Animal Rescue Care Assistant Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead the systems and support behind compassionate shelter medical care.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a detail-oriented and people-focused Veterinary Technician Staff Supervisor to provide administrative leadership and operational support for the ARL's shelter Medical Department. This role helps ensure shelter medical records, inventory, processes, staffing, and daily workflows support timely, consistent, and humane care for animals in the ARL’s care.

This is a great opportunity for someone with supervisory, animal welfare, veterinary medicine, and/or shelter experience who enjoys organizing processes, supporting staff, solving problems, and contributing to a mission-driven medical environment.

• Full-time, salaried position
• Typically Monday through Friday but may include occasional Sundays or Saturdays to ensure the medical team is supported as needed and new hires who may start on a weekend have the support they need to get oriented to the organization.
• Schedule may include weekdays, weekends, holidays, and varying hours based on shelter medical, kitten nursery, staffing, 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.

The ARL shelter medical team provides care for animals currently in the care of the ARL, including animals who are sick, injured, recovering, awaiting adoption, or in need of ongoing monitoring and treatment. This team plays an important role in supporting animal health, reducing stress and disease, and helping animals move through the shelter toward positive outcomes.

• Provide administrative leadership and daily operational support for the shelter Medical department.
• Supervise, train, coach, and support Medical Assistants, Medical Technicians, and other direct reports as assigned.
• Recruit, onboard, manage performance, and participate in employee relations processes for direct reports.
• Assist with the development and management of preventative shelter medicine protocols.
• Oversee animal medical records to help ensure information is accurate, complete, and up to date.
• Manage shelter medical inventory, order supplies, and ensure inventory is tracked, secured, and available for daily needs.
• Monitor shelter animal inventory and support processes that help reduce length of stay.
• Manage the Kitten Nursery by helping ensure appropriate staffing and volunteer support for around-the-clock care.
• Review workflows, recommend process improvements, and oversee implementation of approved changes.
• Collaborate with the Director of Veterinary Medical Services and other departments to support humane treatment, animal care, and adoption processes.
• Support positive customer, staff, and volunteer interactions through professional and educational communication.
• Follow and model ARL policies, safety procedures, sanitation standards, and compassionate animal-handling practices.

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Supervisory, lead, training, or team leadership experience preferred.
• Experience in animal welfare, veterinary medicine, shelter operations, medical administration, inventory management, or related work preferred.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, critical thinking, and follow-through.
• Ability to support staff, manage workflows, and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication, customer service, interpersonal, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations professionally and compassionately.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record required.
• Basic math skills required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and ability to learn organizational systems.
• Commitment to humane animal care, teamwork, and process improvement.

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 an active animal shelter and medical environment and may require frequent standing, sitting, walking, bending, lifting, cleaning, safely handling animals, and moving throughout the facility. Candidates must be able to frequently lift up to 50 pounds.

The role may involve regular exposure to animal odors, animal waste, moderate noise, contagious or zoonotic diseases, cleaning products, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures.

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

As a Veterinary Technician Staff Supervisor, your work helps support the people, processes, records, and resources behind compassionate shelter medical care. You will play an important role in helping the Medical team stay organized, responsive, and prepared to meet the needs of animals in our care.

If you are organized, adaptable, and ready to support both people and animals in a mission-driven medical environment, 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.