Animal Enrichment Specialist

Posting Date

Application Deadline

Pay Range

Job Type

Department

About the Position

Are you an innovative and versatile person who is ready to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while serving the community and making a significant impact on animal welfare?

As the Animal Enrichment Specialist, you will be responsible for the daily implementation of a variety of enrichment opportunities for the animals under the care of Maricopa County Animal Care and Control (MCACC) including but not limited to playgroups, playpairs, in-kennel and environmental enrichment, as well other activities. You will assist with other behavior processes, such as behavior evaluations, and assist other divisions as a skilled handler. You will also have the opportunity to collaborate with staff and volunteers to implement a comprehensive enrichment program using fear-free, positive reinforcement methods to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in shelter animals, improving kennel behavior and reducing length of stay.

This position requires the employee in office and/or customer facing for all hours worked.

About Us

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation's largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn firsthand about proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose
• Tuition reimbursement
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
• Paid vacation, sick time, and (birth/adoption) parental leave
• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts
• Employee discounts for goods and services
• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12.27% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
• Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Two years of working or volunteer experience in an animal shelter, animal rescue, or similar facility directly handling dogs of a variety of sizes, temperaments, and dispositions
• 6 months or more performing dog-to-dog introductions or playgroups, preferably in a shelter or rescue environment
• High school Diploma or higher
• Must be flexible and able to work all shifts, which include starting as early as 5 am and finishing as late as 7 pm, working weekends and holidays, determined by the needs of the Department
• Flexibility to work at either our West and East shelter locations as needed
• A commitment to the use of positive reinforcement and fear-free training methods when engaging with dogs in our care

We Also Value

• Animal behavior certifications such as CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, KPA-CTP, CTC or equivalent
• Experience leading or working directly with volunteers in an animal welfare setting

Job Contributions

• Oversee and act as the lead handler during shelter playgroups and other out-of-kennel enrichment opportunities by overseeing dog selection, staff/volunteer handling and assignments, overall monitoring, and intervening and assisting with emergent situations
• Administer supervision, direction, guidance, and coaching for staff and volunteers in the performance and completion of daily shelter enrichment activities, including playgroups, out-of-kennel enrichment, and in-kennel enrichment. Train and mentor staff and volunteers on playgroup and enrichment processes and procedures
• Lead assigned staff and volunteers to ensure a variety and all scheduled daily in-kennel enrichment activities are completed
• Track supplies and prepare daily enrichment for the following week, adjust the enrichment calendar as needed, and ensure large-scale enrichment preparation by volunteer groups is completed successfully and effectively
• Perform click for quiet routine daily with animals in their kennels to improve kennel behavior and properly document any animals showing declining behavior
• Assist with behavior evaluations and other behavior processes as needed
• Create daily lists of dogs who meet the criteria and should participate in enrichment activities, tracking their progress and behavior
• Keep all enrichment areas and prep areas clean and organized

Working Conditions

• Fast-paced animal shelter environment with exposure to extreme and varying temperatures, dogs and cats with unknown temperaments and behaviors, excessive noise, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic diseases

• May be required to operate a vehicle when traveling between East and West shelters

• Must possess, or have the ability to obtain by time of hire, a valid Arizona driver's license
• Fear Free Shelters certification or must be obtained within the first month of employment
• Must complete animal handling training within 3 months of hire

• Must be able to lift up to 20-25 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly

Selection Procedure

• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!