Animal Center Operations Coordinator - Cat Focused
Contra Costa County
FreshPosted Jan 30
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Posted: January 29, 2026 (2 days ago)
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Senior Animal Care Technician
County of Riverside
Animal Services
Location
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Salary
$23.77 - $34.89
per hour
Type
Closes
February 6, 2026
Job Description
Summary
This job involves leading a team of animal care workers at a county shelter, handling daily tasks like feeding, cleaning, and transporting animals, and assisting with adoptions and humane euthanasia.
It's a hands-on role that requires compassion for animals and strong leadership to train staff and manage operations.
A good fit would be someone with shelter experience who enjoys public service, can handle physical work, and is available for rotating shifts including weekends.
Key Requirements
- Experience in animal handling and care in a shelter or similar environment
- Ability to lead and train animal care staff, including creating schedules and conducting briefings
- Proficiency in cleaning, disinfecting, feeding, and maintaining records for animals and supplies
- Skills in processing animal intakes, releases for adoption/redemption, and transporting animals
- Training and ability to perform humane euthanasia and dispose of deceased animals
- Strong customer service, verbal and written communication, and supervisory leadership
- Physical ability to lift heavy items and work rotating shifts with weekends and overtime
Full Job Description
The County of Riverside's Animal Services Department has an opportunity for a Senior Animal Care Technician who will be assigned to the Shelter Care Division in San Jacinto.
The Senior Animal Care Technician is responsible for the daily feeding, cleaning, and disinfection of kennels and pens, as well as transporting animals throughout the shelter.
This role performs a wide range of duties, including processing animal intakes, assisting with the diversion of stray animals, unloading and impounding animals received from Animal Control Officers and the public, and releasing animals to the public for redemption or adoption.
The Senior Animal Care Technician is also responsible for maintaining detailed, well-written records, including notes, logs, and inventories of animals, food supplies, and equipment.
This position is physically demanding due to the size and logistics of the shelter and requires regular lifting of food and animals.
The Senior Animal Care Technician will be trained in and required to perform humane euthanasia, dispose of deceased animals, and handle animals with skin conditions and wounds.
Competitive candidates will possess experience with Chameleon (a Shelter Case Management System) and a background in handling animals in a shelter or similar environment.
Additionally, strong supervisory leadership, customer service skills, effective verbal and written communication abilities, and a demonstrated commitment to public service are highly desired.
This position follows a rotating schedule, with standard shifts from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and some shifts extending to 7:00 p.m. Weekend and overtime availability are required.
Meet the Team!
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.
Requirements
• Assist the Animal Services Supervisor in creating work schedules; participate in leading the animal care staff briefings each morning; create, plan and conduct on-going training for animal care staff.
• Provide guidance and direction for animal care staff in routine work and oversee Work Release staff, as needed.
• Clean and disinfect animal shelters, equipment and work areas; feed and water animals; unload and impound incoming animals received from Animal Control and Licensing Officers and the public.
• Release animals to public for redemption or adoption; maintain simple records (e.g., logs and inventories of animals, food, supplies, and equipment); assist in euthanasia and disposal of animals.
• Operate County vehicles to transport supplies, equipment or deceased/live animals; perform minor repairs and maintenance of facilities and surrounding areas.
• Respond to inquiries from the public regarding care, retention and disposal of animals.
• Order supplies and maintain supply stock.
• Provide guidance and direction for animal care staff in routine work and oversee Work Release staff, as needed.
• Clean and disinfect animal shelters, equipment and work areas; feed and water animals; unload and impound incoming animals received from Animal Control and Licensing Officers and the public.
• Release animals to public for redemption or adoption; maintain simple records (e.g., logs and inventories of animals, food, supplies, and equipment); assist in euthanasia and disposal of animals.
• Operate County vehicles to transport supplies, equipment or deceased/live animals; perform minor repairs and maintenance of facilities and surrounding areas.
• Respond to inquiries from the public regarding care, retention and disposal of animals.
• Order supplies and maintain supply stock.
Qualifications
OPTION I
Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: Six months of performing animal care duties in a public or non-profit animal control program.
OPTION II
Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: One year of paid experience, which must have been in a lead or supervisory capacity, in a veterinary office, animal grooming, animal board and kennel facility, or similar setting that included the care and handling of animals.
Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: Six months of performing animal care duties in a public or non-profit animal control program.
OPTION II
Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.
Experience: One year of paid experience, which must have been in a lead or supervisory capacity, in a veterinary office, animal grooming, animal board and kennel facility, or similar setting that included the care and handling of animals.
Other Requirements:
License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License is required. Physical Requirements: Lift, carry, push, and pull heavy objects that may weigh more than 50 pounds.
A series of three Rabies vaccines is required within 30 days of employment.
Incumbents will be required to successfully complete the following two years after appointment: Euthanasia certification; breed recognition training; small and large animal handling training; animal lifting procedures; exotic and wild animal training; Chameleon and computer training; emergency disaster training; kennel and cattery regulations; handling vicious animals; administrative hearings; media relations; all Department of Animal Services policies and procedures; pet and human first aid; zoonotic disease recognition; avian disease recognition.
ALL OPTIONS
Knowledge of: Laws, ordinances and regulations related to the control and protection of animals; legal liabilities and responsibilities of those concerned with the enforcement of animal control regulations; rules and regulations governing the impounding, release and disposal of animals; breeds, characteristics and behavior, and the care and feeding of animals; common animal diseases; the causes, symptoms and required procedures for rabies; safe and proper handling of animals; the equipment and methods used in the capture and restraint of animals; cleaning and disinfecting methods; the proper use, maintenance and storage of tranquilizer guns and related equipment.
Ability to: Care for and safely handle animals so as to avoid injury to persons and animals; care and feed animals; investigate situations, gather relevant information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; work independently on special assignments; schedule, assign, train, and review the work of other personnel engaged in animal care activities; present evidence and testify in court cases; work cooperatively with the public and other animal control agencies; read, comprehend and interpret laws and regulations pertaining to animal control; function in stressful situations, exercising good judgment.
Knowledge of: Laws, ordinances and regulations related to the control and protection of animals; legal liabilities and responsibilities of those concerned with the enforcement of animal control regulations; rules and regulations governing the impounding, release and disposal of animals; breeds, characteristics and behavior, and the care and feeding of animals; common animal diseases; the causes, symptoms and required procedures for rabies; safe and proper handling of animals; the equipment and methods used in the capture and restraint of animals; cleaning and disinfecting methods; the proper use, maintenance and storage of tranquilizer guns and related equipment.
Ability to: Care for and safely handle animals so as to avoid injury to persons and animals; care and feed animals; investigate situations, gather relevant information, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; work independently on special assignments; schedule, assign, train, and review the work of other personnel engaged in animal care activities; present evidence and testify in court cases; work cooperatively with the public and other animal control agencies; read, comprehend and interpret laws and regulations pertaining to animal control; function in stressful situations, exercising good judgment.
Additional Information
For questions regarding this recruitmentPlease Contact Alexander Jones at 951-955-4656 or Aljones@rivco.org. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
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