Animal Care Specialist

Clackamas County • Full-time • Clackamas, Oregon, United States • USD $48.38k - USD $60.76k / year • 1m ago

CLACKAMAS COUNTY CORE VALUES

Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. In that spirit, we pledge to hold ourselves to these standards at all times in our interactions with customers and one another:

Service · Professionalism · Integrity · Respect · Individual accountability · Trust

By incorporating these values into our daily routines, we can better serve our customers, ourselves and our projects. We’re always looking to improve. That’s the Clackamas County SPIRIT.

Clackamas County Core Values

Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experience to apply.

CLOSE DATE

This Job Posting closes at 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2025.

Please Note: The application deadline may be extended to expand the pool of qualified candidates. Any recruitment timeline changes will be communicated to all who have initiated an application process or have submitted an application.

PAY AND BENEFITS

Annual Pay Range: $48,379.30 - $60,760.78

Hourly Pay Range: $23.259277 - $29.211915

Salary offers will be made within the posted pay range and will be based on a candidate's experience (paid or unpaid) that is directly relevant to the position.

Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees.

We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering, health and wellness classes and events, and alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle.

Employee benefits become effective the first of the month following an employee’s date of hire.

Attractive benefits package and incentives for employees in regular status positions are detailed below.

Generous paid time off package, including:

12 hours of vacation accrued per month
- Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals in compliance with EPP 66 - Vacation Leave! This means you have access to vacation time at time of hire.
8 hours of sick accrued per month
10 paid holidays and 1 personal day per year

Other Benefits:

Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP):
- Employer paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee’s share of the retirement contribution.)
- OPSRP members get vested after five years of contributions or when they reach age 65
A Choice of Medical Plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage
A Choice of Dental Plans
Robust EAP and wellness programs, including gym discounts and wellness education classes
Longevity pay
Other retirement Savings Options that allow for additional retirement funds savings, including an option to contribute a portion of employee earnings on a pre or post-tax basis to a 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
A variety of additional optional benefits (see links below for additional information)

This is a full time County position represented by AFSCME.

AFSCME: Department of Transportation (DTD) Full Time Benefits

Learn More About Benefits

JOB DETAILS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Do you want to enhance the lives of shelter dogs and our community?
Are you committed to providing best practices related to care of animals and want to contribute to supporting our existing programs, practices, and protocols?
Do you have work experience handling dogs?
Are you enthusiastic and positive with a "can-do" attitude?
Are you a team player who can communicate well and work collaboratively with department staff and external customers?

If you answered YES to the questions above, please read on!

We are searching for a motivated and team-oriented individual with strong communication and interpersonal skills to join our Dog Services team as an Animal Care Specialist. This position is designed to support and uphold existing systems and procedures. The most competitive candidates will demonstrate strengths that align with maintaining and reinforcing our established practices.

If selected for this position, you will be responsible for providing humane and routine care and control of dogs, impounded in the Clackamas County Dog Shelter. In this role, you will focus on the general maintenance and cleaning activities at the shelter and the surrounding grounds. You will also be involved in performing behavioral observations and assessments of dogs, recordkeeping, community outreach, customer service and counseling duties related to the adoption, rescue, placement, reclaim and surrender of dogs.

The Dog Services Division administers the County’s dog control program to enforce State and County laws and regulations governing the care, control, impounding, protection, licensing and disposal of animals. The Division also operates and maintains the County’s animal shelter, which houses stray and abandoned dogs.

We are committed to being an exemplary team with best practices related to animal care, protection, licensing, impounding and control. To that end, we are searching for an individual, who is motivated to be a positive and collaborative contributor to a highly functional team with strong interpersonal and communication skills.

