Grooming Specialist, Education, Casework & Events

Summary:

Overview

Every day across New York City, a simple act of care can strengthen the bond between people and the pets who depend on them. As a Grooming Specialist with ASPCA Community Engagement, you’ll bring practical support—and dignity—to neighbors facing barriers, helping pets stay healthy, comfortable, and at home where they belong.

Who We Are

The ASPCA’s Community Engagement program works in New York City to assist pet owners by addressing systemic issues such as lack of access to resources, domestic violence, socioeconomic distress, and medical or mental health considerations. Access to grooming can be a challenge to pet owners in NYC who experience these underlying challenges. The Grooming Specialist will work as part of a team to deliver basic grooming to these pet owners who come to the ASPCA via relationships with key partners (e.g., human service organizations, animal welfare groups, NYPD).

What You’ll Do

The Grooming Specialist will participate in field work including visiting client’s homes to provide in-home grooming and will also act as a case lead on non-grooming cases to coordinate services for clients, transport animals from veterinary hospitals to the ASPCA hospital as needed, and attend community events. This position will also provide grooming services at ASPCA events and a weekly mobile grooming event. The Grooming Specialist will also provide grooming at other ASPCA locations (Community Veterinary Centers) as well as helping internal departments with grooming needs. 

Where and When You’ll Work

This position will be providing grooming services 3-4 days of the week across the five boroughs including the South Bronx, East New York (Brooklyn), the Upper East Side (Manhattan) and Long Island City (Queens) and will have one office-based day in Long Island City.

The schedule for this position is Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00am – 5:00pm. Shifts are subject to change at the sole discretion of the ASPCA.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. 

• The target hiring range for this role is $25.97 - $28.00 hourly.

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

Direct Grooming Services

• Serve as a case lead for Community Engagement grooming cases. Conduct field visits to provide grooming in clients’ homes and develop plans to teach pet owners how to groom their pets. Communicate with clients to gather historical information on their pets’ needs and develop plans that include ASPCA services and referrals to social service agencies when needed. This position will carry 3-4 cases at a time.

• Perform grooming services at ASPCA locations and events. Teach clients how to groom their pets by conducting hands-on demonstrations. Educate clients on how to create action plans for ongoing grooming needs. Emphasize the importance of ongoing grooming tasks and illustrate the challenges when it is not maintained to pet owners.

• Participate in mobile grooming events 2-3 times per month with Community Engagement Coordinators. Assist in the planning, outreach, scheduling, and follow-up paperwork for these events.

• Teach clients how to use grooming kits and nail trimmers and emphasize the importance of consistent grooming for long-term health and wellbeing.

• Collaborate with other ASPCA departments as requested to ensure access to grooming services for clients and ASPCA program goals.

Community Engagement Casework

• Support the case lead on active Community Engagement cases.

• Communicate with clients to gather historical information on their pets needs and develop intervention plans that include ASPCA services and referrals to social service agencies when needed.

• Conduct field visits and develop intervention plans for cases, including frequency of visits and action plans

• Support Community Engagement transport team with transportation of animals from CE and NYPD cases to partners/locations across the five boroughs

• Participate in large-scale NYPD cases that require the physical removal of animals. On occasion, assist with daily care 1-2 times a week for up to one month after the removal.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Deliver feedback and contribute to strategic planning of the development of grooming services.

• Work collaboratively with Senior Manager and Community Engagement team to plan outreach/events for grooming services, including the weekly mobile grooming event.

• Participate in and contribute to meetings with ASPCA departments to help lobby for the need for the integration of grooming services (Government Relations, Strategy & Research, etc).

• Ensure accurate data collection for services rendered.

• Manage grooming supply inventory.

• Post ~3 times per month on WorkVivo to highlight the grooming program and to keep the organization engaged in its growth.

• Contribute to department’s reports by capturing photos and writing highlights on special cases or relevant events.

• Obtain necessary CE credits to stay up to date on grooming certification.

Qualifications

• Critical thinking skills are required, as this is a developing program with impact on the organization and field and will need direct feedback and strategy development to ensure its success.

• Strong interpersonal skills

• Ability to lift up to 40 lbs., stand for long periods and work outside in various conditions.

• Strong team player, as well as ability to work independently.

• Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history.

• Computer literacy with particular proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Civicore experience a plus.

• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.

Language

• English (required)

• Fluency in Spanish strongly preferred.

Education and Work Experience

• At least 1 year’s grooming experience required

• 2 years’ experience in community services, community organizing, advocacy or related field required

• Animal handling experience required

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• Case management experience preferred

• Data collection experience preferred

   

   

   

   

Language:

Education and Work Experience:

Our EEO Policy:
The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Your Employee Rights Under the Family and Medical Leave Act:
Pursuant to regulations of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), we provide this notice to applicants about eligible employees’ protected leave for certain reasons. Click on the link to learn more.

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