Animal Enrichment and Assessment Technician

JOB OPENING CITY OF FARMINGTON

JOB POSITION #163: Animal Enrichment and Assessment Technician

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1

DEPARTMENT: PRCA

WORK LOCATION: Animal Shelter

HIRING RANGE: $15.8369 to $24.6583/Hour

PAY GRADE: F

TYPE OF POSITION: Regular, Full-Time

DAYS WORKED: Sunday-Thursday

HOURS WORKED: 8:30AM to 5:30PM

APPLICATIONS WILL BE RECEIVED UNTIL: Until Filled

JOB DUTIES

SUMMARY BACKGROUND:

The Animal Enrichment and Assessment Technician (AEAT) works directly and collaboratively with the Community Programs Manager to develop and implement enrichment activities that will enhance the overall health and wellbeing of animals housed at the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter, through physical, tactile, mental, olfactory, and auditory stimulation. These activities will reduce stress, increase socialization, and improve the overall adoptability of the animals. They will also conduct behavior, personality assessments and data gathering in order to give potential adopters more information about the animals available for adoption with the goal of lowering length of stay and making appropriate matches between adopters and animals.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Prepares food enrichment recipes, prepares animal puzzles and toys and distributes to shelter residents.

Prepares enrichment items or recipes for distribution by other staff or volunteers.

Tracks enrichment activities and tools used to keep the program on a steady rotation.

Conducts and documents trials for new activities to access appropriateness for continuation.

Communicates with the Community Programs Manager on special cases where an animal is exhibiting fearful, shy, or stressed behaviors where intervention may be needed and documents behavioral changes.

Tracks long term animals and assist in steps taken to lower their length of stay.

Participates in training activities for shelter staff and volunteers on scientifically based shelter enrichment activities and programs.

Assists in creating behavior modification plans and implementing them.

Assists in conducting behavioral assessments on dogs.

Assists in monitoring and conducting playgroups for dogs.

Conducts personality assessments on animals and enters information into PetPoint.

Inputs information from intake forms into PetPoint, also calls previous owners to gather more information about the animal as needed.

Provides excellent customer service and assists customers with choosing animals for adoption.

Assists with the foster program in absence of Program Director and Assistant.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to FRAS policies and procedures.

Ensure a safe work environment, follow all safety guidelines, and model safe work practices.

Take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member, volunteer, customer, animal or the organization at risk.

Follow direction of the Animal Welfare Director, Community Programs Manager, and the Veterinarian.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes: pre-employment testing, post-accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow-up testing.

Extensive background checks required.

High School diploma or GED required.

Valid New Mexico driver's license.

One (1) year of experience with animal welfare, animal behavior/training or veterinary services.

Knowledge of animal health, breed behavior and training.

Knowledge of enrichment in the animal shelter setting including concepts and interventions that will improve or maintain the physical and psychological well-being of shelter animals.

Must be able to safely handle animals with an unknown temperament.

Modern office practices, methods and computer equipment; principles and procedures or record keeping. Skill and ability to use a computer and work in a Windows environment to record pertinent data related to the enrichment program, and input the information into PetPoint.

Strong communication skills.

Excellent customer service skills.

Ability to work with animals, disinfectants, and cleaning agents.

Ability to work all shifts, including weekends and holidays.

Commitment to mission, values, goals and success of the Farmington Regional Animal Shelter with compassion and genuine affection for animals.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, supervisors and the public.

Ability to work under stress and handle stressful situations.

Ability to meet deadlines.

Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.

Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.

Must be able to work around animals without an allergic reaction.

This position has the responsibility to participate in and comply with the City's Environmental, Health, and Safety program.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Animal capture equipment, first aid equipment, catch poles, leashes, gloves and ropes to handle animals, chemical cleaning materials in shelter maintenance.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, M/F/D/V

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