Full-Time Animal Care & Enrichment Specialist (Feline)
Job Description: Animal Care & Enrichment Specialist (Feline)
Job Type: Full Time, Salary — Non-Exempt
Reports to: Senior Manager of Feline Lifesaving
Date: Sept 2026
Position Summary:
The Animal Care and Enrichment Specialist (ACES) will provide top-tier care for cats at Richmond Animal League. This role is essential in ensuring our shelter cats' physical and mental health, safety, and well-being while maintaining a clean, organized, and enriching environment.
The position works closely with the feline, veterinary, foster, and adoption teams to provide consistent, compassionate, and efficient care.
Essential Functions:
Observe individual animal appearance and activity for general physical conditions, stress, injury, and/or illness, and accurately document and promptly communicate concerns.
Follow established shelter protocols/procedures.
Use low-stress and Fear Free handling techniques when moving, restraining, medicating, and caring for cats.
Assist the animal care and veterinary team as needed with animal handling, medication administration, vaccinations, and other treatments as trained and authorized under established veterinary protocols.
Maintain accurate animal records, including daily care, enrichment, behavior, medical observations, and other relevant information.
Transport animals from RAL’s transfer partners and to off-site appointments.
Assist in the general maintenance of the shelter facility, including cleaning kennels/floors/ etc, washing laundry, removing trash, stocking supplies, and cleaning/stocking transport vehicles.
Provide daily enrichment, socialization, and opportunities for choice based on each cat’s behavioral and medical needs.
Follow established sanitation and infectious-disease prevention protocols.
Assist with animal movement, population rounds, adoption preparation, foster transitions, and transfers as needed.
Assist and train volunteers with procedures and safety protocols.
Perform opening and closing duties.
Greet and welcome all visitors; communicate with foster parents as needed.
Communicate respectfully and professionally with adopters, foster caregivers, volunteers, coworkers, and community members.
Maintain kennel signage and information boards in the shelter.
Cross-train with the canine team and the adoptions team.
Volunteers are an integral part of RAL. As an employee, you will work closely with volunteers in many aspects. Employees are expected to build and maintain positive relationships with volunteers, recognize their contributions, and serve as a resource for questions, training, and support.
Required Education & Experience:
High school diploma or equivalent
21 years of age or older
At least one year of paid experience in hands-on small animal care / veterinary medicine; paid or substantial volunteer experience accepted
Valid driver’s license and ability to meet RAL’s driving and insurance requirements
**Bilingual speakers are encouraged to apply and will be compensated ($1000 annually)
Competencies:
• Knowledge of basic feline care, behavior, body language, and handling
• Ability to recognize signs of illness, injury, pain, fear, anxiety, and stress
• Ability to follow written medical, sanitation, behavioral, and safety protocols
• Basic companion animal handling skills
• Initiative with time management and organizational skills
• Astute observation and documentation skills
• Sound judgment and the ability to determine when concerns require escalation
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team
• Ability to remain calm and professional in a fast-paced and emotionally demanding environment
• Basic technology abilities, including using a database and Google Workspace
• Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Commitment to positive reinforcement, low-stress handling, and humane animal care
• Complete Fear Free Shelter training within 90 days of hire
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full-time, non-exempt position requiring approximately 40 hours per week. The schedule includes one weekend day each week and may include evenings, holidays, and occasional schedule changes based on shelter needs. Shifts may range from eight to ten hours. Regular, predictable, and reliable attendance is essential to the position.
Work Environment: Work is performed primarily in an animal shelter environment with frequent exposure to loud noise, cleaning and disinfecting chemicals, animal hair and dander, bodily fluids, infectious diseases, zoonotic illnesses, and the possibility of animal bites and scratches. The position may involve emotionally difficult situations, including animals experiencing illness, injury, behavioral decline, or euthanasia. Appropriate personal protective equipment must be worn as required.
Physical Demands: This position requires frequent standing, walking, bending, kneeling, crouching, reaching, grasping, and repetitive hand movement. The employee must be able to safely handle and restrain cats, move animal carriers and supplies, and lift and carry up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
Travel: Local travel during work hours is expected with this position
Other Duties: Please note that this job description is not intended to cover or list in full the activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, obligations, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
Benefits:
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Short Term Disability
3% Match
Continuing Education allowance
If you are interested in this position, please send your cover letter and resume to careers@ral.org. No phone calls, please.
At Richmond Animal League (RAL), we believe in equality for all. We are committed to ensuring every employee and applicant has an equal opportunity, regardless of race, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.
