Equine Care Specialist

Summary of Purpose:

Duties (Essential Functions):

Provide daily care cleanliness and enrichment to animals in care and maintain common areas.

• Responsible for daily cleaning and sanitation of equine areas and common areas with emphasis on disease control protocols.
• Feed and provide daily care for equine of all training/behavior levels in such a manner as to ensure a low stress environment while adhering to safety protocol.
• Administer medications or treatments to ill/injured animals under direction from a veterinarian.
• Assist in movement of equine as needed.
• Responsible for loading and unloading of animals for transport to foster veterinarian or rescue partners.
• Provide physical exercise and/or social interaction for equine in care as assigned.
• Follow and maintain excellent knowledge of organization cleaning sanitation and safety practices to provide a healthy and safe environment for animals and people.
• Unpack sort and organize donations as needed.
• Help maintain inventory of shelter supplies and communicate with appropriate manager to order supplies when needed.
• Assist in maintaining a clean and uncluttered environment; clean stalls sweep take out trash clean offices etc.
• Drive KHS vehicles including tractor and trucks in a safe and courteous manner as needed.
• Perform routine facility and grounds maintenance as appropriate.

Monitor the behavior and health of animals in care.

• Monitor health of animals to rapidly identify any health issues/injuries and report to manager while recording observations in departmental software systems (Petpoint).
• Gain and maintain knowledge of animal behavior including animal body language and signals of stress/illness to safely handle equine of all sizes and temperaments.
• Monitor behavior health of animals to rapidly identify any behavior issues and report to a manager while recording observations in departmental software systems (Petpoint).

Provide professional compassionate stellar customer services to all who visit call volunteer donate or work for KHS.

• Communicate any animal health or temperament concerns to management in a timely manner.
• Work with and supervise volunteers to provide animals and humans with a safe clean organized and pleasant experience.
• Communicate with manager on duty regarding unusual activities significant problems or concerns.

Other duties as assigned.

• 2 years of experience working with equine preferred.
• Experience working with equine of unknown health & behavior including feral horses preferred.
• Equine training experience preferred.
• Ability to load haul and handle horses of all temperaments for transport.
• Intermediate knowledge of equine health medical needs and treatment.
• Ability to work independently with little direct supervision.
• Great interpersonal skills in person and by phone with clients staff and volunteers.
• Demonstrated attention to detail and ability to process paperwork accurately and efficiently.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Humane attitude towards animals.
• Ability to manage the emotional aspect of end-of-life services and humane euthanasia and support staff in high-emotion circumstances.
• Accept support and represent KHS core values programs policies and procedures.
• Basic computer knowledge.
• Ability to lift or otherwise move large items and animals up to 50 pounds; full range of motion including stooping bending reaching etc.
• Must possess a valid drivers license and clean driving record and be willing to drive KHS vehicles.
• Background Check required.

Physical Psychosocial and Cognitive Demands/ Working Environment

• Requires travel including overnight stays.
• Frequent bending reaching kneeling walking and standing regularly while performing job functions.
• Frequently lifts carries or otherwise moves and positions objects weighing up to and exceeding 100 lbs.
• Includes working with equine in a barn setting (indoor/outdoor) in varying weather conditions.
• Potential for exposure to allergens (including but not limited to pet dander dust peanut butter) and zoonotic diseases (diseases transferred from animals to humans).
• Exposure to chemicals.
• Exposure to loud noise.
• Exposure to emotional circumstances.
• Fast-paced environment.