Entry Level Animal Behavior Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $40,996.80 - $49,004.80 Annually
Location : Cabarrus County, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: FY26-01267
Department: ANIMAL SHELTER
Opening Date: 08/07/2025
Closing Date: Continuous
Description
Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The application review process will take place immediately and continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may close any time after the first review or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Hiring range for this position is $40,996.80- $49,004.80. Initial placement for new employees is customarily at entry level through 35% percentile. Pay grade for this position is 14.
Must be over the age of 18 to apply.
General Definition of Work:
Responsible for monitoring the health of all shelter animals, and providing care and treatment as needed. Ensures all animals in the shelter receive appropriate medical care. Work is performed under the regular supervision of the Animal Shelter Manager.
Examples of Duties
Essential Functions/Typical Tasks:
Performs thorough intake evaluations and vaccinates all animals entering the shelter, triage observed and reported health concerns, communicates with contract veterinarian for treatment plans, and administers daily medications.
(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Ensure that all animals arriving at the shelter receive a thorough intake evaluation, vaccinations, and other needed vetting in a timely manner.
• Maintain a working knowledge of intake protocols and standing orders for treatment plans, and understanding of these protocols.
• Monitor the health of all animals upon intake and thereafter, identifying any health problems, conditions, or concerns. Triage concerns and begin treatment per veterinarian provided protocol, and keep Shelter Manager up to speed on ongoing and urgent medical needs. Communicates directly with Contract Veterinarian when necessary to acquire treatment plans.
• Follow through on treatment plans provided by Contract Veterinarian and keep detailed medical records.
• Create and maintain detailed records for each animal upon arrival at the shelter and thereafter.
• Prepare and administer daily medications, and maintain vaccination schedule.
• Perform fecal flotations and other limited in-house diagnostics as necessary.
• Maintain working knowledge of cleaning and disinfectant protocols.
• Maintain organized and clean work spaces.
• Monitor and ensure that medical supplies stay appropriately stocked, order medical supplies when needed.
• Work to improve the efficiency and flow of Cabarrus County Animal Shelter medical program, working with, training, and coaching staff to implement and maintain shelter medicine best practices.
• Promote effective and efficient communication amongst the staff regarding medical issues, including keeping the Shelter Manager up to date on medical issues and treatments.
• Work with Shelter Supervisor, Placement Coordinator, and Shelter Manager to make medical euthanasia decisions.
• Perform euthanasia as needed.
• Transport animals as needed to cooperating animal hospital in emergency situations, as well as weekly spay/neuter surgeries with partnering clinic.
• Exudes a calm and caring attitude toward all animals and maintains humane handling practices.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Thorough knowledge of preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic veterinary treatment of domestic animals in a shelter environment and working knowledge of shelter medicine practices; experience in caring for and handling animals in a safe, effective, and humane manner; knowledge of contemporary clinic and/or shelter maintenance techniques and accepted sanitary practices; strong animal handling skills and extensive knowledge of animal behavior; good interpersonal, communication, and time management skills; strong team mentality; ability to multitask; independent decision-making skills; effective written and verbal communication; ability and initiative, working with minimal supervision and direction; maturity, good judgement, and a professional personal appearance; attention to detail; able to work in a busy, demanding environment; ability to treat people and animals with respect; foster public relations beneficial to the shelter and its programs; comfortable making decisions or recommendations concerning euthanasia; comfort and ability to work with animals of unknown disposition and those who may exhibit medical and other problems, as well as aggressive tendencies. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal staff, other County employees, County officials, and the public; professionally and effectively handle difficult situations with the public; communicate effectively orally and in writing.
Minimum Education / Experience requirements
Education and Experience:
Requires high school diploma or GED and two years' experience as a Veterinary Technician (RVT preferred) in a Veterinary Clinic environment. One year of experience working within an animal shelter preferred. Certified Euthanasia Technician and Certified Rabies Vaccinator are required. Must obtain both certifications within six months of employment. Registered Veterinary Technician is strongly preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
Must be over the age of 18 to apply.
The Sheriff's Office has a zero-tolerance policy on drug use. If chosen for this position you will be subject to a polygraph test. In the polygraph test you will be asked about any illegal drug use within the past 12 months. Failure of the polygraph test and/or use of illegal drugs within the last 12 months is cause for disqualification for the position.
Physical Requirements:
This work is performed in an office and shelter setting. Tasks involve the ability to exert heavy physical effort involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching and crawling; standing and walking for long periods of time; lifting, carrying pushing and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-70 pounds), heavier objects and materials (up to 100 pounds) with assistance. Requires the ability to perform coordinated movements. Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate color, sound, odor, visual perception and oral communication. Tasks may risk exposure to adverse environmental conditions such as disease, noise, odors, wetness, toxic chemicals and animal bites and scratches.
Supplemental Information
Supplemental and Contact Information:
Cabarrus County selects applicants for employment based on job-related knowledge, skills, and abilities without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, religion, age, disability, political affiliation or political influence.
Degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions. Transcripts, degree evaluations and cover letters may be uploaded with your application. Applicants who obtained their education outside of the United States and its territories are expected to assume responsibility for having their academic degrees validated as equivalent to a degree conferred by a regionally accredited college or university in the United States.
Please be sure to complete the application in full. Resumes may be uploaded with your application but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit. "See Resume" or "See Attachment" will NOT be accepted.
If multiple applications are submitted to an individual position, only the most recent application received prior to the posting closing date will be accepted. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on the closing date.
Due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide information regarding the status of your application over the phone. To check the status of your application, please log in to your account. Processing applications will take an average of 6 - 8 weeks due to the high volume of applications received. It is not necessary to contact the Human Resources Office to check the status of an application. Upon the closing date, applications are "Under Review" and will be screened by Human Resources for the most qualified applicants.
For technical issues with your applications, please call the NEOGOV Help Line at 855-524-5627. If there are any questions about this posting other than your application status, please contact HR at 704-920-2200.

