Animal Care Technician (Possible Temp-To-Hire) - Marion County Animal Services

Location: Marion County Animal Services – 5701 SE 66th St., Ocala, FL 34480
Work Schedule: Tuesday – Saturday; 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, PT or FT available
Pay Rate: $15.00 per hour
*Required: Must be able to clear level II background, drug test, and physical; Must possess a valid and active Driver's License w/ relatively clean driving record*
JOB SUMMARY
Responsible for semi-skilled performing manual labor in the care, maintenance, health, and disposition of animals at the Marion County Animal Center.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Assists with administration of animal medications, routine vaccinations, heartworm testing, electronic implant scanning, euthanasia, and controlled substances to animals.
• Assists with impoundment of incoming animals. Required to handle potentially dangerous animals.
• Performs pre-operative and post-operative care of animals.
• Assists members of the public searching for lost animals or seeking to adopt animals.
• Cleans and disinfects kennels and cages, including cleaning food bowls and litter pans, sweeping, and using high-pressure water hose to clean floors and walls.
• Performs repair and routine maintenance of kennels and cages.
• Prepares and dispenses food and water to animals.
• Procures, transports, unloads and stores food supplies, disinfectants, and Animal Care equipment.
• Performs routine inspections of animals and their cages to monitor food consumption, behavior, symptoms of disease, and condition of confined animals for health and safety purposes.
• Assists with preparation and shipment of animal heads for rabies laboratory testing; includes cutting and sawing through specimens and packaging for shipment.
• Transports trash, garbage, and dead animals for disposal at County landfill.
• May work at the reception desk area to equalize peak periods, performing clerical duties, answering phones, and perform routine transactions including cash handling.
• Performs routine filing and record keeping tasks.
• Works in the field for Animal Services public events or to assist animal control officers.
• May serve as relief driver on the mobile spay neuter clinic (CDL B license would be required.)
• Required to report to work at the appointed hour, as scheduled, and to work the entire assigned schedule.
• Required to report to work to provide support, coordination, and completion of duties as detailed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management ESF17 in the event of a disaster, severe weather threat, or other declared emergency.
• May assist in the care of livestock and/or all other animals located at Shocker Field, which includes feeding, personal care, medication administration, basic medical support (e.g., wound care, specimens, deworming, etc.), stocking of supplies and feed, completion of documentation for cruelty cases, and maintenance and sanitization of all animal-related feeding and watering stations and equipment.
• Performs basic maintenance and care of county vehicles.
• Provides excellent customer service to members of the general public and other County employees. Personal contact occurs with other employees of the unit, employees of other departments in the County, citizens, and customers of the department. Service is provided in person or by phone contact.
• Implements the organization’s guiding principles and core values.
• Performs other related job duties as assigned.

SUPERVISION
This position occasionally provides direction and supervision to community service workers and volunteers. Provides guidance, advice, and assistance to others on work assignments.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience.
High school diploma or equivalent; and six (6) months’ experience in a kennel and/or animal shelter or animal control; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Licenses or Certifications
Possession of a valid, State of Florida driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle. Requirement exists at the time of hire and as a condition of continued employment.

• Successful completion of Florida State approved sixteen (16) hour euthanasia technician certification course within six (6) months of appointment.
• Rabies preventative immunization required upon appointment.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to speak communicate tactfully and courteously with members of the public, with customers and employees of the organization.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, and volume.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
• Ability to explain records and procedures to others as lead worker.
• Ability to exercise judgment regarding the use of equipment, tools, or materials.
• Knowledge of drug use regulations, euthanasia and disposal techniques, and bio-hazardous waste disposal.
• Knowledge of basic obedience pet training, standard vaccine scheduling and common pet behavioral issues and skill to effectively convey this knowledge to the public.
• Knowledge of animal types, species, and breed information.
• Knowledge of communicable zoonotic disease symptoms.
• Skilled in conflict resolution.
• Ability to identify animals by breed, breed traits, assess behavior, and recognize common health conditions and symptoms of disease.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations involving people and animals.

PHYSICAL 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will occasionally be required to climb, balance, and run; will regularly be required to talk or hear; and will frequently be required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands or arms, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and smell.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed in various indoor and outdoor environments. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will frequently be exposed to outdoor weather conditions, wet or humid conditions, animal waste and/or blood, and cleaning chemicals. The noise level for environment is loud.