Part-Time Animal Care & Enrichment Specialist
Job Description: Animal Care & Enrichment Specialist
Job Type: Part-Time
Salary Range: $16.50-$18.00/ hour
Reports to: Senior Manager of Canine Lifesaving
Date: January 2026
Summary/Objective:
The Animal Enrichment and Care Specialist will provide top-tier care for dogs at Richmond Animal League. This role is essential in ensuring our shelter dogs’ health, safety, and well-being while maintaining a clean, organized, and enriching environment.
Essential Functions:
Observe individual animal appearance and activity for general physical conditions, stress, injury, and/or illness, and report/document.
Follow established shelter protocols/procedures.
Assist the animal care and veterinary team as needed with animal handling, medication administration, vaccinations, etc.
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.
Assist dog play groups
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
Maintain kennel signage and information boards in the shelter.
Competencies:
Basic companion animal handling skills
Initiative with time management and organizational skills
Astute observation skills
Decision-making abilities
Basic technology abilities to include using a database and Google Workspace
Ability to work with a diverse group of individuals
Effective oral and written communication skills
Complete Fear Free Shelter training
Supervisory Responsibility: None, but will direct and assist volunteers.
Work Environment: The shelter is a high-noise area, and the employee will be exposed to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal urine and feces, with the potential for animal bites and scratches.
Physical Demands: The ACES is frequently required to stand, walk, and carry. They will use their hands to finger, handle, or feel, and reach with their hands and arms. This position requires the ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a part-time position. This role will require evening and weekend work, as well as some holiday hours. Regular, predictable, reliable attendance is essential to 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.
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
Valid driver’s license
If you are interested in this position, please send your resume to anne@ral.org. No phone calls, please.
