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Protect animals, support pet owners, and serve the community.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a dependable and compassionate Animal Services Officer & Desk Assistant to support animal services work for the Des Moines community. This full-time role combines field response, animal handling, customer service, administrative support, and public education to help protect animals, support public safety, and assist pet owners. This is a great opportunity for someone with animal handling, customer service, animal welfare, public safety, veterinary, shelter, administrative, or community service experience who enjoys variety, problem-solving, and meaningful work that directly supports both animals and people.

• 40 hours per week
• Wednesday through Saturday
• Schedule may include holidays, based on Animal Services and operational needs.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

• Respond to animal-related calls involving stray animals, animal welfare concerns, injured animals, ordinance violations, and public safety needs.
• Safely handle, transport, document, and care for animals entering the Des Moines Animal Services facility.
• Assist with reports of cruelty, neglect, abandonment, bites, and other animal-related concerns.
• Educate community members on responsible pet ownership, lost and found resources, and applicable city procedures.
• Support owner notification, animal reclaim, lost and found records, and facility walk-throughs for citizens looking for lost pets.
• Answer phone calls, assist customers, process requests, and provide accurate information to the public and community partners.
• Assist with microchip requests, TNR program check-ins and follow-ups, and other pet support services.
• Maintain accurate records, reports, documentation, and animal information in accordance with ARL procedures and applicable city requirements.
• Support positive customer interactions while promoting ARL services, programs, and resources.
• Follow animal handling, safety, sanitation, and organizational procedures.

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least one year of animal handling experience required.
• Customer service, animal welfare, shelter, veterinary, public safety, administrative, or related experience preferred.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record required.
• Ability to pass required background checks, including any applicable police background investigation.
• Strong communication, customer service, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to remain professional, calm, and compassionate in fast-paced or stressful situations.
• Comfort working independently, making sound decisions, and managing multiple priorities.
• Basic math skills and basic computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office.

The ARL is proud to offer competitive, market-driven compensation and a mission-focused culture. In addition, a variety of benefits are available to full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurances, including short-term disability, supplemental life insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Work-life balance through our expansive holiday and paid time off policies

This position works in both animal services facility and field environments and may require driving, standing, walking, bending, cleaning, safely handling animals, working indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions, and lifting up to 50 pounds. The role may involve exposure to animal odors, animal waste, moderate noise, zoonotic diseases, cleaning products, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures.

This position may also involve emotionally challenging situations involving injured, neglected, abandoned, deceased, or distressed animals, as well as interactions with members of the public during stressful circumstances.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

As an Animal Services Officer & Desk Assistant, your work helps protect animals, support pet owners, and serve the Des Moines community. Whether you are responding to a call, helping reunite a lost pet with its family, assisting a customer at the desk, or connecting someone with resources, your work makes a direct impact.

If you are dependable, compassionate, and ready for meaningful work that combines animal handling, customer service, and community support, we would love to have you join our team.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.