Animal Care Specialist Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/leecounty/jobs/newprint/4720292) Apply  Animal Care Specialist Salary $17.00 Hourly Location Fort Myers, FL Job Type Occasional Job Number 07339KL Department Animal Services Opening Date 11/12/2024 Closing Date Continuous FLSA Non-Exempt + Description + Benefits + Questions Description Are you passionate about animal welfare and eager to make a real difference in the lives of animals and their future owners? We are looking for a dedicated and enthusiastic individual to join our team at the Lee County Domestic Animal Services. In this highly responsible role, you will engage in a variety of tasks to ensure the well-being of our furry friends and support the community. This position involves animal handling, ensuring wellness, daily cleaning, customer service, performing administrative tasks, and other essential shelter duties. What We're Looking For: We seek a candidate who possesses a positive, team-minded attitude and strong communication skills, both written and verbal. The ability to communicate effectively with teammates and management is crucial. You should have excellent observational skills, a strong work ethic, and the capability to prioritize multiple responsibilities effectively. Flexibility is essential to thrive in our dynamic, fast-paced environment. If you love being active, this role is perfect for you. Be prepared to be on your feet for most of the day. Duties and Responsibilities + Customer Service: Assist and educate customers throughout the pet adoption process. Inform them about proper pet care, owner responsibilities, various pet breeds, characteristics, licensing, and County ordinance requirements. Resolve customer complaints or concerns with fair, independent judgment while adhering to state statutes and local ordinances. + Animal Intake and Care: Handle the intake and transfer of all animals, including fractious/feral ones, with proper safety techniques. Care for animals by cleaning, grooming, and feeding them. Disinfect cages, toys, and bowls. Work with fearful and aggressive animals and assess their behavior and temperament for adoption. + Administrative Tasks: Investigate pet owner information, verify data accuracy in the department database, and schedule sterilization appointments. Maintain knowledge of zoonotic diseases, vaccinate animals upon intake, perform diagnostic tests, enter medical information into computer software, and transport animals to clinics and rescues. Perform euthanasia as necessary for disease and population control. + Lost Pet Assistance: Help customers with lost pets, match pets with potential adopters, and recognize animal breeds, age, and characteristics to ensure proper intake. Identify behavioral and medical health concerns for stray and owned animals upon intake. + Training and Mentorship: Train new staff in job functions such as animal handling, vaccinating, and database use. + Administrative Support: Handle cash, perform data entry for citation compliance, advise customers on proper procedures, and organize, store, and file pertinent documents. Issue pet licenses and manage related tasks. Education, Experience, Licensing + High School diploma or GED equivalent. + Preferably, experience in animal handling. + Florida State Certification in Euthanasia (or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire). The Animal Services department provides training and certification on-site. Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record. Supplemental Information + Daily computer use is required. + Ability to lift up to 80 pounds, bend, stoop, lift, and crawl as needed for handling and transporting animals, equipment, and supplies. + Hours vary between 7:00 am - 5:30 pm with rotating days off. This position may require working on holidays, emergencies, and additional shifts as needed. EMERGENCY RESPONSE/RECOVERY ACTIVITIES: All County employees are required to work before, during, or after an emergency as needed. This may include temporarily being assigned to work and performing duties outside of the normal scope of their position, location and work schedule to fit the needs of the County and its citizens. DISCLAIMER: The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to this classification. All positions are subject to a criminal background check. A conviction in and of itself may not necessarily preclude employment. Some positions may be subject to a pre-employment drug screening. Certain service members and veterans, and the spouses and family members of such service members and veterans, who claim and meet eligibility requirements of veterans preference, receive preference and priority in employment and are encouraged to apply. Lee County Board of County Commissioners offers a comprehensive, and affordable benefits package. Our Board works in the best interest of employees and strives to provide the most complete, high-quality benefits package available at the lowest possible cost to the employee. Our Board continues to remain steadfast in maintaining one of the lowest levels of employee costs in our area. Lee County's benefits package is offered to both regular Full-time positions and Part-time positions that are regularly scheduled to work 60 hours or more bi-weekly. Medical benefits may be offered to On-Call, Temporary, Seasonal, and Intern employees who meet the Affordable Care Act eligibility criteria. Lee County employees eligible to participate in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) are required to contribute 3% of each paycheck to FRS. If you have retired from the Florida Retirement Pension plan you will not be eligible for renewed membership in either of the FRS retirement plan options. Retirees of the Investment Plan are eligible for renewed membership in the Investment Plan only. FRS reemployment rules apply for both. Below is a brief breakdown of what's included in the benefits package that is offered to our employees. For a more detailed look into our benefits package, please click visit our webpage at www.leegov.com/hr/Documents/Employee%20Benefits/2024%20Benefits/FULLTIME%20ACTIVE%20LCBOCC%202024%20Plan%20Year%20OE%20Guide%20FINAL%20AON%202023.09.12.pdf. To view our employee paid premiums, please visit: https://www.leegov.com/hr/Documents/Employee%20Benefits/2024%20Benefits/2024%20Active%20Employee%20Rates.pdf Health Benefits: • Medical Insurance • Plans include, but are not limited to: routine, preventative, mental health, hospitalization, and prescription drug benefits. • Vision, Fitness, Weight Management, Natural Products and Services, and Hearing discount programs available. • Dental Insurance • Vision Insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts • Medical Reimbursement Account • Dependent Care Reimbursement Account • Pharmacy, including Mail-Order Pharmacy • Informed Health Lines (Nurse Hotline) • Basic Life Insurance (1x or 2x Annual Salary at no cost to employee) • Optional Life Insurance • Long-Term Disability (60% of pre-disability salary at no cost to employee) • Short-Term Disability • Sick Leave Pool • Flu vaccinations • Wellness Programs Financial Benefits: • Florida Retirement System (FRS) • Two Retirement Plan Options: 1) FRS Pension Plan (Defined Benefit) 2) FRS Investment Plan (Defined Contribution) • Deferred Compensation (457) Plans • Financial Savings/Management Programs • Eligible for membership with Suncoast Credit Union • Employee Leave Benefits • Holiday Pay - 11 Paid Holidays Annually • Paid Sick Leave • Paid Vacation Leave • Bereavement & Civic Duty Leave • Family and Medical Leave • Military Family & Medical Leave • Educational Leave Employee Assistance Program Services available to employees that offers guidance, support, resources and information for personal and work-life issues. Confidential and provided at no charge to employees and their dependents. United Way 2-1-1 (Lee County Employee Resource Program) Lee County BOCC has partnered with United Way 211 to provide an Employee Resource Program which assists BoCC employees who may be experiencing distress due to economic hardship, health or other factors. Educational Assistance Reimbursement for coursework taken at an accredited college or university that is designed to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities relating to the official duties that the employees perform. 01 This is an on-call position with varied days and hours. Are you able to work this schedule? + Yes + No 02 Do you possess any combination of education and/or experience equivalent to graduation from high school or GED? + Yes + No 03 Do you possess a Florida State Certification in Euthanasia? OR Do you have the ability to obtain a Florida State Certification in Euthanasia within 6 months of hire date? (The Animal Services department will train and certify on-site for this upon hire.) + Yes + No 04 Are you willing to perform euthanasia as needed? + Yes + No 05 Do you possess a valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record? + Yes + No Required Question Agency Lee County Government Address P.O. Box 398 ATT: Human Resources Fort Myers, Florida, 33902 Phone (239) 533-2245 Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/leecounty Apply Please verify your email address Verify Email