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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAnimal Center AssistantUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review) CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION Position Title: Animal Center Assistant Department: Police Division: Animal Services Supervisor: Animal Services Coordinator FLSA: Non-Exempt Civil Service: Yes Pay Grade: 2 Job Number: 0214 Job Summary Under immediate direction, serves as a front office public relations receptionist, cashier, dispatcher, and adoption coordinator. Impounds animals and assists with animal care 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. • Performs clerical and cashier duties, processes payments (currency, check, and credit cards) for services, balances drawer daily, and accepts donations. • Runs daily finance reports, researches discrepancies and reports them to Animal Services Supervisor. • Performs computer input and data entry for services provided and animal records, impounded animals, issues licenses and dog park tags, files, and completes adoption and reclaim paperwork for impounded animals. • Impounds animals brought to the facility by citizens. • Attempts to locate owners of lost and/or injured animals, through any available information in order to return animals to owners. • Answers the telephone and dispatches calls to Animal Control Officers and JECC via phone calls; assists Animal Services Officers in field with historical data look up to aid in Officer’s investigations. • Provides customer service to walk in visitors as well as phone and/or electronic inquiries, answers questions relating to Iowa City Animal Ordinances, impounded animals and community and animal related problems. • Gives referrals to community resources. • Coordinates all aspects of the adoption process including adoption counseling with the general public for animal matching. • Educates and helps train hourly employees, volunteers, students and community service workers in general kennel operations; assigns work and duties to those individuals. • Assists with the Animal Services volunteer, foster, dog training and other community programs. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Assists with coordinating and promoting aspects of Animal Services events, tours and other community outreach. • Assists with grant preparation and gift solicitation. • 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. or pursuit of degree and one to three 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 four to six months of related experience or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Ability to add and subtract two-digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10's and 100's. • Ability to administer medications and perform euthanasia. • Ability to and work directly with the public in very emotional, sometimes highly charged environment. • Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. • Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations. • Ability to demonstrate behavior observation and handling skills with dogs and cats. • Ability to disseminate educational information to the public relating to the centers mission. • Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization. • Ability to handle fractious or aggressive dogs and cats with appropriate equipment. • Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and effectively delegate. • Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance. • Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. • Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties. • Ability to work both independently and as a team in a very busy, hectic, high stress environment. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Ability to work with a variety of animal species including domestics, exotics and wildlife. • Ability to write simple correspondence. • Knowledge of animal care and animal behavior. • Knowledge of animal disease and preventative maintenance. • Skill in excellent public relations, be public service oriented and believe in the mission of the division. • 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 ________________________________ __________________