Want to work for a progressive, effective, and innovative lifesaving animal shelter caring for nearly 10,000 animals a year?

Join our team at the Nevada Humane Society as a Lead Animal Care Associate at our Carson Campus. Pay starting at: $18.00 per hour

We are proud to be a high save organization and are looking for individuals who enjoy working with people as much as working with animals.

Help us care for our animal population daily and match families with a new best friend.

Lead Animal Care Associate

Primary Purpose:

Responsible for assisting the department managers and Director of Operations with leading the Animal Care Associates team.

Works with department leadership to ensure goals and objectives for quality animal care, behavior/medical pathways and excellent customer service are carried out.

Serves as a resource for other teams and departments.

Cleans and maintains housing for all animals.

Provides daily appropriate care, and enrichment for all animals based on species requirements.

Performs excellent customer service to potential adopters from the community.

At NHS, we believe in our team, and their dedication to serving the animals in need all over Northern Nevada.

That is why we have robust industry, leading total compensation packages for our employees.

Taking care of you makes us happy from nose to tail!

All employees are eligible for:

Start accruing PTO on day one of employment.

Eligible to apply for Low-Cost Supplemental plans like Life- Insurance, Accident, and Short- Term Disability.

Pet Perks like Free Vaccines, Spay/Neuter and End of Life Services for employee-owned pets.

Free and reduced pet adoptions.

Up to 50% off major brand pet food and prescription food for employee-owned pets delivered right to the shelter.

Full-Time Employees are eligible for:

100% employer paid medical and vision premium,90% employer paid buy up options, low-Cost Dental Plan.

Eligible to participate in the (PSLF) Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

8 paid holidays

The Reno/Tahoe region is host to a growing population of motivated professionals who work hard but value a work life balance and lean into the numerous outdoor recreational opportunities of the region.

Sweeping ski and snowboard vistas pair with stunning water experiences at nearby Lake Tahoe and Pyramid Lake, complemented by numerous hiking, biking and park amenities together these options make an active day in the valley or in the nearby mountains a matter of which terrain you want to experience.

In fact, Reno was named by Outsider Magazine as the #1 Happiest Place to Live in the United States in 2023, citing the burgeoning craft brewing scene, its annual monthlong summer art festival (Artown), as well as the prolific Burning Man installations made public thanks to its proximity to Burning Man, and the relatively affordable cost of living.

Home to Nevadas first university, the University of Nevada, Reno, the region comes alive with school spirit. It also boasts an impressive number of community-minded professionals, a number that is growing thanks to blue chip companies like Tesla and Microsoft.

With approximately 300 days of sunlight each year, a diverse economy, and a wealth of options for adventure, the Reno/Tahoe area is a perfect home for a nonprofit professional looking to continue the next chapter of their career in a bustling and welcoming community.

Essential Responsibilities

Position-Specific Responsibilities

• Treating all animals humanely, properly, and with compassion always, regardless of the situation or circumstance.
• Oversee the population of animals with the ACA to create individualized pathways for each species; monitoring mental/behavioral and physical health of sheltered animals; utilizing safe animal handling practices.
• Works with department management, clinic team, foster team, intake team, volunteer team, and community programs manager to improve existing pathways for animals.
• Work with the Director of Operations and department managers to establish, implement, and evaluate goals for the animals pathway.
• Participates in daily rounds/schedule meetings with other departments for pathway progress.
• Communicate with other departments as needed to ensure smooth and efficient operations.
• Responsible for maintaining inventory of all supplies including but not limited to feeding and cleaning supplies.
• Responsible for onboard training of incoming ACAs and assisting with their continual training and development.
• Maintains communication with fosters and potential adopters to ensure that animals are being processed out of shelter in a timely manner.
• Assisting the intake team process of transferred, surrendered, and stray animals. Ensure animals move swiftly from evaluations to the proper next location, based off the animals designated pathway.
• Assisting with the administration of vaccinations and medications necessary for each animal under the care of the Nevada Humane Society.
• Ensuring the proper documentation/identification for each animal, listing them in the computer database, changing locations, updating photos, and creating individualized descriptions of the animals to help promote them for adoption both in the computer system and on the kennel cards.
• Daily, thorough cleaning of all animal areas, including inside/outside sections of animal housing, floors, walls, windows, dishes, bedding, etc.
• Spot cleaning of animals and public areas throughout the day.
• Provides food and water, including special diets as needed.
• Provides daily exercise and/or enrichment for every animal under the care of the Nevada Humane Society.
• Bathe and groom animals when necessary.
• Maintain appropriate kennel card and kennel signage for individual animals based of their behavior and medical history.
• Conduct Population Wellness checks daily to monitor and track the behavior and wellness of animals under the care of the Nevada Humane Society.
• Identify, separate and monitor animals showing signs of illness or disease and notify the Clinic department.
• Assist the clinic department with surgery animals when necessary, placing animals in appropriate habitats for recovery.
• Providing transportation of animals as needed, to and from vet appointments, to and from organizational events, and to and from other shelters/rescue operations.
• Assist customers on the adoption floor, matchmaking animals to customers for best suited homes based off the animals history and known behavior.
• Assist with training and support of volunteers in related work areas.
• Wash, dry, and fold laundry.

