is a people person and a team player, willing to pitch in to help others and ensure the needs of the animals are met; is a self-started and self-motivated to stay busy and productive during slow times; available to modify schedule as needed to meet the needs of the organization, including with little notice; possesses a love of animals and is able to interact with them in a calm, non-threatening manner; bilingual preferred; Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds and work standing for 8 hours or more.  

Education and Work Experience: 

This is an entry level position. While previous animal care experience is a plus, all that is required is a positive, compassionate attitude. 

Please see the attached Benefits Flyer for more details. 

Animal Care Center values work/life balance and offers a generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff training to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.  

Because Animal Care Center is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax-free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan. 

Work Environment:  
At Animal Care Centers it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. Animal Care Centers houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance. 

Animal Care Centers offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet. 

Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required. New Hires must be fully vaccinated by the first day of employment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered.

Reports To: Care Center Manager 

Overtime: This is a union position and is eligible for overtime.