Animal Care Team Lead (Animal Specialist II)

Job Announcement

Are you an experienced animal care professional looking for a growth opportunity where you can make a difference in the lives of animals and the community? At the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to the animals in our shelter, while also working to tackle the root causes of animal homelessness in our community. We are hiring Animal Care Team Leads!

As an Animal Care Team Lead you will help more than 4,000 animals each year, while serving as team lead and mentor to a group of hardworking caretakers. This position will be responsible for the intake, care, feeding, and handling of shelter animals across our two shelter campuses. Fairfax County Animal Shelter is the only open-access municipal shelter located in Fairfax and Lorton, Virginia. Our shelter has a live release rate of over 90% and we’re very proud of our excellent volunteer and foster programs, compassionate staff, progressive sheltering policies and practices, and our wonderful animal-loving community. Please visit our website here.

In collaboration with Animal Care Specialist Is and Facility Attendant Is, serves as team lead and mentor regarding responsibilities for the intake, caring, feeding, and handling of Shelter animals.

Duties include:

• Serves as team lead and mentor and provides support to Animal Care Specialist Is and Facility Attendant Is, volunteers, and community service assignees regarding daily tasks, questions, or concerns.
• Identifies deficiencies or discrepancies in the execution of daily tasks and assists less experienced staff in corrective action as needed.
• Assists with the animal care work of less experienced Animal Care staff.
• Counsels staff and volunteers in safe, humane, and efficient care of animals (wild, domestic, and livestock) when needed.
• In the absence of an Animal Care Specialist III or Animal Care Manager, oversees completion of daily tasks and refers animals for veterinary care (emergency and/or routine).
• Assists less experienced staff in specialized care for animals under medical treatment (administering medications, changing bandages and wraps, evaluating wound conditions, and charting all procedures).
• Provides input to the Animal Care Specialist III or Animal Care Manager on the disposition of animals whether recommending adoption, euthanasia, or other interventions considering history, behavior, health, and age.
• Assists with monitoring inventory of animal care team supplies, including medical, cleaning, and other necessary items.
• Serves as alternate point of contact for immediate needs in the absence of a manager on duty, overseeing daily operations as needed.
• Takes the lead role to perform euthanasia, ensures correct and humane treatment for all animals, and accurately completes required documentation; may prepare rabies test specimens for the Health Department in the absence of a veterinarian to complete the process timely.
• Oversees the maintenance and use of the incinerator for cremation, disposal of confiscated and outdated drugs, syringes, records, and other sensitive materials.
• Takes a lead role with the Volunteer Program Manager and Coordinator to integrate trained volunteers into the animal care and cleaning routine at the shelter.
• Assists the Foster Program Manager and Coordinator with medical treatment and routine vaccinations of shelter foster pets.
• Ensures that animals are provided with a safe, clean environment by being responsible for the cleaning, disinfecting, and maintenance of kennels, cages, animal holding areas, and other shelter areas and grounds.
• Receives animals from the public or Animal Protection Police and performs preventative care treatments including necessary vaccinations, tests, and general medical assessment on intake, to ensure health of the individual pet as well as herd health for the shelter; performs basic handling assessment on intake and assigns behavior handling category for dogs using the dot system to ensure safe handling for other staff and volunteers.
• Ensures all animals are properly fed and medicated and have ample water throughout the day.
• Maintains and tracks veterinary prescribed feeding and medication charts.
• Refers animals for both emergency and routine veterinary care and transports animals to veterinarian, when necessary.
• Drives and assists with the maintenance of vehicles assigned to the Animal Shelter.
• Participates in walking dogs and enrichment of all animals under the shelter's care.
• Assists in the training and supervision of volunteers and/or community service workers.
• Participates in creating and carrying out behavior modification plans as needed.
• Works with the shelter certified professional dog trainers to assess dogs for play groups and other socialization.
• Assists in the creation and implementation of socialization plans for challenging or shy dogs.
• Assists with and performs basic shelter behavior assessments and records observations using objective, behavioral language.
• Understands and uses Fear Free Shelter techniques.
• Ensures that all animal records, both electronic and hard copies, are accurate and complete.
• Euthanizes animals in a humane manner as determined by the state veterinarian.
• Operates and cleans the crematory when necessary.
• Conducts visits with pets and potential adopters; makes recommendations on suitability based on observation and pet history.
• Ensures that visits are conducted safely; interacts with members of the public using appropriate and polite language and actions.
• Provides information to the public as it relates to animal care, shelter policies, and county policies regarding animals.
• May perform other related duties to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.

