The Animal Care Specialist – Variable Hour performs duties to support the operations of the City Animal Services Shelter. The job includes significant customer service work to provide animal information and answer questions of visitors or callers. The job also includes caring for animals, feeding, exercising, providing vaccinations and medical care, testing and evaluating temperament. The Animal Care Specialist – Variable Hour cleans animal cages, holding areas and public areas. Seasonal work may include grounds keeping and landscaping work including mowing, trimming and weed control.

The job requires knowledge of animal care, building maintenance, and customer service including situations where persons may be upset or emotionally distraught. The job requires the ability to maintain a collaborative and cooperative working relationship with elected and appointed officials, other City employees, other organizations, and the general public.

The work environment includes animal care and control and a building and grounds maintenance environment that includes the use of power equipment and outdoor weather conditions including extreme temperatures. The job is occasionally exposed to animals that may be injured or aggressive and includes the hazard of exposure to drugs used to euthanize animals and zoonotic diseases, including rabies. The noise level is generally moderate but can occasionally be high.