Animal Services Coordinator

With supervisor approval, incumbents may be eligible for intermittent remote work;
however, they must physically
reside
within the Sacramento region or
have the ability to
regularly report to a City of Sacramento physical worksite with little notice.

The Animal Services Coordinator oversees the shelter’s behavior programs and supports the placement of animals with rescue partners and other shelters. They serve as a behavior expert, ensuring all animals experience the Five Freedoms and receive appropriate behavior modification for identified challenges. The role includes developing and maintaining staff and volunteer training to promote humane animal care. Additionally, the coordinator assists in evaluating animals for euthanasia decisions, ensuring thoughtful and ethical outcomes.

The ideal candidate will have hands‑on experience working with both dogs and cats and demonstrate a willingness to learn and work with additional species as needed. Candidates with Applied Animal Behavior certifications or degrees are strongly encouraged to apply. They will excel in customer service, possess strong networking abilities, and be comfortable delivering one‑on‑one or group training to staff, volunteers, and members of the public.

The ideal candidate will also be prepared to work in an environment where euthanasia decisions occur and approach that responsibility with professionalism, compassion, and ethical judgment.

Under general supervision, the Animal Services Coordinator organizes and coordinates a variety of community outreach activities, events and programs in support of the City’s animal shelter; oversees and coordinates adoptions, fostering and/or rescues; develops, plans and implements procedures to increase adoptions, fostering, and/or rescues; assists and educates families and volunteers on pet selection, pet care, and responsibilities; interviews families and volunteers who want to adopt or foster a pet;

and works with other shelters and animal organizations to place animals in specialized care. Increases awareness of the animal programs within the community by utilizing media contacts, newspapers, and promotional events; works with business managers and private community leaders to schedule marketing events to support the programs and promotion of the animal shelter.

This classification is a responsible paraprofessional position involving the coordination and administration of the pet adoption, fostering and rescue programs at offsite locations.

• Provide onsite and offsite animal coordination and oversight.
• Confer, counsel and educate customers and volunteers on various pet breedsand City animal program policies and procedures.
• Explain state and local laws and ordinances, departmental policies and procedures, and information regarding pet ownership, licensing, adoption, fostering, rescuing and/or other animal issues to members of the public.
• Assist the public with animal adoption and fostering; collect information about animals and persons in accordance with department procedures; interview people and make decisions about the suitability for adoption, fostering, or volunteering.
• Coordinate and/or direct the selection of animals, collect necessary equipment, and arrange for transportation to offsite locations.
• Utilize appropriate websites, social media and other communication outlets to develop promotional campaigns regarding adopting, fostering and rescue programs, including activities and the need for volunteers and donations.
• Update and create volunteer opportunities for offsite community events for distribution on the shelter's automated volunteer system.
• Recruit, train and coordinate volunteer support…