Required Minimum Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:*

A minimum of six (6) months of work experience handling dogs, which required an understanding of canine behavior and basic animal health as well as working knowledge of safe and efficient animal handling techniques
Experience in handling, controlling, and/or caring for scared or injured animals in a safe and humane manner
A minimum of six (6) months of work experience in a regulatory or compliance-driven environment with established protocols and parameters
Experience in preparing and maintaining accurate written and electronic records
Experience providing customer service and answering customer questions and/or complaints

Preferred Special Qualifications/ Transferrable Skills:*

Experience in administering routine vaccinations and medications
Experience handling, controlling, and caring for vicious, stray or diseased animals using fear-free techniques
Experience with proper disinfecting procedures and disease control as it relates to cleaning cages, pens and runs
Experience operating light vehicles to transport animals and supplies
Experience in assisting the public in selecting a dog for potential adoption

Pre-Employment Requirements:

Must pass post-offer, pre-employment drug test. Learn more about the County's drug testing policy
Must pass a post-offer physical assessment; accommodation requests will be reviewed on an individual bases in compliance with State and Federal legislation.
Driving is required for County business to accomplish work. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license, and possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the County's driving policy
For Veterans qualified for Veteran’s Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position.

KEY TRAITS & CHARACTERISTICS FOR SUCCESS IN THIS POSITION

Strong interpersonal skills that translate into the following:
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work well independently, as well as having a collaborative, team-oriented approach to work
- Strong listening & problem solving skills
- Ability to take direction from others and follow through on tasks and assignments
- Commitment to punctuality and good attendance record
- Exercising tact and good judgment, especially when working with the public
- Ability to handle a wide range of situations and circumstances effectively, positively, and professionally and to maintain composure in difficult, stressful and quickly emerging situations
- Attention to detail

TYPICAL TASKS

Please review the classification specification which includes the typical tasks of this position by clicking on the following link: Animal Care Specialist.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Duties require walking, prolonged standing, kneeling, bending, twisting, squatting, reaching forward/overhead, fine motor control and the ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds having awkward size and shape, and the ability to push/pull 75 pounds. Duties also involve frequent exposure to loud noises, wet and slippery surfaces, and sick, injured, agitated, frightened or aggressive animals.

WORK SCHEDULE

This position is within a County department (Dog Shelter) that is open 7-days a week, 365-days a year. Incumbent will work 40 hours during a five (5) day workweek that includes weekends and some holidays. Incumbents must be willing to work weekends and/or additional hours as needed. Specific hours of work will be discussed with the candidate selected for the position at the time an offer of employment is extended.

Note: Positions within Dog Shelter are designated as "essential", which means employees MUST report to work or remain at work as scheduled or as otherwise specifically directed during inclement weather, disaster, or other natural or human-caused incidents.

This position is designated as on-site/in-person. It is expected that the selected candidate will perform duties at the specified on-site work location.

EXPLORE CLACKAMAS COUNTY

Clackamas County is in a prime location in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and is recognized nationally as one of the most livable areas in the United States. Located on the southern edge of the City of Portland and extending to the top of Mt. Hood, Clackamas County is part of a thriving region in the Northwest. It has a population of about 420,000 residents.

Explore Clackamas County

Working for Clackamas County

Recreation, Arts & Heritage

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

The Department of Transportation & Development/Dog Services Division enforces all County laws governing the care, control, impounding, licensing, adoption and disposal of animals.

The purpose of the Dog Services program is to provide dog sheltering, education, complaint resolution, licensing, protection, and enforcement services to the public so they can reunite with lost dogs, benefit from the companionship of a well-matched adoption or placement and experience a healthy, safe, and livable community.

Learn more about Clackamas County Dog Services

APPLICATION PROCESS

Clackamas County only accepts online applications.

Help With Your Application:

Application Process

Help with the Application

If you have any questions or issues you may contact the Department of Human Resources at 503-655-8459 or e-mail us. Our office hours are Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time (closed on Fridays).

HOW TO CLAIM VETERAN'S PREFERENCE

Request Veterans' Preference

Learn more about the County's Veterans' Preference

VISA SPONSORSHIP

Clackamas County does not offer visa sponsorships. Once a job applicant has accepted a position, they will be required to complete an I-9 and confirm authorization to work in the United States prior to their first day.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Clackamas County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, equity, and inclusion as essential elements that create and foster a welcoming workplace. All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, political affiliation, disability or any other factor unrelated to the essential functions of the job.

If you wish to identify yourself as a qualified person with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act and would like to request an accommodation, please address the request to the Department of Human Resources prior to the recruitment close date. You may request an accommodation during the online application process.