Animal Care Technician

Overview

ANIMAL CARE TECHNICIAN I (ACT I)

Job Title: Animal Care Technician I

Department: Animal Care

Reports To: Manager of Animal Care

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Location: Arlington, VA

Animal Care Technician I (ACT I) provides foundational daily care for shelter animals, maintains high standards of cleanliness, supports low-stress and Fear Free handling practices, and assists with basic medical and behavioral tasks under supervision. This is the entry-level position within the Animal Care career path and serves as the foundation for advancement to ACT II and ACT III roles.

Animal Care

• Provide daily feeding, watering, enrichment, and basic grooming for shelter animals.
• Conduct routine animal welfare checks and promptly report concerns related to health, behavior, or overall wellbeing.
• Participate in stress and disease reduction efforts through Fear Free, purposeful, and compassionate handling practices.
• Support low-stress handling and stress-reduction techniques in daily animal care routines.
• Assist with basic medical tasks (e.g., topical medications, vaccine preparation) under supervision.
• Assist with animal intake by safely handling animals and accurately recording observations.
• Follow and support behavior modification protocols by understanding basic behavior plans, observing animal behavior in kennel settings, and implementing assigned steps as directed by senior staff or Behavior team members.

Facility Care

• Clean and disinfect kennels, habitats, and shared areas in accordance with established disease-control and sanitation protocols.
• Operate laundry, dishwashing, and sanitation equipment.
• Maintain supply rooms and restock food, litter, and cleaning products as needed.
• Report equipment or facility issues requiring repair or replacement.

People Care

• Provide courteous, professional support to volunteers, adopters, fosters, and staff.
• Work collaboratively with Animal Care Volunteers, recognizing their contributions and supporting their work in accordance with AWLA guidelines.
• Assist the Adoption team by facilitating meet-and-greets when needed to support positive and safe adoption experiences.
• Model positive, respectful interactions consistent with AWLA’s Compassionate Culture.

Administrative & Record Support

• Assist with maintaining accurate animal records and observations in shelter databases, as directed.
• Enter intake observations, daily notes, and care-related updates in accordance with established protocols.
• Follow documentation and recordkeeping standards to support Animal Care, Veterinary, and Adoption teams.

Other Duties

• Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to AWLA policies, procedures, safety protocols, and code of conduct.
• Support a clean, organized, and safe work environment.
• Take immediate action to report safety concerns that could put staff, volunteers, animals, or the organization at risk.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• General knowledge of animal behavior and animal care.
• Ability to safely handle cats, dogs, small companion animals, wildlife, and rabies vector species.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., work on feet for extended periods, and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Comfort working around bodily fluids, cleaning chemicals, injured or ill animals, and euthanasia-related activities.
• Willingness to complete required training and obtain euthanasia certification within six (6) months of employment.
• Ability to receive pre-exposure rabies vaccination upon employment.
• Basic computer skills, including the ability to navigate databases and review records.
• Strong work ethic, reliability, and accountability.
• Ability to remain calm, focused, and professional in stressful, sensitive, or emotionally challenging situations.
• Availability to work weekends, holidays, and evenings with a schedule that may change as needed.
• Strong communication and customer service skills.

• Fluency in English required.

Working with animals requires frequent bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and extended periods of standing or walking. Strong hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity are necessary to…