Animal Care Assistant Lead
Category: Classified
Pay Grade: C15
Job Code: 20031
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
JOB SUMMARY
Performs advanced animal care work in the shelter and medical building while serving as a lead worker and mentor to Animal Care Assistant 1 staff. Oversees daily feeding, cleaning, enrichment, and monitoring of impounded animals to ensure high standards of care and welfare. Provides guidance, training, and support to entry-level staff, ensuring proper procedures, safety protocols, and handling techniques are followed. Assists with coordinating daily operations, prioritizing tasks, and communicating with supervisors regarding animal health or behavioral concerns. Work is performed with greater independence and responsibility, supporting overall team efficiency and animal care outcomes.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (examples, not all inclusive)
- Leads and mentors Animal Care 1 staff in assigned zones (kennel areas, cat building, or medical);
- Trains new staff in sanitation, safe animal handling, and daily operations;
- Monitors compliance with disease-control, cleaning, and enrichment protocols;
- Assists with animal behavior observation and adoption readiness assessments;
- Performs euthanasia in accordance with Florida law and departmental policy;
- Maintains records in the shelter management software;
- Acts as a point of contact for questions, issues, or urgent animal care needs in the absence of a Supervisor;
- Provides excellent customer service and supports volunteers in assigned areas;
- Supports the Department in mandated ESF-17 (Emergency Support Function 17) responsibilities during disasters or emergency activations;
- Feeds and waters animals according to established schedules;
- Cleans and disinfects cages, kennels, laundry, and supplies;
- Washes food bowls, litter pans, and restocks areas with food, bedding, and cleaning supplies;
- Observes animals for illness or injury and promptly reports findings;
- Provides basic enrichment and exercise for animals;
- Assists veterinary staff;
- Maintains records in the shelter management system;
- Performs other related job duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Graduation from high school or possession of GED Certificate; and one (1) year of experience in animal care in a shelter environment, veterinary clinic, or animal care facility; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience that would reasonably be expected to provide the job-related competencies noted above, and must possess a valid Florida Driver License (Class E), and selected candidates must obtain Florida Animal Control Association (FACA) Euthanasia Certification within the first six months of employment.
Special Qualifications (May be required depending on area of assignment):
- Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
- Physical strength and agility to lift heavy animals, equipment, and supplies.
- Exposure to personal risk during assignments causing periodic contact with hostile or diseased animals.
- Candidate to demonstrate more advanced proficiency, competency, and satisfactory completion of regularly assigned work in an independent manner. Appointing Authority retains discretion to employ an incumbent at this level or advance the incumbent non-competitively or competitively, after a candidate meets the minimum qualifications to an in-line career ladder position within the same organization or department.
- Other knowledge, skills, abilities, and credentials required for a specific position.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of basic animal control procedures and techniques for the care and feeding of animals;
- Knowledge and skill in restraining, handling, and caring for animals in a humane manner;
- Knowledge of breeds and skill to classify animals;
- Ability to acquire knowledge of department regulations and to apply same to work situations;
- Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions;
- Ability to communicate tactfully and courteously with the public;
- Ability to maintain basic records;
- Ability to identify behavior characteristics of animals for adoption screening purposes;
- Ability to apply quality written and oral communication skills.
PHYSICAL/MENTAL DEMANDS
The work is heavy work which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:
- Balancing: Maintaining body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
- Climbing: Ascending or descending ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
- Crawling: Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
- Crouching: Bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
- Feeling: Perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
- Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
- Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
- Handling: Picking, holding, or otherwise working, primarily with the whole hand.
- Kneeling: Bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees.
- Lifting: Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles.
- Pulling: Using upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
- Pushing: Using upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
- Reaching: Extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
- Visual ability: Sufficient to effectively operate office equipment including copier, computer, etc.; and to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, etc.
- Hearing ability: Sufficient to hold a conversation with other individuals both in person and over a telephone; and to hear recordings on transcription device.
- Speaking ability: Sufficient to communicate effectively with other individuals in person and over a telephone.
- Mental acuity: Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
- Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
- Repetitive motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
- Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time.
- Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Work is performed in a dynamic environment that requires sensitivity to change and responsiveness to changing goals, priorities, and needs.