Animal Care Associate Jobs
Animal Care Associate jobs are open across veterinary clinics, animal shelters, pet retail, and research facilities, at levels from entry-level to senior associate, with specializations in companion animal care, exotic species handling, and shelter operations. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 475+ Animal Care Associate jobs
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Ogden Nature Center (ONC) is a nonprofit nature education center and nature preserve. Our mission is to unite people with nature and nurture appreciation and stewardship of the environment. In collaboration with Utah Conservation Corps (UCC), we are recruiting an AmeriCorps Environmental Educator and Animal Caretaker Individual Placement for a term of service running approximately January-November 2027, serving approximately 40 hours per week. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain experience and practice a wide range of skills including environmental education, curriculum development, animal care and handling, and community event engagement. The Individual Placement (IP) will spend approximately 30% of the placement period working with the ONC Animal Manager to assist with and learn about the care of all our animal ambassadors. They will also learn how to handle these animals for use in educational programming. The other 70% will be used to support the education and outreach team at ONC. The IP will lead outreach programs, develop materials for programming, and lead different educational programs including on/off site programs, community programs, and field trips. The position will be supervised by the Education Director.
PRIMARY DUTIES (80 % DIRECT SERVICES)
- Develop, plan, and support events related to environmental stewardship or environmental education.
- Develop a data tracking plan and collect and report AmeriCorps impact data timely and accurately.
- Collaborate with the Animal Manager to offer consistent and quality care to our animal ambassadors.
- Assist the Animal Manager in maintaining healthy and safe enclosures for the animal ambassadors.
- Learn to handle all our animal ambassadors and attend programs around the community with them to educate people about native wildlife, endangered species, and other environmental/conservation and STEM related topics.
- Record keeping, monitoring, and report writing.
- Assist with summer camps, homeschool, preschool, community programs, outreach, and school field trips.
- Onsite School Programs - Conduct environmental education programs for school children; assist in the development of curriculum, activities, and exhibits.
- Offsite School Programs - Collaborate with the outreach team to lead science programming to first-grade students throughout the state of Utah.
- Summer Camps – Assist in camp planning and implementation.
- Community Education - assist with community program development and implementation and strengthen community awareness.
- Assist with the planning and organizing of special events.
- Provide programs for all members of the community
TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES (20% maximum time served can be member development and training)
- Attend required USERVE Volunteer Management sessions.
- Attend required USERVE Member Gatherings and Active Engagement Retreats.
- Complete required UCC Orientation Modules.
- Complete required USERVE On3 Learning Modules.
- Data collection, validation, and report training.
- Training on classroom management and environmental education.
- First Aid/CPR.
- One or more educational conferences that train in best practices and environmental education.
- Training in curriculum writing and other topics provided by Ogden Nature Center.
- Animal Handling training including reptiles, invertebrates, small mammals, and raptors.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS AmeriCorps Requirements (all below required):
- Be a United States citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Eligible to serve in an AmeriCorps State/National term. Please note that AmeriCorps rules limit the number of education awards an individual may earn. No member may earn more than the aggregate value of two (2) full-time education awards.
- It is a requirement to obtain a high school diploma or GED before one is eligible to use the Education Award.
- Candidates must submit to and pass a background check.
- Full-day schedules will include a 30-minute lunch break that does NOT count toward term of service hours.
Position Specific Requirements:
- College degree or in process of completing preferred, science or education field ideal.
- Must be able to perform strenuous outdoor work under all weather conditions.
- Articulate and an excellent writer.
- Computer proficient (Word, Excel, email).
- Dependable and consistent.
- Comfortable working around and with birds of prey, snakes, spiders, and other animals.
- A valid driver's license and good driving record.
- Ability to perform strenuous outdoor work.
- A positive and professional manner, able to collaborate with a team.
- Interested in pursuing a career in conservation, environmental education, animal care, or similar.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This AmeriCorps member will receive the following benefits:
- $20,400 living allowance divided and paid in even bimonthly (TWICE per month) disbursements throughout the term of service. Note: this is taxable income.
- $7,395.00 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award available to members after successful service term.
- Federal, student loan forbearance and, workers compensation for all members.
- Opportunity to develop job skills in environmental education and nonprofit fields.
- Discounts at the Nest Gift Shop.