• Earned vacation & sick leave
• 11-12 paid holidays per year
• Floating Holiday
• Paid Personal Day
• Bereavement Leave
• Paid Parental Bonding Leave

• Participation in the Local Government Employees Retirement System
  • Mandatory 6% employee contribution

• 5% employer-paid contribution to NC401K, with no employee match required
  • Employees have the option to contribute additional monies to the NC401K plan or to a 457 retirement savings plan

• Health Insurance plans
  • Consumer driven plan including a health savings account
  • PPO Plan
  • Optional dependent coverage - employee/spouse, employee/children, & employee/family

• Comprehensive health & wellness program
  • On-site exercise equipment & programs
  • Health & wellness themed instructional classes
  • Employee health clinic
  • Employee assistance program (ex. Individual & family counseling, legal & financial services, child & elder care location assistance, etc.)

• Choice of optional dental plans
  • PPO (Preferred Provider Option) or non-PPO
  • Optional dependent coverage - employee/spouse, employee/children, & employee/family

• Vision Plan
  • Includes an annual routine eye exam for individuals on the health insurance plan.
  • Optional eyewear plan available

• $20,000 of term life insurance & accidental death & dismemberment coverage with employer-paid premiums
  • Employee option for up to $50,000 of additional term life coverage

• Optional dependent life insurance coverage for spouses & children

01
I understand in order to be qualified for this position, the description of my work experience must clearly reflect the required education and experience as well as the posted knowledge, skills and abilities for this position. I have included all of this information within my application. (If you haven't completed the application requirements, please return to your application to finish it before submitting your application.) Resumes may be uploaded with your application, but will not be accepted in lieu of a fully completed application and will not be considered for qualifying credit.

• Yes
• No

02
What is the highest level of education completed?

• High School Diploma or GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree

03
I acknowledge that the Sheriff's Office has a zero tolerance policy on drug use and if chosen for this position I will be subject to a polygraph test. In this polygraph test I will be asked about any illegal drug use within the past 12 months. I understand that failing this polygraph test and/or use of illegal drugs within the last 12 months is cause for disqualification for the position.

• Yes
• No

04
I understand that I must successfully pass the polygraph portion of the hiring process?

• Yes
• No

05
Are you over 18 years of age?

• Yes
• No

06
Do you have at least 2 years of experience working in a veterinary setting?

• Yes
• No

07
Do you have any experience working in an animal shelter?

• Yes
• No

08
Are you familiar with the differences between shelter medicine and general practice veterinary medicine?

• Yes
• No

09
Do your possess a humane euthanasia certification?

• Yes
• No

10
Are you a Certified Rabies Vaccinator?

• Yes
• No

11
Do you possess a current Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certification?

• Yes
• No

Required Question