Animal Center Operations Coordinator - Cat Focused

Full Job Description

Self-Motivated: Much of the role requires taking initiative and working independently. This individual should seek ways to enhance the program and its impact on the shelter.

The candidate shall take ownership of the program and drive it forward without the need for constant oversight.

Remain focused, driven, and resilient even when faced with difficulties, such as a lack of volunteers and/or complex cat behavior issues.

Passionate and Knowledgeable of Animal Welfare & Industry Best Practices: A deep commitment to animal welfare is essential.

Knowledgeable about cats’ needs, behaviors, and well-being in a shelter environment. Knowledgeable in animal handling best practices, and an understanding of typical cat behavior characteristics.

• Coordinating a holistic approach to felines in a municipal animal shelter by providing intake diversion resources when appropriate, such as TNR (Trap, Neuter, and Return), spay and neuter, basic medical care, and education for the public.
• Selecting suitable felines for a “working cat program”.
• Coordinating resources for feline outreach programs.
• Participating as a feline stakeholder for pathway planning.
• Working with volunteers on feline enrichment for sheltered cats.
• Coordinating the Community Cat program.
• Maintaining detailed records on each cat, including medical history, behavioral notes, and placement details.
• Attending pathway planning meetings, receiving information on cats that may require additional support, and providing updates to shelter operations management.
• Acting as a Liaison and coordinating with transfer partners and other government agencies.
• Supporting the Adoption coordinator to augment the cat adoption program.
• Assisting the Field Services department when appropriate to ensure the health and safety of cats.

• You will make an impact on animal populations.
• You will build relationships with volunteers and rescue partners.
• You will get an opportunity to problem-solve and come up with creative solutions that can be both intellectually stimulating and satisfying.
• You will be creating a positive change in the community.

• You may need to manage your work with limited resources.
• You will be working on multiple projects and have multiple responsibilities.
• You will be working with vulnerable animal populations that may cause emotional stress.
• You may face difficulties in your efforts.

• Delivering Results: Meeting organizational goals and customer expectations and making decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks
• Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new ways to do business
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
• Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Action and Results-Focused: Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishments
• Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Self-Management: Showing personal Organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Presentation Skill: Formally delivering information to groups
• Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships
• Driving Results: Demonstrating concern for achieving or surpassing results against an internal standard of excellence
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

Qualifications

Education: Possession of an Associate of Arts Degree or the successful completion of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two (2) years full-time or its equivalent experience in animal sheltering, one (1) year of which must have included training, teaching or providing animal services education in a public animal control and services setting.

Substitution for Education: Additional qualifying experience or experience of any of the types listed below may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis up to maximum of two (2) years.

• Experience working in a public animal control and services setting
• Experience working with animals in a humane, zoological, shelter, conservancy, veterinary or other non-laboratory setting
• Experience training animals in a non-laboratory setting
• Training or teaching experience in a public or private organization
• Experience as a volunteer in a City or County Animal Services agency

Additional Information

1. Application Filing and Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process.

Online Oral Interview: The oral interview will measure candidates' competencies as they relate to the job.

In the oral interview, candidates must achieve an average passing score of 70% or higher on each of the oral interview competencies, as well as an overall passing score of 70% or higher.

These may include, but are not limited to: Decision Making, Delivering Results, Handling Stress, Action and Results-Focused, and Oral Communication. Tentative dates: 3/4/2026-3/10/2026

2. Departmental Hiring Interview: To be scheduled once the eligible list is established