- Possible on-site subsidized housing is offered, if available. Housing is a shared living space with two other Ogden Nature Center employees. Private furnished bedroom in a large farmhouse. The lease term runs the length of the AmeriCorps program.
HOW TO APPLY
Research shows that candidates often don’t apply for positions if they don’t feel they meet all the position qualifications and skillsets. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested! Submit your application materials (resume, cover letter, and at least two professional references) here:
https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7VYNkbx5Ngxguwu
Pay: $20,400.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
POSITION OVERVIEW
The Ogden Nature Center (ONC) is a nonprofit nature education center and nature preserve. Our mission is to unite people with nature and nurture appreciation and stewardship of the environment. In collaboration with Utah Conservation Corps (UCC), we are recruiting an AmeriCorps Environmental Educator and Animal Caretaker Individual Placement for a term of service running approximately January-November 2027, serving approximately 40 hours per week. This position offers a unique opportunity to gain experience and practice a wide range of skills including environmental education, curriculum development, animal care and handling, and community event engagement. The Individual Placement (IP) will spend approximately 30% of the placement period working with the ONC Animal Manager to assist with and learn about the care of all our animal ambassadors. They will also learn how to handle these animals for use in educational programming. The other 70% will be used to support the education and outreach team at ONC. The IP will lead outreach programs, develop materials for programming, and lead different educational programs including on/off site programs, community programs, and field trips. The position will be supervised by the Education Director.
PRIMARY DUTIES (80 % DIRECT SERVICES)
- Develop, plan, and support events related to environmental stewardship or environmental education.
- Develop a data tracking plan and collect and report AmeriCorps impact data timely and accurately.
- Collaborate with the Animal Manager to offer consistent and quality care to our animal ambassadors.
- Assist the Animal Manager in maintaining healthy and safe enclosures for the animal ambassadors.
- Learn to handle all our animal ambassadors and attend programs around the community with them to educate people about native wildlife, endangered species, and other environmental/conservation and STEM related topics.
- Record keeping, monitoring, and report writing.
- Assist with summer camps, homeschool, preschool, community programs, outreach, and school field trips.
- Onsite School Programs - Conduct environmental education programs for school children; assist in the development of curriculum, activities, and exhibits.
- Offsite School Programs - Collaborate with the outreach team to lead science programming to first-grade students throughout the state of Utah.
- Summer Camps – Assist in camp planning and implementation.
- Community Education - assist with community program development and implementation and strengthen community awareness.
- Assist with the planning and organizing of special events.
- Provide programs for all members of the community
TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES (20% maximum time served can be member development and training)
- Attend required USERVE Volunteer Management sessions.
- Attend required USERVE Member Gatherings and Active Engagement Retreats.
- Complete required UCC Orientation Modules.
- Complete required USERVE On3 Learning Modules.
- Data collection, validation, and report training.
- Training on classroom management and environmental education.
- First Aid/CPR.
- One or more educational conferences that train in best practices and environmental education.
- Training in curriculum writing and other topics provided by Ogden Nature Center.
- Animal Handling training including reptiles, invertebrates, small mammals, and raptors.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS AmeriCorps Requirements (all below required):
- Be a United States citizen, U.S. national, or a lawful permanent resident alien of the United States.
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Eligible to serve in an AmeriCorps State/National term. Please note that AmeriCorps rules limit the number of education awards an individual may earn. No member may earn more than the aggregate value of two (2) full-time education awards.
- It is a requirement to obtain a high school diploma or GED before one is eligible to use the Education Award.
- Candidates must submit to and pass a background check.
- Full-day schedules will include a 30-minute lunch break that does NOT count toward term of service hours.
Position Specific Requirements:
- College degree or in process of completing preferred, science or education field ideal.
- Must be able to perform strenuous outdoor work under all weather conditions.
- Articulate and an excellent writer.
- Computer proficient (Word, Excel, email).
- Dependable and consistent.
- Comfortable working around and with birds of prey, snakes, spiders, and other animals.
- A valid driver's license and good driving record.
- Ability to perform strenuous outdoor work.
- A positive and professional manner, able to collaborate with a team.
- Interested in pursuing a career in conservation, environmental education, animal care, or similar.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
This AmeriCorps member will receive the following benefits:
- $20,400 living allowance divided and paid in even bimonthly (TWICE per month) disbursements throughout the term of service. Note: this is taxable income.
- $7,395.00 Segal AmeriCorps Education Award available to members after successful service term.
