Animal Care Attendant

Do you have the desire to make a meaningful impact in a vibrant and diverse community?Join a collaborative workforce committed to serving the City of Irvine.

Pay Range:

$23.19 - $30.47 Hourly

About the Opportunity:

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS IS SEPTEMBER 3, 2026, AT 11:59 P.M.

The City of Irvine is seeking candidates to deliver daily care and enrichment for animals in the shelter. Candidates will assist with adoption counseling, behavioral assessments of shelter animals, and customer service.

Part-time: Varying shifts, Monday through Sunday, up to 30 hours a week. Weekend and holiday availability required. 

Your Impact:

• Promote positive relationships with the public, management team, staff members, volunteers, and Animal Services Officers.
• Provide the highest of standards of animal husbandry, customer service, conflict resolution, and communication to the public while upholding and promoting the Center's programs and policies.
• Complete daily cleaning and feeding routines in a timely, organized, and professional manner.
• Provide kennel enrichment, train, and socialize animals in assigned area.
• Monitor the health of shelter animals and follow established procedures if symptoms of illness arise.
• Safely handle animals in the facility, including domestic pets, wildlife, and small livestock.
• Enter clear and concise data and notes utilizing database software.
• Actively engage with volunteers by providing training and supervision.
• Learn about the personalities and traits of the adoptable pets in our care,  promote great qualities to potential adopters, and facilitate animal/animal introductions utilizing Center protocols.
• Hours: Up to 30 hours required per week. Weekend availability also required.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent and some experience caring for or handling animals, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Ability to push, pull, drag, lift, or carry equipment/supplies (weighing up to 50 lbs.), ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time, and ability to lean, stoop, twist, bend, and kneel in the performance of job duties.

Best Fit:

• Strong customer service and communication skills.
• Ability to multi-task in a busy animal shelter environment that has exposure to a variety of domestic and wild animals with varying degrees of grass, hay, dander, fur, feathers and zoonotic diseases.
• Ability and willingness to work with any animal species.

Your Team

The Mission of the Employees of the City of Irvine is to create and maintain a community where people can live, work, and play in an environment that is safe, vibrant, and aesthetically pleasing. We are one team that exists to serve our community in the continual pursuit of a City that offers an exceptional quality of life. The City of Irvine’s five values of Humility, Innovation, Empathy, Passion, and Integrity reflect the interests and needs of the community, and the level of service they expect and desire. We are One Irvine by embracing a team-oriented approach and living our values every day.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Irvine is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. We encourage you to inform Human Resources at least two business days prior to the first phase of the selection process if you have a disability that may require an accommodation. To contact Human Resources, please call 949-724-6067 or email recruitment@cityofirvine.org.

E-Verify

The City of Irvine participates in E-Verify. In compliance with federal law, all employees must provide verification of identity and employment authorization at the time of hire. For additional information, please review the E-Verify Participation and Right to Work notices.