An Animal Care Worker or Manager manages animal care and grooming for a retail store that sells pets or for a pet grooming business. May also provide animal care and grooming at a kennel. Works with animals in shelters or rescue organizations. Works primarily with dogs and cats. Assists veterinarians with vaccinations or other procedures; screens people who want to adopt an animal from a shelter and provides information about caring for animals.
For over a century Associated Humane Societies have offered a haven to abused and neglected animals. Founded in 1906, AHS is the LARGEST animal sheltering system in New Jersey. We operate four shelters located in Newark, Tinton Falls Forked River, and Vineland. Our Forked River facility also includes Popcorn Park. Established in 1977, Popcorn Park is a sanctuary for abandoned, injured, ill, exploited, abused or elderly-exotic animals, birds, farm animals and wildlife (both domestic and exotic).
TALENT + CULTURE AT AHS
At AHS, we want our team and the animals in our care to feel safe, secure and valued. Animal Welfare is a very challenging and very rewarding environment. At AHS, we want to provide the best possible experience for our employees by providing a caring learning environment with opportunities for growth.
WHAT WE DO
At Popcorn Park, we provide comprehensive daily care for a diverse population of animals while maintaining safe, enriching, and professionally managed habitats. Our Animal Care team plays a critical role in ensuring that every animal receives the individualized husbandry, nutrition, enrichment, behavioral support, veterinary care, and compassion they deserve. The Animal Keeper Supervisor provides day-to-day leadership for the Animal Care team and helps ensure the highest standards of animal welfare throughout the Refuge. This position supervises Animal Keepers, interns, and volunteers; coordinates daily animal care operations; supports enrichment and training programs; monitors animal health and behavior; and works closely with veterinary, maintenance, education, and management teams. The ideal candidate is an experienced animal care professional and hands-on leader who can balance the needs of individual animals with the operational demands of a busy sanctuary environment. This person should lead by example, communicate effectively, remain calm under pressure, and have a genuine commitment to lifelong sanctuary care.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Lead & Develop the Animal Care Team Provide day-to-day supervision, direction, and support to Animal Keepers, interns, and volunteers. Assign and prioritize daily work based on animal care needs, staffing levels, and operational priorities. Monitor the quality and completion of animal care tasks and provide coaching and feedback as needed. Assist with onboarding, training, mentoring, and professional development of Animal Care staff and interns. Foster a positive, accountable, collaborative, and team-oriented work environment. Communicate performance concerns and staffing needs to the Refuge Director. Care for Animals & Their Habitats Ensure animal habitats, holding areas, food preparation areas, and related spaces are cleaned and maintained according to established protocols. Help develop and implement habitat improvements and upgrades in collaboration with Animal Care and Maintenance teams. Ensure animals receive appropriate husbandry, enrichment, exercise, behavioral support, and daily care. Maintain a working knowledge of species-specific husbandry, behavior, nutrition, and welfare needs. Help identify opportunities to improve animal care practices and the overall sanctuary environment. Champion Animal Welfare Lead and participate in regular animal welfare assessments. Supervise and support positive-reinforcement training, enrichment, and behavioral management programs. Ensure enrichment and training activities are appropriately documented and individualized to each animal. Train and mentor keepers and interns in animal welfare, husbandry, enrichment, and training best practices. Recognize changes in behavior, social dynamics, appetite, mobility, or other indicators that may affect an animal's welfare. Monitor Animal Health Closely observe animals for signs of illness, injury, behavioral changes, appetite changes, breeding activity, or social incompatibility. Promptly communicate concerns to veterinary staff and the Refuge Director. Assist with medications, treatments, veterinary procedures, and follow-up care as directed. Serve as a secondary point of contact with veterinary staff regarding animal health and care needs. Monitor weights and other routine health indicators as required. Handle & Transport Animals Safely Supervise the safe and professional crating, restraint, handling, transfer, and transportation of animals. Ensure staff and volunteers follow species-appropriate handling procedures and established safety protocols. Provide additional supervision and safety measures when working with animals requiring specialized handling. Manage Diets & Food Preparation Maintain knowledge of species-specific dietary requirements. Ensure animals receive appropriate diets and feeding schedules. Ensure animal food, supplies, and preparation areas are stored and maintained in accordance with organizational, state, and federal requirements. Monitor food inventory and communicate supply needs to management. Maintain Safety & Emergency Readiness Follow and enforce all animal care, workplace safety, PPE, emergency response, containment, and restricted-access procedures. Immediately report safety, containment, security, or animal welfare concerns. Participate in emergency drills and preparedness activities. In the absence of the Refuge Director or Operations Manager, serve as the incident commander during animal escapes and other animal care emergencies. Maintain a calm, professional approach during emergencies and ensure staff understand and follow established response procedures. Maintain Accurate Records Maintain complete, accurate, and timely electronic animal records. Document husbandry activities, diets, medications, behavioral observations, enrichment, training, weights, transfers, veterinary procedures, and welfare assessments. Ensure Animal Care staff maintain records consistently and according to AHS standards. Assist management with gathering animal care information and reports as needed. Support Our Guests & Mission Provide professional, welcoming, and knowledgeable interactions with Popcorn Park guests. Help guests understand the role of sanctuary, responsible animal care, and animal welfare. Assist the Education Coordinator with educational programs, demonstrations, tours, and other public-facing activities as needed. Serve as a positive ambassador for AHS and Popcorn Park. Help Move Popcorn Park Forward Collaborate with the Refuge Director and AHS leadership on animal care strategies, policies, procedures, and operational improvements. Participate in developing and implementing long-term sanctuary goals. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, animal welfare, staff development, and the guest experience. Work collaboratively with veterinary staff, maintenance, education, development, volunteers, interns, and other AHS teams. Support compliance with applicable USDA, state, local, and organizational animal care and welfare requirements.
WHAT YOU BRING
Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in zoology, wildlife biology, animal science, or a related field or an equivalent combination of relevant education and professional animal care experience. Minimum of 5 years of hands-on animal care experience. Strong knowledge of animal behavior, husbandry, enrichment, nutrition, and welfare. Demonstrated experience supervising, leading, training, or mentoring animal care staff. Valid driver's license. Ability to frequently lift and carry 50 pounds and occasionally lift and carry up to 80 pounds. Strong communication, organization, observation, and problem-solving skills. Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Ability to maintain dependable attendance and punctuality. Willingness and ability to work weekends, holidays, emergency call-ins, and during severe weather events when animal care requires staffing. Preferred Qualifications Professional experience working in a zoo, wildlife facility, sanctuary, refuge, rehabilitation center, or animal shelter. Experience working at an AZA, ZAA, or GFAS-accredited or certified facility. Experience with positive-reinforcement training and behavioral management. Experience supervising diverse animal collections or multiple species. Experience developing and implementing enrichment programs. Experience working with volunteers and interns. Familiarity with USDA and other applicable animal care regulations and standards.
THE WORK
This is a hands-on leadership position. The Animal Keeper Supervisor will regularly work both indoors and outdoors and may be exposed to rain, wind, snow, cold temperatures, extreme heat, and high humidity. The position requires frequent standing, walking, reaching, bending, lifting, carrying, and use of hands and fingers. The employee may occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The position requires the ability to frequently lift and/or move 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds. The work environment may include exposure to dust, hay, insects, animal hair and dander, and varying noise levels. Additional safety requirements, training, or protective equipment may be required when working with certain species or animals requiring specialized handling.
Pay:
$20.00 - $24.00 per hour
Benefits:
401(k) Dental insurance Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance
