Lead Kennel Technician

Location: Cowboy Kennels
Position: Lead Kennel Technician
Reports To: Practice Manager / Leadership Team

Position Summary

The Lead Kennel Technician serves as a hands-on leader within Cowboy Kennels and is responsible for helping ensure the safety, cleanliness, organization, and overall quality of care provided to every pet in our facility.

This position is designed for someone who demonstrates strong leadership, reliability, accountability, and initiative. The Lead Kennel Technician works alongside the kennel team while also helping provide daily direction, coaching, training, and operational support.

The ideal candidate does not wait to be told what needs to be done. They recognize the needs of the pets, team, and facility and take ownership in ensuring those needs are addressed.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Support

• Serve as a positive example for kennel technicians and other team members.
• Provide daily direction and help organize kennel responsibilities and priorities.
• Help ensure opening, closing, cleaning, feeding, medication, and care responsibilities are completed appropriately.
• Support the training and onboarding of new kennel employees.
• Coach team members when expectations or procedures are not being followed.
• Communicate concerns involving performance, attendance, safety, or animal care to management.
• Help maintain accountability while treating team members professionally and respectfully.
• Step into difficult situations and provide direction when leadership is needed.
• Promote teamwork, communication, and a solution-oriented environment.

Animal Care & Safety

• Ensure all boarding and daycare pets receive appropriate feeding, water, exercise, enrichment, and attention.
• Monitor pets closely for changes in behavior, appetite, elimination, mobility, or overall health.
• Immediately escalate medical or behavioral concerns according to established procedures.
• Ensure medications and special care instructions are followed accurately.
• Maintain safe handling and restraint practices.
• Help prevent pet escapes, injuries, altercations, and other safety incidents.
• Ensure accurate identification and documentation for pets and their belongings.

Facility Standards

• Maintain a clean, sanitary, organized, and safe kennel environment.
• Ensure kennels, runs, play areas, food preparation areas, laundry areas, and common spaces meet cleanliness expectations.
• Complete and verify assigned cleaning and sanitation protocols.
• Identify maintenance, safety, supply, or facility concerns and communicate them promptly.
• Help ensure appropriate inventory levels of kennel supplies, food, cleaning products, and other necessary materials.

Client Experience

• Provide compassionate and professional service to pet owners.
• Help ensure pets are prepared appropriately for arrival and departure.
• Communicate relevant pet-care information accurately to the appropriate team members.
• Support the resolution of client concerns and escalate concerns to management when appropriate.
• Represent Cowboy Kennels professionally during every client and pet interaction.

Leadership Expectations

A Lead Kennel Technician is expected to demonstrate:

• Ownership: Takes responsibility for the success of the shift and does not ignore problems.
• Reliability: Arrives on time, maintains dependable attendance, and follows through on commitments.
• Accountability: Holds themselves and others to established standards.
• Communication: Communicates clearly, respectfully, and proactively.
• Initiative: Identifies what needs to be done and acts without requiring constant direction.
• Coaching: Is comfortable giving respectful feedback and helping others improve.
• Teamwork: Works alongside the team rather than simply delegating responsibilities.
• Animal Advocacy: Makes the safety, comfort, and well-being of every pet a priority.
• Professionalism: Remains calm and solutions-focused during stressful or difficult situations.

Qualifications

• Previous kennel, boarding, daycare, veterinary, or animal-care experience preferred.
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred but not required for the right candidate.
• Strong understanding of animal behavior and safe handling practices.
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, management, and clients.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Comfortable addressing performance concerns and providing team direction.
• Dependable attendance and availability based on operational needs.
• Ability to work weekends and holidays as required by a boarding facility.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and perform the physical responsibilities associated with animal care.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this position means the kennel operates safely and efficiently even when a manager is not immediately present. Pets receive exceptional care, the facility remains clean and organized, team members understand their responsibilities, concerns are addressed rather than ignored, and leadership is kept informed of anything requiring additional attention.

The Lead Kennel Technician should be someone the team can confidently look to for guidance and someone management can trust to take ownership of Cowboy Kennels' standards.

At AmeriVet, we’re committed to your growth, development, well-being, and success. We empower team members with the resources, support, and opportunities needed to thrive in their careers and make a lasting impact in our communities.

Here’s what you can expect when you join our team:

• Tailored development programs, mentorship, and career pathing to help you achieve your unique goals.

• Competitive pay, performance bonuses, 401(k) matching, and student loan assistance to foster your financial well-being.

• Health, dental, vision, life insurance, and mental health resources to support your overall well-being.

• Generous paid time off and holidays, because your personal time matters.

• A supportive, collaborative environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging.

Please note: Any Benefits listed above apply to full-time employees. 

At AmeriVet, your unique skills and passion are celebrated, and every team member has the tools to thrive. Our people-focused approach is centered on helping you grow in your career while making a meaningful impact on the communities we serve.