- Federal, student loan forbearance and, workers compensation for all members.
- Opportunity to develop job skills in environmental education and nonprofit fields.
- Discounts at the Nest Gift Shop.
- Possible on-site subsidized housing is offered, if available. Housing is a shared living space with two other Ogden Nature Center employees. Private furnished bedroom in a large farmhouse. The lease term runs the length of the AmeriCorps program.
HOW TO APPLY
Research shows that candidates often don’t apply for positions if they don’t feel they meet all the position qualifications and skillsets. We strongly encourage you to apply if you are interested! Submit your application materials (resume, cover letter, and at least two professional references) here:
https://usu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7VYNkbx5Ngxguwu
Pay: $20,400.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
See All 475+ Animal Care Associate Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Animal Care Associate JobsAnimal Care Associate Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Pet Supplies Plus106
- PetVet Care Centers35
- Village Pet Care18
- Lakefield Veterinary14
- Charles River Laboratories13
Top Industries Hiring
- Education10
- Science & Research4
- Animal Care & Pet Services3
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in animal care associate jobs.
- Direct hands-on experience handling and restraining animals of multiple species
- Knowledge of animal behavior, body language, and stress signals
- Ability to administer basic medications, vaccines, or treatments under supervision
- Comfort with cleaning, sanitation protocols, and kennel or habitat maintenance
- Current rabies vaccination or willingness to obtain pre-exposure prophylaxis
- Fear Free or similar low-stress handling certification preferred or required
Tips for Your Animal Care Associate Job Search
Tailor your resume to animal handling hours
Hiring managers for animal care associate roles want to see the number of hours you've spent working directly with animals and the species involved. List each position's hands-on animal contact time and species range rather than just your job title.
Highlight certifications before credentials
Animal First Aid, Fear Free certification, or rabies vaccination documentation often weigh more heavily than a degree in this field. Put those credentials near the top of your resume so reviewers spot them before they reach your education section.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists animal care associate openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Search for openings by facility type
Shelters, veterinary practices, boarding facilities, and research labs each look for different skill sets. When searching, filter by facility type or add terms like 'shelter', 'clinic', or 'kennel' to surface roles that match your actual experience.
Prepare for a working interview or skills demonstration
Many animal care employers invite finalists to handle animals on-site before making an offer. Practice low-stress restraint techniques beforehand and ask ahead of time which species you'll work with so you can demonstrate confidence rather than hesitation.
Follow up with a note about animal outcomes
After your interview, send a brief follow-up that references a specific animal welfare outcome from your past work, such as a successful behavioral rehab or a medical monitoring result. It shows you think in outcomes, not just tasks.
Animal Care Associate Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most animal care associates?
The most active employers for animal care associates right now are Pet Supplies Plus, PetVet Care Centers, and Village Pet Care, and the most openings are in Ohio, Texas, and Virginia, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Availability shifts quickly, so checking current listings gives you the most accurate picture.
How many animal care associate jobs are remote?
About 5% of animal care associate openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on nature of most roles in this field. Administrative functions like scheduling, adoption coordination, or client communication are the sub-areas most likely to include remote or hybrid flexibility.
How do you become an animal care associate?
Start by gaining direct animal handling experience through volunteering at a shelter, working at a kennel, or completing an internship at a veterinary clinic. Earn a Fear Free or Animal First Aid certification to strengthen your application. Most employers hire candidates without a degree if they can demonstrate hands-on competence, strong knowledge of animal behavior, and up-to-date vaccinations including rabies.
Can you get hired as an animal care associate with no experience?
Yes, many shelters and boarding facilities hire entry-level animal care associates with no paid experience if you can show relevant volunteer work and a genuine understanding of animal body language. Focus your application on any unpaid handling hours, species you've worked with, and certifications you've completed. Smaller facilities and high-volume shelters are typically the most open to training candidates from the ground up.
What does the animal care associate interview process look like?
Most employers start with a phone or video screen to confirm your availability, vaccination status, and comfort with the facility's species. A second round typically involves an in-person or working interview where you may be asked to handle animals, demonstrate restraint technique, or walk through how you'd respond to a stressed or injured animal. Some facilities include a brief written or verbal assessment on sanitation protocols.
Where can I find and apply to animal care associate jobs?
You can find and apply to animal care associate jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that match your experience and location, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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