HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Center Assistant IIUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION
Position Title: Animal Center Assistant II
Department: Police
Division: Animal Services
Supervisor: Animal Services Coordinator
FLSA: Non-Exempt
Civil Service: Yes
Pay Grade: 4
Job Number: 0420
Job Summary
Under general direction, serves as a front office public relations receptionist, cashier, dispatcher,
and adoption coordinator. Educates the public on animal related issues. Impounds animals and
assists with animal care, euthanasia and cleaning of the entire facility.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive
or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
• Provides customer service and acts as first point of contact for the animal shelter for
walk-in visitors.
• Takes and routes messages, dispatches non-emergency calls, answers questions for the
public by providing factual information, handles inquiries and complaints from walk-in
visitors.
• Performs clerical and cashier duties, processes payments (currency, check, and credit
cards) for services.
• Runs daily finance reports, researches and remedies discrepancies.
• Coordinates all aspects of the adoption process including adoption counseling with the
public for animal matching.
• Responds to questions and educates the public regarding animal services programs and
outreach opportunities.
• Gives referrals to community resources.
• Educates the public regarding City and State codes and ordinances that pertain to animal
keeping, care, welfare and public safety.
• Orders and maintains inventories of operational supplies.
• Assists with preparation of work schedules for division personnel.
• Educates and trains hourly employees, volunteers, student and community service
workers in general shelter operations.
• Performs computer input and data entry for services provided and animal records,
impounded animals, issues licenses and completes adoption and reclaim paperwork for
impounded animals.
• Impounds animals brought to the facility by citizens and attempts to locate owners of
lost and/or injured animals.
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
• Assists with animal care and cleaning of facility.
• Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all
community members and coworkers.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• High school education or G.E.D. and four to six months of related experience or training;
or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in animal care,
customer service, or office clerical.
• Euthanasia Technician certification required within one year of hire. Valid State of Iowa
driver's license with satisfactory driving record. Must be 18 years of age. Must pass
criminal background check.
Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other
• High school education or G.E.D. and seven to twelve months of related experience or
training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Degree in Veterinary
Technician.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole
numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Ability to administer medications and perform euthanasia.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in
written, oral, or diagram form.
• Ability to be public service oriented and believe in the mission of the division.
• Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
• Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized
situations.
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to
customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships between department staff, the public,
and community partners.
• Ability to identify priorities, develop realistic work plans, and work on multiple tasks.
• Ability to maintain inter- and intra-department confidentiality.
• Ability to multitask and work directly with the public in a very emotional, sometimes
highly charged environment.
• Ability to prepare written materials, including records, reports, and educational
materials.
• Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos.
• Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties.
• Ability to work around animals and able to handle fractious animals at times.
• Ability to work in a team environment and independently.
• Ability to work in a very busy, hectic, high stress environment.
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
• Ability to work with a diverse population.
• Ability to write simple correspondence.
• Knowledge of animal care and animal behavior.
• Knowledge of community resources.
• Skill in listening, written and verbal communication, problem solving, and time
management.
• Skill in using computers and applicable software applications (Microsoft Office – Word,
Excel, Outlook).
Supervision
No supervision of direct reports.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform
the essential duties and responsibilities.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use
hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally
required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear. The employee
regularly lifts and/or moves 10 pounds, occasionally will lift and/or move 50 pounds, and will
occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required
by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception
and ability to adjust focus. Hand dexterity, balance and strength are essential in performing
treatments on animals and during animal handling.
Work Environment
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
duties and responsibilities.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to moving
mechanical parts, high or precarious places, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic
chemicals, risk of electrical shock, vibration, confined space, and traffic hazards. The employee
is regularly exposed to outside weather condition, dampness, direct sunlight, dust, pollen,
insect stings, and animals. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to
work closely with both domestic and wild animals and will be exposed to related hazards. The
employee is regularly exposed to communicable and Zoonotic diseases. The noise level in the
work environment is usually loud. Involves moderate exposure to dangerous situations.
Involves moderate exposure to stress due to the work environment and/or crisis situations.
Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review)
Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities
Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with
disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential
accommodations with the employer.
Reviewed/Approved by: Dustin Liston, Police Chief (4/2024)
I have read and understand the duties and requirements of this job description, and I
agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable
accommodation.
Employee Date
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