Animal Welfare Attendant Supervisor

What You'll Be Doing

Wake County Animal Center (WCAC) is hiring two (2) Animal Welfare Attendant (AWA) Supervisors who will be responsible for providing the day-to-day direction & supervision of the Animal Welfare Attendant (AWA) team. These supervisors are charged with ensuring that all WCAC standards &  best practices are being met by leading and reviewing the work of team members as they work to accomplish all tasks assigned, such as animal husbandry, adoption counseling, customer service, humane animal handling, etc.  Expectations include but are not limited to creating and overseeing workflow and required tasks of direct reports, defining goals, communicating objectives and monitoring performance, and managing all hiring, onboarding activities, employee development, performance and timesheet approvals.  The Animal Welfare Attendant Supervisors are responsible for developing a team that provides humane care and handling for shelter animals.  

The AWA Supervisor will also be responsible for working alongside or performing all tasks assigned to the AWA team daily, as this is a working supervisor position and you will be expected to perform all duties associated with the AWA team.

The AWA team members are expected to provide and maintain a high standard of daily care, monitoring and feeding almost all the animals housed at the Wake County Animal Center. AWAs are responsible for sanitizing their assigned kennels each morning in the time allotted and providing follow-up care throughout the day. The AWA Supervisor will be responsible for working alongside or performing all tasks assigned to the AWA team daily - this is a working supervisor position, and you will be expected to perform all duties associated with the AWA team.

The staff members on the AWA team are also responsible for tasks assigned by AWA Supervisors, as well as daily tasks that are performed communally.

Examples of communal tasks performed by AWA staff:

• Laundry
• Cleaning the animal kitchen
• Sweeping
• Mopping
• Putting away animals after surgery

 Examples of daily assigned tasks are:

• Deep cleaning supply areas
• Deep cleaning the kitchen
• Performing animal inventory

The AWAs at WCAC are also adoption counselors throughout our adoption hours, which are normally noon to 6:00 pm. During this time, the AWA staff members may assist customers who are looking for a new addition to their family or searching for their lost pet, answer radio calls from the front desk staff to provide support and assist foster parents or rescue partners. Due to the large number of kennels and duties to be performed daily, the AWAs work in a fast-paced environment where efficiency and effectiveness are of the utmost importance. Additionally, because the Animal Center is an open-admission facility, the animals that come into the Center may have behavioral or medical issues which require special care, proper and humane animal handling, and recognition of common or infectious animal disease.

About Our Team

The Wake County Animal Center is an open-admission animal shelter operated by Wake County Government and on average takes in between 7,000 to 9,000 animals each year. We receive all stray, abandoned and surrendered pets in Wake County. The Center works in partnership with fosters, volunteers, and local rescues, to treat and rehome thousands of homeless animals every year.

The Basics (Required Education and Experience)

• High school diploma or GED
• One year of experience in animal care or control
• Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Beyond the Basics (Preferred Education and Experience)

• Two years of related animal care experience; previous animal shelter experience.
• One year of supervisory experience.
• Associate's degree or higher in animal husbandry, veterinary care, or a similar program.

How Will We Know You're 'The One'?

• Understands basic management approaches such as work scheduling, prioritizing tasks for teams, coaching, and process execution.
• Excellent communication skills to handle frequent citizen contact and escalated customer service requests. Ability to handle irate or distressed patrons and animals in a calming manner.
• Ability to exercise solid judgment and make decisions around care, protection, finding quality homes, aiding in reducing pet population, and achieving live outcomes.
• Typically requires advanced knowledge of job area, animal care, animal welfare, safe and humane animal handling, typically obtained through advanced experience.
• Establish high-quality standards for work. Add value. Measure results and hold self and others accountable for making progress toward desired outcomes.
• Take a logical and data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Ability to assess situations and determine the appropriate course of actions within assigned parameters confidently and proactively.
• Ability to demonstrate a high degree of accountability.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and maintain positive, productive relationships with peers, colleagues, and management.
• Ability to work with all types of domesticated animals.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Knowledge of animal handling techniques.
• Ability to work well with others in a stressful environment.
• Self-motivation and proven time management skills.

About This Position

Location: Wake County Animal Control Raleigh, NC 27610

Employment Type: Regular

Work Schedule: Varying schedule - 40 hours Sunday through Saturday. Varying shifts between 7:00 am - 6:30 pm

Hiring Range: $26.07 - $29.81

Market Range: 26.07 - 33.55

Please include ALL prior work experience on your application and resume.

Posting Closing Date: 7:00 pm on 8/23/2026

What Makes Wake Great

Equal Opportunity Statement

Background Check Statement

Emergency Service Worker Statement