Animal Care Technician (Finance)
The County of Riverside seeks candidates to fill multiple positions throughout Riverside County. A list of eligible candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies.
Competitive candidates will be invited to interview at a 1-day hiring event on Monday, April 28, 2025 (interview by invitation only).
Apply by Thursday, April 11, 2025 for priority consideration.
The Animal Care Technician will be responsible for the daily feeding, cleaning, and disinfecting of kennels and pens, along with transporting animals throughout the shelter; will perform a wide range of duties including processing the intake of animals, assisting in the diversion of stray animals, unloading and impounding incoming animals received from Animal Control Officers and the public, and releasing animals to the public for redemption or adoption. In addition, the ACT will also be responsible for detailed records such as notes, logs, and inventories of animals, food supplies, and equipment.
The job of an ACT is physically demanding given the logistical size of the shelter and the required lifting of food and animals. Animal care technicians will be trained in and required to perform humane euthanasia, dispose of dead animals, and handle animals with skin conditions and wounds. The department desires candidates with customer service background, verbal and written skills, compassion, empathy, and a desire to work in public service.
The Animal Care Technician is the entry-level classification in the Animal Care Technician series and reports to an Animal Services Supervisor. Animal Care Technicians perform routine tasks within the department pertaining to the care of the shelter animals and customer service. Additionally, they receive training and certification in animal care, customer service, animal handling and maintenance of the facility and equipment.
Competitive candidates will be those with professional experience working in an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or an adoption center.
The schedule for this position varies and requires availability on the weekends and holidays.
The Animal Care Technician series differs from the Animal Control and Licensing Officer series in that the latter may be assigned shelter duties, but are also responsible for fieldwork and enforcement of animal control rules and regulations.
Meet the Department!
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has a vision for promoting an environment of responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach, and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity. The Department of Animal Services believes the character of their organization is best reflected in the strong dedication of each one of their employees who strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people that they serve. The Department of Animal Services operates four shelters located in Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto, and Thousand Palms.• Daily cleaning and disinfecting of kennels, equipment and work areas to prevent spread of zoonotic diseases.
• Feed and water animals daily.
• Assist with humane euthanasia and disposal of animals.
• Utilize computer to enter and update animal records in Chameleon Database.
• Daily review of animal inventory; may move animals as needed within the shelter.
• Unload and impound incoming animals received from Animal Control and Licensing Officers and the public.
• Counsel owners who are relinquishing their pets by providing them information on adoptability of their animal or information regarding alternative options.
• Provide customer service to all shelter visitors and staff.
• Educate the public on age, breed, characteristics, and care/treatment of shelter animals; may respond to inquiries from the public regarding retention and disposal of animals.
• May be specifically assigned and act as point of contact for rescue groups (i.e., adoption partners), coordinating the adoption of shelter animals and developing/maintaining relationships with adoption partners, and other related activities as assigned.
• May be required to assist in maintaining records and/or reports of inventories for food, supplies and equipment.
• Operate County vehicles to transport supplies, equipment or deceased/live animals; perform minor repair and maintenance of facilities and surrounding areas.
• May assist trained personnel in performing minor repairs and maintenance of facilities and surrounding areas.
• May assist with training new staff and/or volunteers.
• Participate in adoption events on and off-site, in and outside of County jurisdiction.
• Understand and support department policies, local city and county municipal codes/ordinances, and state laws related to animal welfare.
• Receive, load and unload supplies, materials and equipment from vendor trucks; operate forklift to move pallets; inspect for damage and quantity received against requisitions, invoices or freight bills.
• May be assigned to the care and treatment of equine, livestock and/or exotic animals.
• May assist in office by answering telephones, collecting fees and issuing receipts; may write incident reports.Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: Six (6) months of paid or volunteer experience performing duties involving the care and handling of animals in a professional setting such as an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, kennel, pet store, or similar environment. Experience should include basic cleaning and feeding routines, public interaction, and/or support in animal care activities.
Physical Requirements: Lift, carry, push, and pull heavy objects that may weigh more than 50 pounds. Exposure to animal smells, dander, excrement, fluids, and wounds.
A series of three Rabies vaccines is required within 30 days of employment
License: Possession of a valid California Class C Driver's License is required to drive to different shelter locations to meet business needs.
Ability to: Read, understand and follow oral and written instructions in English; utilize computer to enter clear, concise and accurate information into Chameleon database; maintain records; perform basic mathematical calculations using addition and subtraction; work courteously and effectively to maintain effective working relationships with staff, rescue groups and the public; carry out routine and repetitive duties without immediate supervision; learn cleaning and disinfecting methods; learn care and feeding of animals; learn breeds and behaviors of animals; learn safe and proper handling of animals; learn, understand, interpret, and apply basic laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations governing the impounding, release and disposal of animals.This recruitment is open to all applicants.
Qualified applicants may be considered for future vacancies throughout the County of Riverside.
If you have any questions regarding this posting, please contact Alex Jones at aljones@rivco.org
