Specialist, Lifesaving and Care
Kanab, Utah / Hourly / Full time
The Best Friend's Mission is to do nothing short of making history by bringing about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. Our goal is that every animal shelter in every community in the country be no kill in 2025.
The fact is, we have a great culture, populated by fun, dedicated, and brilliant people. But we're always looking for talented people who can help us make history, and that's where you come in. If you want to be a part of history and end the killing of pets in shelters, apply today for one of our open job opportunities!

Location: 5001 Angel Canyon Road; Kanab, UT 84741

Hiring Range: The hiring range for this position starts at $22.50 per hour, plus great benefits.

Interviews will occur weekly until the position is filled.

Position Summary: Providing hands-on care for the animals at the Sanctuary, working with all

departments to find those animals homes wherever possible and serving as mission and brand ambassadors for the tens of thousands of guests, volunteers, and adopters who visit the Sanctuary annually.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

  • Support lifesaving objectives throughout the department, providing feedback and support for outcome plans, assist with all aspects of the adoption process, regularly update animal photos and bios, provide superior customer service to visitors, volunteers, and adopters.
  • Serve as a Sanctuary ambassador, representing Best Friends’ work to visitors and volunteers, and speaking to the Sanctuary’s special role in Best Friends’ no-kill goals.
  • Support a “volunteers-first” team giving every volunteer the opportunity to maximize their skills and value towards Best Friends’ lifesaving activities, and inspiring visitors to continue the work in their communities.
  • Provide for the safety and hands-on training of volunteers, both individuals and groups, including orienting them to the assigned area and tasks; answering questions as needed.
  • Greet and conduct tours, speak about specific animals, the work of Horse Haven and the sanctuary, answer questions and assist visitors with their needs.
  • Work alongside and support interns, workshop attendees, and other categories of visitors.
  • Provide basic and routine care for animals per department guidelines which include, but not limited to feeding, watering, transporting, and light grooming.
  • Support animals with medical issues, which may include zoonotic disease, by medicating, treating, preparing special diets, observing and reporting, and assisting in the maintenance of required veterinary records.
  • Provide socialization, enrichment, and exercise for animals as outlined by leadership, which may include working with animals that may be considered challenging or dangerous; identifying behavioral issues and sharing observations with team members and leaders; following behavior or training plans as developed for the department or specific animals.
  • Clean and restock work areas and preserving physical appearance of buildings and grounds.
  • Deliver superior customer service relating to all visitors, adopters, fosters and transfer partners in a friendly, informative and professional manners.

Skills and Experience:

  • Previous experience with equines, potbellied pigs, goats, and sheep preferred.
  • Previous experience working with equines with natural horsemanship techniques preferred.
  • Demonstrates approachability when dealing with the general public. Experience in interacting with the general public (customer service) preferred.
  • Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends Animal Society’s and Horse Haven’s positions on issues.
  • Demonstrates ability to create and encourage a positive work environment.
  • Strong interpersonal skills, i.e., ability to develop positive relationships with others and demonstrate sensitivity to the thoughts, feelings and perspectives of others.
  • Demonstrates personal accountability to ensure that all responsibilities are completed effectively and in a timely manner.
  • Accurate, appropriate, clear and concise written and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong listening skills.
  • Basic computer experience preferred (Microsoft Word, Gmail, etc.).
  • Experience operating a variety of vehicles (manual and automatic) and pulling a trailer preferred.
  • Must have a valid driver’s license and qualify for BFAS insurance.
  • Must be willing to work weekends and holidays.

Physical Requirements:

  • Must be able to perform strenuous and repetitive physical activity on a daily basis including but not limited to shoveling, mucking, poop scooping, lifting, carrying, reaching, squatting, bending, walking, climbing up and down ladders, and climbing into and out of vehicles.
  • Must be able to routinely lift 80 – 100 pounds.
  • Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions, with temperatures ranging from below freezing to 100+ degrees.
  • Must be able to work around allergens like hay, dust, and animals.

*During the selection process, candidates may be asked to participate in an onsite working interview.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.

Culture Statement and Responsibility
We value attitude over aptitude, and we treat kindness as a discipline because it is paramount in our culture along with our other guiding principles. Culture is how we talk to and treat ourselves and one another. It's how we generate and respond to change. It's how we plan and make decisions. It's how we do what we do.
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About Best Friends

Best Friends received a 2022 Top Workplaces USA award from Energage.

Visit the Best Friends Animal Society page on the Energage Top Workplaces award winners' site here to learn more. Not only do we take pride in cultivating a welcoming and supportive community and culture for our employees, but we also offer competitive benefits that make it easy to see why we were granted such an awesome award. We offer competitive pay including the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on performance. We offer medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short- and long-term disability, dependent care reimbursement, pet sitting reimbursement when traveling for work, flexible spending account, and health savings account. We offer generous paid time off, nine paid holidays annually, an auto insurance discount, and legal and identity theft coverage.  For added well-being support, we offer pawternity leave for employees to have time to care for their personal pets, mental health support, and an employee assistance program. We also offer a generous 401(k) savings plan. Do you want to love where you work and help make history by ending the killing of pets in shelters? Look no further and apply today!

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status. Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.

 

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