Freelance Non Profit Animal Rescue Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Help keep compassionate care going around the clock.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a compassionate and dependable Overnight Veterinary Assistant to join our Medical team. This position provides overnight monitoring, care, and support for animals receiving medical treatment at ARL Main and Clowder House.

This is a great opportunity for someone with a veterinary medical background who is comfortable working independently and wants to make a meaningful difference for animals during the hours when they may need extra attention most. This role provides overnight support for the animals current in care and is the first call an animal may need to be taken in after hours.

Schedule:

• Sunday through Wednesday
• 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

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.

• Provide overnight monitoring and medical care for animals at ARL Main and Clowder House.
• Complete wellness rounds to ensure animals remain safe, comfortable, and receive timely attention.
• Administer medications and treatments as directed by veterinary staff.
• Monitor hospitalized patients and communicate changes to the on-call veterinarian.
• Assist with after-hours animal intakes as needed.
• Provide care for neonatal kittens, including feeding, cleaning, and monitoring.
• Maintain accurate records and help prepare medical areas for the next day.
• Follow safety, sanitation, medical, and low-stress animal handling procedures.

• High school diploma or GED, required.
• At least one year of Veterinary Assistant or related veterinary medical experience.
• Veterinary Technician certification or equivalent veterinary medical experience preferred but not required.
• Ability to work independently overnight and use sound judgment.
• Strong attention to detail, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfort working with animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical needs.
• 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 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 prolonged standing, walking, bending, cleaning, handling animals, and lifting up to 50 pounds. The role may involve exposure to moderate noise, animal waste, cleaning chemicals, zoonotic diseases, 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 an Overnight Veterinary Assistant, your work helps ensure animals continue receiving attentive medical care, comfort, and support after hours. If you are dependable, compassionate, and comfortable working independently overnight, 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.