Senior Shelter Officer

This is a brand-new role within New Zealand’s first Animal Management adoption and education facility. Daily, you will be responsible for working alongside the animal care senior and assisting the Shelter Manager in running the shelter with a focus on outstanding customer service, dog behaviour, training and care, promoting adoptions while also supporting and training the team. You will work within the team to ensure all animals in the Pukekohe Adoption Centre are well cared for, which includes but is not limited to oversight of daily office duties, providing top-notch customer service, facilitating and promoting adoptions, temperament testing, feeding, exercising on and off site, and cleaning. There also may be a small euthanasia component to this role.

You will assist and mentor Animal Shelter Officers in handling customer calls, general office duties, facilitating adoptions, viewing and inspections, and ensuring the best standards in animal care, making sure they receive ongoing training and support to carry out their roles. With strong communication skills, you will be customer-focused by way of assisting with facilitating adoptions, processing paperwork, leading and participating in education programmes and building relationships with internal and external customers such as members of the public, animal rescues, council shelters, etc. We are looking for a person with strong leadership, reception/admin expertise and the ability to build outstanding customer relationships to help support and lead the team.

This role works five days a week, including weekends and public holidays. The hours will be 40 hours per week with a 07:30 am start time. The role is primarily based in Pukekohe; however, flexibility is required to assist at other shelters in Manukau, Henderson, and Silverdale as needed. A full, clean driver’s license is required as there will be travel requirements to vets and other shelters to collect dogs.

You will be able to demonstrate good leadership behaviours along with competent animal handling skills and display outstanding customer service skills. You will need to be flexible, have a great work ethic, and be able to withstand the physical requirements of this role. You will impress with your excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Previous animal handling or husbandry is required for this role. An animal care certificate or equivalent qualification would be advantageous (but not compulsory). Previous experience in a leadership/2IC role would be advantageous.

You will help us make dogs a positive part of Auckland life. We will provide you with training on the Dog Control and Impounding Acts and the opportunity to contribute to increasing public safety, welfare of animals, and provide good customer service. This is your chance to help achieve our vision for Auckland to be a world-class city.

Become part of our Auckland Council's animal management team; we work across Auckland’s diverse communities to minimise harm and nuisance from dogs and other animals and provide essential services such as dog registration and raising public awareness of responsible dog ownership.

Applications close Friday, 22nd November 2024

This role is deemed safety-sensitive and in line with Auckland Council policy, you will be required to complete pre-employment drug and alcohol testing.

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.