Animal Evaluation and Welfare Specialist

Location: Maricopa

** Posting Date
** 01/12/26
** Final date to receive applications
** 01/19/26
** Pay Range
** Anticipated Pay Range: $21.00 - $26.00 hourly  Full Pay Range: $21.00 - $31.00 hourly    Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.
** Job Type
** Unclassified
* * Department
* * Animal Care and Control
** About the Position
** This in-person, customer-facing role involves overseeing playgroups, evaluating behavior, and ensuring the overall well-being of animals in our care.

Join our team and help make a lasting difference in the lives of animals!
** Please note that this position requires flexibility to work at either our West or East shelter locations, as needed, and is scheduled Thursday through Monday.

**** East Shelter:
** 1920 S. Lewis in Mesa  
** West Shelter:
** 2500 S. 27th Avenue in Phoenix employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley
* Animal* Care Centers. As one of the nation’s largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn firsthand about proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.
** Proud to Offer
*** Work with a greater purpose
* Tuition reimbursement
* Exceptional work-life balance
* Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County
* Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents
* Child care benefits, including access to our upcoming on-site center , dedicated to serving Maricopa County families exclusively
* Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave
* Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts
* Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1
* Learn more at
** We Require
*** Two years of experience in an animal shelter, animal rescue, or similar facility directly handling dogs of a variety of sizes, temperaments, and dispositions
* High school Diploma or GED
* Must be flexible and able to work all shifts, which include starting as early as 5 am and finishing as late as 7 pm, working weekends, and holidays, determined by the needs of the Department
* A commitment to the use of positive reinforcement and fear-free training methods when engaging with dogs in our care
** We Also Value
*** Animal behavior certifications such as CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, KPA-CTP, CTC or equivalent
* Experience performing dog-to-dog introductions or playgroups in a shelter-like environment
* Experience leading or working directly with volunteers in an animal welfare setting
* 6 months or more performing dog-to-dog introductions or playgroups, preferably in a shelter or rescue environment
** Job Contributions
*** Ensure timely completion of behavior evaluations for animals ending their hold period, assigning handling levels, requirements, and recommendations, or submitting for review of alternate pathways to reduce length of stay
* Assist with handling for out-of-kennel enrichment activities such as Playgroups, dog-to-dog introductions, and Runbuddy by overseeing dog selection, staff/volunteer handling and assignments, overall monitoring, and intervening and assisting with emergent situations
* Review and complete all requested follow-up behavior evaluations on animals to make sure their assigned handling level is still accurate and still meets adoption criteria
* Oversee and complete daily monitoring of in-kennel stress for animals, reviewing animals’ previous observations and adding indicated animals to daily behavior monitoring while submitting animals for higher-level review when necessary
* Act as lead for directing, guiding, and coaching staff and volunteers in the performance and completion of daily shelter…