Lead Kennel Technician

Job Title: Lead Kennel Technician

Job Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt 

Reports to: Kennel Manager

Location: Central Point, Oregon 

Company Overview:

Are you passionate about making a positive impact in people's lives and have a soft spot for dogs? Look no further than Dogs for Better Lives (DBL)! As a nationally recognized nonprofit organization, DBL is dedicated to professionally training dogs to help people with disabilities and enhance their lives. Our mission is to create a lifelong commitment to all dogs rescued or bred and all people served, which is supported by our nationwide donor base.?DBL is nationally recognized by Guidestar, Great Nonprofits, Charity Navigator (9 years with a continues four-star rating), Best of the Upper Cape 2022, Oregon Business’ 2021 “Oregon Top 100 Best Nonprofits to Work For,” and we are accredited by Assistance Dogs International (ADI).?At DBL, we believe in empowering our employees to achieve our goals and serve our clients, dogs, and donors while embracing a work-life balance. As we continue to expand our organization and build upon our past successes, we provide ample opportunities for growth and continued learning.?We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we welcome employees from diverse backgrounds who share our values. Join us and be part of an employee-driven team that strives to serve more clients while upholding our unwavering commitment to our clients, dogs, and donors.? 

Job Summary:

The Lead Kennel Technician primarily works closely with the Kennel Manager to ensure daily operations are running smoothly. Works closely with onboarding new staff, volunteers, and cares for the cats and dogs in training in the kennels. Responsible for their hygiene, proper feeding, environmental care, and exercise during their residence at Dogs for Better Lives facilities. Additionally, this position helps coordinate vet appointments when needed and maintains accurate medical and behavior records. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Works closely with the Kennel Manager handling various tasks needed.
• Assists with onboarding new kennel staff, ensuring they’re following all DBL policies and procedures. 
• Attends onsite puppy classes to learn basic obedience and dog handling.
• Provides general daily kennel care: scooping, cleaning, laundry, etc.
• Provides general daily dog and cat care: feeding, watering, grooming, playing and exercising – accurately medicating, inoculating and maintaining general health of dogs.  
• Coordinates medical appointments when needed.
• Takes dogs to the vet whenever necessary if a volunteer is unavailable, verifying the charges on the vet bills.
• Assists Kennel Manager when onsite vet visits occur.
• Maintains dogs' medical records by accurately entering medical procedures and activities in individual files.  
• Ensure and participate in regular cleaning of the kennel facility.
• Ensure that feces are scooped and that urine is being sprayed regularly in apartments, run areas and each kennel.
• Ensure supplies are being stocked (towels, paper towels, bleach, dog food, treats, chewies, trash bags, refill shampoo, hand soap, bleach solution, betadine, etc.)
• Ensure supply list is kept up-to-date weekly.
• Ensure that all counters are clean, free of clutter and unused medications.
• Ensure that drawers are kept clean and well organized.
• Ensure that all floors are swept in kennel areas, vet and bathing rooms, office areas, apartments, and laundry room.
• Ensure that the floor in the freezer room is swept and that the room is kept organized.
• Ensure that the laundry is done in a timely manner and that the laundry room is kept clean and organized.
• Ensure that dogs are being exercised as per instructions.
• Ensures that kennels are cleaned protocols are followed.
• Runs miscellaneous errands. 
• Meetings with the public who are onsite for tours demonstrations as needed.
• Attends offsite public events when needed. 
• Assists kennel volunteers while they’re on campus if needed. 
• Perform other duties as required by the organization and the Kennel Manager.

Essential Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED certificate required.
• Must pass a criminal background and DMV check.
• For the safety of the employee, other employees, and the dogs, an employee must have hearing within normal limits (for an adult, hearing thresholds no greater than 25 dB HL from 500 Hz through 4000 Hz, for both ears, with or without hearing aids, implants or other devices. Employees must be able to hear the wide variety of sounds at different levels and pitches from a variety of directions and distances that dogs make while interacting with people and each other. This includes:
• Detect barking at all levels and tones
• Determine direction barking is coming from
• Detect change in type of bark, tone, volume
• Detect low growl, direction
• Hear a dog running behind them
• Hear talking in a normal range
• When training a dog, the trainer must be able to hear all the sounds and tones that he/she is training the dog to hear in order to reward behavior and ensure successful outcomes.

• Physically capable of lifting dogs up to 65 pounds, the agility to move quickly, climb stairs, operate office equipment and computers with ease, and the ability to get up and down easily while working and playing with the dogs.

Essential Requirements:

• Comfortable being exposed to animal body fluids and medical procedures.
• Comfortable administering medications and utilizing medical equipment.
• Enjoys building and maintaining relationships with staff.
• Enjoys a great deal of interaction with the public.
• Ability to meet and greet the public in a friendly and courteous manner.
• Successfully able to lead self and others through a process and adhere to timelines.
• Shares in the passion for the mission of Dogs for Better Lives.
• Self-starter and independent with limited supervision yet work collaboratively.
• Ability to prioritize and handle multiple tasks. 
• Highly skilled in interpersonal and written communication.
• Respects and maintain privileged confidential information.
• Values continuous learning and seeks ongoing training and development.

Note: This is a job description, not an employment contract. This job description does not state or imply these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by management. Dogs for Better Lives is an equal opportunity employer.