Careworker
APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work.
The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service.
The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service.
POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: Careworkers at Austin Pets Alive! are essential frontline shelter professionals who ensure consistent, compassionate, and responsive care for the animals in our program. This role provides direct care while also contributing to APA!’s mission through teamwork, adaptability, and strong volunteer engagement.
While Careworkers are grounded in daily routines like feeding, cleaning, and enrichment, they are also cross-functional collaborators. They are expected to step in and assist with other essential shelter functions—such as intake, placement, medical, and customer service—as needed to support the flow of operations, especially during staff shortages, surges in activity, or emergencies. This support may involve short-term reassignment, coordination across teams, or contributing to shared goals beyond their assigned zone.
The Careworker plays a key role in advancing the goals of APA!’s Care Team. This position contributes directly to APA!’s mission to increase the live release rate across Texas by supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact model for shelter operations.
The Careworker is responsible for managing their daily responsibilities, maintaining clear priorities, and delivering consistent, high-quality work that aligns with APA!’s values and goals. This includes staying organized, using data or feedback to inform decisions, and following through on key tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight. This is a hands-on, mission-driven role focused on results, reliability, and teamwork.
APA! is a volunteer-powered organization, so every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers. The Careworker collaborates closely with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, helps create a positive and inclusive environment, and actively contributes to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect.
This position may involve shift flexibility, weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need.
Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow.
Levels I, II, and III for Careworkers are distinguished by competencies and experience. More information pertaining to various skills and levels are available in the 'Careworker Levels and Competencies' document upon request.
Careworkers may be assigned primarily to kennel technician duties at the outset of their employment, until the team has capacity to provide training for more advanced responsibilities.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment
- Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—not siloed
- Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program
- Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work
- Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager
- Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts
- Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands-on guidance, and offering in-the-moment support
- Contribute to tracking and measuring both customer service and volunteer engagement, including collecting feedback and suggesting process improvements to enhance both experiences.
- A primary role of this position is to engage, train, and elevate new and existing volunteers. This includes providing on-the-job guidance, supporting skills development, ensuring all volunteers feel welcomed and valued, and serving as a positive point of contact during their shift.
- Recruit, onboard, train and retain volunteers
- Track volunteer engagement and feedback
- Serves as animal “caseworker” who provides outcome-focused care to pets in team or caseload
- Cleans and sanitizes animal enclosures to ensure health and wellness
- Provides animals with fresh water and nutritious food
- Offers animals potty and exercise breaks outside of their enclosures
- Handles, transfers, walks, and physically transports animals across campuses
- Observes and tracks animal feeding habits, bowel movements, weight charts, and basic functions
- Maintains an orderly and pleasing environment by performing laundry, dishwashing, supply stocking, litter box cleaning, carrier cleaning, sweeping, and mopping floors
- Performs administrative tasks such as software data entry, inventory tracking, clinic/intake coordination, and records management
- Explores higher-level needs in populations, such as that of socialization, comfort, trust, belonging, etc.
- Translates animal case progress, observations, and data into care plans, care notes, and cross-team functional resources
- Steps into operational support roles as needed, such as assisting with intakes, adoption counseling prep, medical handling, customer service, or transporting animals between locations
- Regularly incorporate volunteer support into shift planning and time management
- Collaborate with other departments (e.g., Volunteer, Development, Operations) to support cross-functional initiatives, strengthen internal communication, and integrate volunteer support into broader organizational activities.
- At the II and III level, performs more complex medical and behavior tasks such as special populations care, medical administration, wellness exams, advanced handling, and mentoring/training
- At the II and III level, performs more complex animal case management tasks like enrichment routines, personality tracking, behavior tracking, counseling, and mentoring/training
Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
- Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills
- Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings
- Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues
- Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and support volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis
- Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned
- Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
- Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment
- Comfortable working autonomously when given goals and deadlines
- Adapts quickly to evolving shelter needs—this may include supporting offsite events, crisis intake, supply distribution, or public-facing roles
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS & EXPECTATIONS:
- Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart
- Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations
- Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission
- Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles
- Comfortable working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members
- Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials
- Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively
- Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations
- Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality
- Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed
- Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience
- Experience in animal care or other service-based roles preferred
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Calm and professional demeanor under pressure
- Reliable, on-time, and committed to high standards of animal care
- Demonstrated ability to coach or coordinate others, especially volunteers
- Passion for APA!’s No Kill mission and a collaborative, community-based approach to sheltering
- Willingness to work cross-functionally and adjust to the changing needs of a high-volume shelter
PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds
- Must be able to push/pull a large cart over uneven ground
- Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather
- Be able to bend and use your arms in a repetitive manner
- Can be on your feet for an entire 8 hour shift
- Must have physical strength to perform cleaning duties quickly and on schedule
- If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job absent undue hardship to the organization.
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, fluids, debris, and chemicals
- High levels of noise, such as dogs barking
- Potential for animal bites, scratches, and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people
- Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required to support program needs
TIME COMMITMENT:
- This is a full-time, nonexempt position with an average of 40 hours per week.
- Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change
- Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
PAY:
This position starts at $17.00 / hour. Eligible employees will be able to receive up to $2/hr stipend within approximately 6 months through successful completion of internal APATec certifications (applicable to shelter operations, customer service, and medical roles). *Certifications and stipends are discretionary and subject to change based on business need.
This position starts at $17.00 / hour. Eligible employees will be able to receive up to $2/hr stipend within approximately 6 months through successful completion of internal APATec certifications (applicable to shelter operations, customer service, and medical roles). *Certifications and stipends are discretionary and subject to change based on business need.
LOCATION(S):
- APA! Main - Town Lake Animal Center 1156 West Cesar Chavez Austin, TX 78703
- May travel to offsite locations as needed
BENEFITS:
Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short-term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life-saving work.
Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short-term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life-saving work.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT:
Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply.
Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation.
APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact Talent Acquisition at [email protected] at least one week in advance of your interview.