Help keep our shelter clean, safe, and ready for the animals who need us.
The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Janitorial Assistant to support the daily operations of our shelter. This role helps maintain a clean, safe, and healthy environment for animals, staff, volunteers, and visitors. This is a great opportunity for someone with custodial, housekeeping, janitorial, cleaning, kennel, animal care, or related experience who takes pride in keeping spaces clean and organized, enjoys staying active throughout the workday, and wants to contribute to a mission that supports animals in need.
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30 hours or less per week
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.
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Clean and disinfect kennels, carriers, floors, walls, windows, doors, and other shelter areas.
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Wash, sanitize, organize, and store dishes, feeding supplies, bedding, towels, and other shelter items.
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Complete laundry duties, including washing, drying, folding, and organizing shelter laundry.
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Support disease prevention by following established cleaning and sanitation protocols.
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Clean and disinfect grooming tools, grooming areas, equipment, and assigned workspaces.
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Restock supplies, maintain organized areas, and report inventory needs to supervisors.
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Assist with general cleaning tasks throughout the facility.
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Interact professionally with staff, volunteers, adopters, and visitors while supporting the ARL’s mission.
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High school diploma or GED required.
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Previous custodial, housekeeping, janitorial, cleaning, animal care, kennel, or related experience preferred, but not required.
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Dependable, organized, and able to work independently.
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Strong attention to detail and ability to follow established procedures.
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Ability to prioritize tasks and maintain cleanliness standards throughout the shift.
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Comfort working in a fast-paced animal shelter environment.
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Positive attitude and willingness to support the team wherever needed.
Part-time employees at the ARL are part of a mission-focused culture where their work directly supports animals, pet owners, and the community. Benefits and employee offerings may include:
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Veterinary benefits
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Opportunities for learning, connection, and meaningful community impact
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401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
This is an active position that requires frequent standing, walking, bending, lifting, and cleaning throughout the workday. Candidates must be able to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
The role may involve exposure to pet dander, animal waste, cleaning products, strong odors, moderate noise, zoonotic diseases, and the possibility of animal bites or scratches while following established safety procedures. Occasional outdoor work may be required in varying weather conditions.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
As a Janitorial Assistant, your work helps create a clean, safe, and healthy environment for animals while supporting the staff and volunteers who care for them each day. Clean kennels, fresh bedding, sanitized equipment, and organized spaces are essential to animal health and shelter operations.
If you are dependable, detail-oriented, and take pride in meaningful behind-the-scenes work, 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.
