Job Description
Animal Care Supervisor
Animal Services
FLSA: NE
JOB SUMMARY
This position is responsible for supervising and coordinating the daily animal care and adoption operations of the Lincoln County Animal Services shelter while working collaboratively with all divisions of the department. This is a working supervisor position that actively participates in animal care and shelter operations, including cleaning and sanitation, feeding, enrichment, behavioral observation, intake processing, adoption counseling, administering medications and vaccinations, euthanasia procedures, and assisting the public. The Animal Care Supervisor provides leadership, training, scheduling support, and guidance to staff and volunteers while ensuring the health, safety, and welfare of animals in care. This position monitors compliance with North Carolina Department of Agriculture standards, department policies, safety procedures, and industry best practices to maintain a high standard of shelter operations and animal welfare. This is a full-time position scheduled Sunday – Thursday from 8:00am to 5:00pm with occasional response to after-hours calls, emergency situations, disaster response, or staffing needs as required. This position is designated as essential personnel and is expected to report to work as scheduled during holidays, emergency events, severe weather, or other operational emergencies unless otherwise directed.
MAJOR DUTIES
- Act as a working supervisor by participating in daily animal care operations and assisting with departmental functions as needed.
- Coordinates, prioritizes, schedules, assigns, and monitors duties of all direct reports; evaluates workflow and ensures completion of assigned tasks.
- Supervises daily animal care operations to ensure proper sanitation, feeding, enrichment, housing, animal handling, and overall humane care standards are consistently maintained.
- Monitors the physical and behavioral health of all animals in care and ensures appropriate veterinary treatment and/or and ensures that adequate behavioral support is provided.
- Ensure compliance with regulations established by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and internal procedures.
- Oversee hiring, and employee onboarding/offboarding processes for direct reports, including creating and managing job postings, reviewing applications, conducting interviews, selecting candidates, coordinating separation procedures, and submitting all required personnel documentation.
- Trains, mentors, assigns, evaluates, and disciplines personnel in accordance with county policies and departmental procedures.
- Assists with the development and implementation of staff training protocols focused on animal handling, sanitation, safety, enrichment, customer service, and animal welfare.
- Determines appropriate outcomes for animals including adoption, rescue transfer, foster placement, behavioral modification, or euthanasia.
- Oversee the Adoption Program including adoption counseling, photos, biographies, networking and social media posts.
- Conducts routine inspections of animal housing and enrichment areas, safety equipment, and shelter facilities and equipment to identify maintenance, repair, or safety concerns and ensures corrective action has been taken.
- Oversee organization, cleanliness, and functionality of animal shelter to maintain compliance with operational and regulatory standards.
- Monitor inventory and oversee ordering of animal supplies, cleaning supplies, and safety equipment.
- Track adoption and animal care program metrics and submit related reports.
- Monitors spending to ensure compliance with allotted budgeted amounts, assist with budget planning.
- Completes intake exams, behavior evaluations, administers medications and vaccinations, creates and maintains accurate records, provides adoption counseling, and performs euthanasia.
- Ensures necessary staff coverage is provided for animal care and the adoption program.
- Performs related duties.
KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED BY THE POSITION
- Knowledge of animal sheltering principles and best practices.
- Knowledge of animal behavior, stress reduction, enrichment, and humane handling techniques.
- Knowledge of shelter medicine principles, disease prevention, sanitation, and zoonotic diseases.
- Knowledge of county animal ordinances, North Carolina animal laws, and NC Department of Agriculture regulations and the Animal Welfare Act.
- Knowledge of records management and documentation practices.
- Knowledge of euthanasia procedures and controlled substance regulations.
- Knowledge of occupational hazards and safety hazards associated with animal shelter operations. Skill in the use of computers and job-related software programs.
- Skill in customer service, conflict resolution, and effective communication.
- Skill in safe handling, transporting, and caring for domestic animals.
- Skill in assessing animal health and behavior concerns and implementing appropriate solutions
- Skill in prioritizing tasks and coordinating multiple operational responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
- Skill in oral and written communication.
SUPERVISORY CONTROLS
The Operations Manager assigns work in terms of general instructions. The Animal Care Supervisor exercises independent judgement in coordinating daily animal care operations, resolving problems, supervising direct reports, and ensuring compliance with applicable standards and procedures. Work is reviewed through reports, observations, meetings, and evaluation of operational effectiveness and outcomes.
GUIDELINES
Guidelines include OSHA rules and regulations, NC Department of Agriculture rules and regulations, the NC Animal Welfare Act, North Carolina animal laws, NC Department of Health and Human Services rules and regulations, DEA controlled substances rules and regulations, and county and department policies and procedures. These guidelines require Interpretation, independent judgment, and discretion in application.
COMPLEXITY/SCOPE OF WORK
The work consists of varied supervisory, operational, technical, and administrative duties requiring sound judgement and decision-making in a fast-paced environment. The varying medical, behavioral, and welfare needs of animals contribute significantly to the complexity of the position. The purpose of this position is to supervise and coordinate the daily animal care and shelter operations functions of the animal shelter while ensuring humane care, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, employee safety, and excellent customer service is provided.
CONTACTS
- Contacts are typically with co-workers, other county employees, volunteers, members of community organizations and groups, veterinarians, and members of the public.
- Contacts are typically to exchange information, resolve problems, provide services, coordinate operations, motivate personnel, and promote positive community relations
PHYSICAL DEMANDS/ WORK ENVIRONMENT
- The work is typically performed while sitting at a desk or table or while intermittently sitting, standing, walking, or stooping. The employee occasionally lifts light and heavy objects, climbs ladders, and utilizes the sense of smell.
- The work is typically performed in an office, animal shelter, and outdoors, occasionally in cold or inclement weather. The employee may be exposed to noise, contagious or infectious diseases, irritating chemicals, bodily fluids, and potentially dangerous or aggressive animals. The employee uses personal protective equipment including masks, eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, and other safety equipment as required.
SUPERVISORY AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY
This position has direct supervision over Animal Caretakers and volunteers providing animal care and adoption related duties.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- Experience sufficient to thoroughly understand and supervise the work of subordinate positions to be able to answer questions and resolve problems, usually associated with one to three years of leadership experience or service.
- Possession of or ability to readily obtain a valid driver’s license issued by the State of North Carolina for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
- Possession or ability to readily obtain Rabies Vaccinator certification and Certified Euthanasia Technician status within 6 months.
- Must be able to provide adequate care and safely handle animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions.
Location : ANIMAL SERVICES
Group : NON-EXEMPT
Posting Start : 08/12/2026
Posting End : 08/26/2026
HOURLY RATE RANGE: $27.55-$28.93