General Responsibilities

• Helps promote fundraising activities and solicit support of agency overall.
• Interacts with co-workers and volunteers in an efficient and courteous manner to ensure a cooperative team environment amongst all departments.
• Maintain and promote a positive public image standard relevant to Nevada Humane Society.
• Professionally represents Nevada Humane Society with customers, donors, and business partners.
• Attend and participate in departmental and shelter meetings. Attend educational conferences/seminars as recommended/approved.
• In the event of an emergency, assist with the handling and evacuation of animals located at any Nevada Humane Society campus.
• Participate in disaster preparedness and response activities for the organization and community as it pertains to pet related needs.
• Address and/or report any safety hazards or unsafe activities.
• Perform other responsibilities as requested by direct management, and/or the CEO.

Working conditions

Position-Specific Working Conditions:

Air-conditioned office or air-conditioned building with computer and internet access. May require travel within a workday on a regular basis. Work is also performed outdoors and/or offsite for shelter events. Use of personal vehicles may be required for fieldwork; mileage allowance will be provided.

General Working Conditions

Working for NHS in any capacity is safety sensitive due to the responsibilities at this business that directly affect the wellbeing and safety of employees, animals and the public.

• Work will be performed in a variety of environmentally controlled and uncontrolled conditions.
• Due to the housing of live animals onsite, work hours may take place at any time within a 24-hour period, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Operational and public hours may vary by department, or location and are subject to change. Attendance at events and other functions may require additional hours, holiday, weekend, evening overnight, or on-call work.
• Exposure to allergens produced by animal dander, saliva, or fur, throughout all areas of the shelter, or other locations.
• Exposure to zoonotic, or otherwise communicable disease.
• Exposure to animals with unpredictable or aggressive behavior.
• Exposure to animals that may scratch or bite unexpectedly.
• Exposure to direct or indirect injury from an animal or other mechanical means used to confine, control, or provide essential care for any animal housed with NHS.
• May require travel within a workday on a regular basis. May require overnight travel intermittently.

Position-Specific Equipment Use

Additionally requires use of specialized cleaning equipment including hoses, foamers, scrapers, and standard janitorial equipment.

General Equipment Use

Telephone, cell phone, computer, printer, scanner, copier, two-way radios, and other office-related equipment. May require use of personal and company vehicles.

Physical & Mental Demands

Position-Specific Mental Demands

• Insert job specific mental demands

General Mental Demands

• Demonstrated ability to maintain emotional balance, competently and reasonably manage daily exposure to various animal welfare concerns, including adverse outcomes for animals, ethically complex situations, and hostile clients.
• Must have ability to make decisions based on reasonable judgment.
• Must have ability to work with the public, staff and volunteers in a fair and ethical manner.
• Requires the ability to think clearly, act quickly and utilize sound judgment in a variety of situations.

Position-Specific Physical Demands

This position may involve desk and computer work and being on your feet for long periods of time. Position may include (vehicle) travel back and forth to outside venues as well as some lifting. Must be able to work at a fast and efficient pace. Must be able to be on your feet and walk all day. Requires lifting heavy objects more than 50 pounds. Ability to safely handle and control animals of all kinds

General Physical Demands

• The physical ability to be at the shelter for the duration of each scheduled shift and other offsite locations as assigned or required to provide essential care to all animals under the care of NHS.
• Physical ability to walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday to provide essential care for all animals under the care of NHS.
• Physical ability to engage in repetitive motions of all limbs and the dexterity to grasp and hold small items with both hands, to move animals and goods. ability to hear, and discern noises from within 3 feet of you, visual acuity, near, far, depth, color vision, to provide essential care to all animals under the care of NHS.
• Ability to and willingness to physically be near and handle any animals, and required tools, supplies, materials, used to safely and humanely manage their care.

Experience and Qualification Requirements

Position-Specific Desired Experience

• Insert job specific desired experience.

General Desired Experience

• Experience in same or related position in a nonprofit setting-preferably animal welfare.
• Record of continually increasing responsibilities with measurable results.

Position-Specific Requirements

• Insert desired qualifications and requirements unique to this position, including any certifications or licenses.

General Requirements

• 18 years of age or older.
• Ability to work autonomously, manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines efficiently.
• Staying updated on community developments, particularly in animal welfare.
• High degree of accuracy and meticulous attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal, written, and observational skills.
• Self-starter with a goal-oriented mindset, willing to exceed prescribed work and time schedules to meet deadlines.
• Possession of a valid Drivers License with valid registration and insurance for personal vehicles, essential for positions requiring driving.
• Demonstrated commitment to the welfare of animals and alignment with the mission of the Nevada Humane Society.
• Consistently treat animals with compassion and respect, both professionally and personally, and promote these values to others.
• Strict adherence to all local regulations concerning the ownership and care of personal animals.
• Comprehensive understanding of pet behavior and care, with the capability to handle various animals safely and responsibly.
• Maintaining a consistently positive and professional demeanor is essential.
• A sincere interest in the Nevada Humane Societys mission and vision.

Additional Beneficial Qualifications

• College degree.
• Experience in a nonprofit agency.
• Animal welfare experience.