This job announcement may be used to fill future full-time Animal Care Team Lead (Animal Specialist II) vacancies in Fairfax and Lorton, VA. All DAS positions may be required to work shifts and/or be transferred to any DAS facility.

Schedule: Hours of work may vary depending on staffing levels and Animal Shelter needs. Animal Caretakers are classified as emergency service personnel and are required to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and in all weather conditions.

Salary: The salary offer will be in the minimum to midpoint ($48,617.09 to $64,823.20) of the advertised compensation range based on relevant factors, such as an applicant’s relevant experience, training, and education. Promotional rules apply for current Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools employees. 

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)   

Provides support to work of Animal Care Specialist I, Facility Attendant I, volunteers, and community service assignees regarding daily tasks, questions, or concerns;

Works with the Volunteer Coordinator II to integrate trained volunteers into the animal care and cleaning routines at the Shelter; 

Identifies deficiencies or discrepancies in the execution of daily tasks and assists less experienced staff in corrective action as needed;

Assists with the animal care work; 

Counsels staff and volunteers in safe, humane and efficient care of animals (wild, domestic, and livestock); 

In the absence of Animal Care Specialist III or Animal Care Manager, refers animals for veterinary care (emergency and/or routine); 

Assists less experienced staff in specialized care for animals under medical treatment (administering medications, changing bandages and wraps, evaluating wound conditions, and charting all procedures); 

Provides input to the Animal Care Specialist III or Animal Care Manager on the disposition of animals whether recommending adoption, euthanasia, or other interventions taking into account history, behavior, health, and age;

Takes the lead role to perform euthanasia, ensure correct and humane treatment for all animals and accurately completes required documentation; 

Inoculates animals at intake when there is no other evidence of inoculation;

Oversees the maintenance and use of incinerator for cremation, disposal of confiscated and outdated drugs, syringes, records, and other sensitive materials; 

Assists with monitoring inventory of animal care team supplies, including medical, cleaning, and other necessary items;

Drives and assists with maintenance of vehicles assigned to the Animal Shelter;

Serves as Manager on Duty, overseeing daily operations as needed

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Knowledge of characteristics of different types of animals; 

Knowledge of animal behavior indicators; 

Knowledge of safe animal handling techniques; 

Knowledge of inoculation and euthanasia techniques;

Knowledge of supervisory and work planning techniques; 

Demonstrated interest in and compassion for animals;

Ability to assist and train others in all animal care procedures;

Ability to make and communicate animal care decisions such as requesting immediate or postponed veterinary care;

Ability to prioritize tasks and provide guidance to Animal Care staff;

Ability to be flexible and adjust work plans to meet immediate needs when necessary; 

Ability to move heavy, immobilized, or resistant animals; 

Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds; 

Ability to maintain a high level of ethical standards; 

Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and to be truthful at all times;

Ability to assist the public and communicate effectively.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to high school graduation or a GED issued by a state department of education; and two years of experience working in an animal shelter, kennel, vet clinic, boarding facility, or other animal related organization with animal care and handling responsibility; experience with multiple species of animals including handling difficult dogs and cats, giving medication, and restraint techniques for multiple species. (Graduation from an accredited Veterinary Technician Program may be substituted for one year of the required experience).

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
Valid driver's license (required at the time of application)
Euthanasia Certification (required within 6 months)
Fear Free Shelter Certification (Required within 3 months)
 
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• This position is considered "essential personnel" and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
• The appointee to the position will be required to complete the following to the satisfaction of the employer:
  • Criminal Background Investigation
  • Driving Record Check

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience working in an animal welfare-related organization.
• Experience working with and handling animals, including orphaned, sick, injured, and behavioral-needs animals of various species.
• Experience supporting management by demonstrating leadership with animal care staff, operations, and/or programs.
• Experience assisting with the supervision of animal care staff and volunteers.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have the ability to move heavy, immobilized, or resistant animals. Must have the ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds. Uses hands to grasp, handle, or feel.
• Must be able to bend, stand, stoop, crawl, walk, sit, talk, see, and hear.
• Pre-exposure rabies vaccination. (Required within 3 months)
• Must not have allergies to animals or animal supplies (ex: hay, peanut butter, etc.) that will impede working in an animal environment.
• Must be able to maneuver safely in kennels, dog play yards, cat rooms, small animal room, off-site events, etc.
• Ability to converse with volunteers, visitors, staff, and others.
• Ability to operate equipment necessary to complete work tasks.
• Visual acuity is required to read standard text and data on a computer monitor. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment.
• Ability to work a varied schedule, including early mornings, evenings, holidays, and weekends.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

 
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.
 
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.
 
 Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.  
 
 Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.