Field Services Supervisor

Are you an enthusiastic individual looking for a career where you can make a difference in the lives of animals and the community? At the Fairfax County Animal Services (FCAS), we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to the animals in our shelter, while also working to tackle the root causes of animal homelessness in our community. We are hiring Animal Caretakers!

About Us:

FCAS delivers compassionate, high-quality care for animals and works with the community to advance their safety and well-being. FCAS operates two state-of-the-art, open-access sheltering campuses, providing individualized care to approximately 4,000–5,000 animals each year. We provide comprehensive support for pets and the community, offering adoption and stray reunification services as well as volunteer, foster, and community cat programs. In addition, FCAS delivers animal control and public safety response, conducts humane investigations of animal cruelty, and offers community-based assistance to help pets remain safely with their families.

This work and commitment are reflected in the work of our highly trained staff, volunteers, and foster caregivers, alongside community members who share our belief that all animals deserve compassion, dignity, and safety. To learn more about Fairfax County Animal Services, please visit our webpage here.

What You’ll Do:

This position will provide you with the opportunity to help more than 4,000 animals each year. You will be responsible for the intake, care, feeding, and handling of shelter animals across our two campuses. Responsibilities:

• Ensures that animals are provided with a safe, clean environment by being responsible for the cleaning, disinfecting, and maintenance of kennels, cages, animal holding areas, and other shelter areas and grounds.
• Receives animals from the public or FCAS Field Services and performs preventative care treatments including necessary vaccinations, tests, and general medical assessment on intake, to ensure health of the individual pet as well as herd health for our campuses; performs basic handling assessment on intake and assigns behavior handling category for dogs using the dot system to ensure safe handling for other staff and volunteers.
• Ensures all animals are properly fed and medicated and have ample water throughout the day.
• Maintains and tracks veterinary prescribed feeding and medication charts.
• Refers animals for both emergency and routine veterinary care and transports animals to veterinarian, when necessary.
• Drives and assists with the maintenance of vehicles assigned to FCAS.
• Participates in walking dogs and enrichment of all animals under FCAS's care.
• Assists in the training and supervision of volunteers and/or community service workers.
• Participates in creating and carrying out behavior modification plans as needed.
• Works with our certified professional dog trainers to assess dogs for play groups and other socialization.
• Assists in the creation and implementation of socialization plans for challenging or shy dogs.
• Assists with and performs basic animal behavior assessments and records observations using objective, behavioral language.
• Understands and uses Fear Free Shelter techniques.
• Ensures that all animal records, both electronic and hard copies, are accurate and complete.
• Euthanizes animals in a humane manner as determined by the state veterinarian.
• Operates and cleans the crematory when necessary.
• Conducts visits with pets and potential adopters; makes recommendations on suitability based on observation and pet history.
• Ensures that visits are conducted safely; interacts with members of the public using appropriate and polite language and actions.
• Provides information to the public as it relates to animal care, FCAS policies, and county policies regarding animals.

May perform other related duties to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.
  
Flexibility is required, as the role may include working shifts and/or being reassigned to different department facilities, as necessary. Flexibility is a condition of employment. All DAS positions are subject to assignment to any shift, schedule, or facility based on operational needs. This includes, but is not limited to, changes in work hours, shift days and times, and reassignment between department facilities or locations at any time. Employees may be directed to work alternative schedules or locations as required to support agency operations.

This job announcement may be used to fill future full-time Animal Caretaker vacancies in Fairfax and Lorton, Virginia.
  
Salary: The salary offer will be in the minimum to midpoint ($44,368.06 to $59,156.45) of the advertised compensation range. Promotional rules apply for current Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools’ employees.
  
Schedule: Schedule will vary depending on staffing levels and department needs as Animal Caretakers are considered essential personnel and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster). Required to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.