Kennel Coordinator

Overview

Kennel Coordinator Jobs in Fishers, IN at Humane Society for Hamilton County

Title: Kennel Coordinator

Company: Humane Society for Hamilton County

Location: Fishers, IN

At the Humane Society for Hamilton County, caring for animals isn’t just a job – it’s our passion. The impact we make is life-changing for the animals in our care and the people who love them. If you would like to spend your work days with animals in our beautiful new state-of-the-art facility and make a difference, the Kennel Coordinator position may be the perfect fit for you!

Reports To Kennel Manager

Full-time with Benefits

Job Purpose

The purpose of a Kennel Coordinator is to assist in managing our team in the kennel in

collaboration with the Animal Care Manager. While your primary focus and expertise will be on

the kennel operations, you must also have equal competency in handling both cats and

dogs—including the operational protocols and procedures for each area—as you may have to

oversee both departments on occasion.

Individuals in this role are responsible for ensuring the animals served under their supervision

receive outstanding care by meeting our standards for proper cleaning, nutrition, and daily

enrichment.

Your team should report any concerns to you regarding our animals’ mental or

physical well-being, as you should have a vigilant awareness to the mental and physical state, and

ongoing needs, of each dog or cat in this building. Depending on the needs identified (medical,

behavior concerns, grooming needs, depression, changes in appetite, etc.) you will be responsible

for the timely communication of these concerns to your manager as well as the appropriate

department manager(s) to ensure immediate action is taken to address these concerns.

You will co-supervise, alongside the Animal Care Manager, your team’s interactions with

customers for the purpose of showing animals to potential adopters and ensuring we place them

in loving, forever homes. This includes training your team on all aspects of showing animals to the

public according to our protocols, policies, level of customer service, and techniques used to

properly match pets with people.

This individual will also assist in training team members on the proper methods for introducing a prospective adopter’s pet to a shelter dog(s) to ensure compatibility, and they will also oversee and train staff on how to assess a shelter dog’s compatibility with a cat.

This individual will work alongside the Animal Care Manager to provide continued coaching, guidance, motivation, conflict resolution and inspiration to the Animal Care Attendants under their supervision. This individual is responsible for training both new and existing Animal Care Attendants, as well as managing their work schedules as needed.

As second in command, you will be responsible for stepping into your manager’s role when they are not on site to ensure a plan is in place, communicated to your team, and managed throughout the day, resulting in the successful completion of all daily tasks in a timely manner. You may be asked to participate in the both the hiring and disciplinary process for Kennel staff, and you will be asked to provide feedback for your team’s annual performance reviews.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Kennel Coordinator is responsible for assisting in managing and coordinating the below

aspects of the Kennel Team including, but not limited to:

• Participate in the onboarding process of new animal care employees and provide new

employee training.

• Be able to perform all required duties of kennel staff, as well as a supervisory understanding of department’s protocols and procedures.
• Oversee your team to ensure all daily cleaning tasks are completed on time and according

to protocols so we maintain an exceptional level of cleanliness and disease-free environment for the animals and public.

• Oversee your team to ensure each animal receives the appropriate food/diet, clean

bedding, enrichment, exercise, access to water, and a clean living space throughout the

day.

• Intervene/re-direct your team as needed throughout the day to keep them on task and ensure all protocols are followed and daily tasks are completed in a timely manner.
• Address any concerns with potential adopters professionally, promptly and courteously that may occur during the showing/meet and greet process conducted by yourself.
• Alert your manager and other appropriate managers regarding any concerns that arise within your department, including animal or customer emergencies/injuries, in a professional and timely manner.
• Ensure you and your team are compliant with HSHC’s safety, sanitation, and personnel policies as outlined in our Employee Handbook and departmental protocols.
• Embrace and foster a positive, “whatever it takes” culture throughout the department.
• Coordinate a monthly position schedule for the kennel team.
• Ensure that animals needing to be transported are ready for volunteers.
• Complete and report weekly food and supply inventory to the Animal Care Manager as requested.
• Maintain clean and organized storage and work areas including, but not limited to: (5) cleaning hubs, main public hallways, kennel kitchen, (5) visiting rooms, the indoor exercise area and all outdoor play yards.
• Ensure medical books are filled out turned in daily by 3 pm.
• Complete a “pre-check out” each evening prior to being checked out by the closing manager.
• Provide input to the Animal Care Manager on staff performance reviews.
• Assist the Animal Care Manager as their second in command as needed and when they are on vacation or has an extended amount of time away from the shelter.

Qualifications, Applicants Must:

• Embrace our No-Kill philosophy and whatever it takes attitude.
• Have a minimum of 2 years of experience demonstrating advanced skill handling of dogs and/or cats both appropriately and humanely in a shelter, boarding/training, or veterinary clinic capacity.
• Have a minimum of 2 years of experience managing/supervising others.
• Be Fear-Free Certified
• Be knowledgeable about shelter related, contagious illnesses with an understanding of how to

1) identify such conditions

2) oversee the appropriate handling related to these conditions

• Have experience facilitating animal behavior modification and training programs (SAFER Testing, etc.)
• Be highly proficient using a computer including experience using Microsoft Office, email, and entering/searching for information in data management software such as Petpoint, Excel, or another equivalent database.
• Be a self-starter with excellent problem-solving skills and initiative.
• Be able to multitask, problem-solve and prioritize appropriately.
• Be an excellent communicator—both written and verbal.
• Be comfortable navigating difficult and stressful situations that may require conflict resolution between employees and/or customers.
• Be able to pivot and react quickly to the unplanned challenges that often occur in our world each day.
• Be flexible to work nights and weekends.
• Thrive in a fast-paced work environment where you are surrounded by the distractions of animal sounds, smells, and their respective allergens.

Benefits Package: 

● Full-Time employees are eligible for benefits after 60 days of employment. HSHC offers several insurance options, including but not limited to medical (Anthem), dental, vision, Long/Short Term Disability, FSA/HSA, Identity Theft Protection, and Life Insurance.  

● Generous vacation and paid time off accrued from day one. 

● Robust Pet Benefits Package for employee-owned pets. Includes annual vaccines, diagnostics, x-rays,  preventatives, and prescription medications (requires a DVM script) at cost. Other select pet supplies like potty pads, carriers, food, bowls, bedding, etc. are available at no cost in the designated ‘free’ storage bins.● 401(k) plus matching. 

Qualified candidates should apply online at https://humane-society-for-hamilton-county.prismhr-hire.com/job/1013153/kennel-coordinator

OR email a resume and cover letter to  

[email protected]. 

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at the Humane Society for Hamilton County. HSHC 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, gender identity, domestic partner status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.  Applicants are not required to live in Hamilton County. 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the  employee(s) of this position. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.