We make pet food taste great! For over 30 years, AFB International has been providing pet food solutions that enrich the lives of pets and their people.  Our palatants are specially designed to make pet foods, treats and supplements taste better, ensuring pets receive the vital nutrients they need. We know wagging tails, licking whiskers and empty bowls equal happy pets and happy pet parents. Join AFB and you'll be a part of a team of highly skilled professionals that provide the greatest contribution to our success as an organization. Our team members are diverse, creative, passionate experts who are genuinely dedicated to our mission, our customers, and the pets we serve worldwide. ​

Job Description

Provide care and maintenance for all animals by performing the following duties in accordance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA).

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The Palatability Trial Execution Technician job duties include, but are not limited to, the job responsibilities listed below:

• Provide compassionate care for all animals
• Periodic assistance in kenneling and un-kenneling dogs safely
• Recognize animal behaviors/aggression/anxiety and report as necessary
• Periodic assistance in keeping primary animal enclosures sanitized, clean, orderly and free of odors
• Ensure animals always have access to water
• Exercise/socialize animals daily and abide by exercise programs in place for all animals
• Document necessary animal information for management or veterinary staff
• Complete daily assigned wing visual management charts and report necessary information at daily huddle
• Obtain animal body weights in accordance with veterinarian guidelines
• Take inventory of stock supplies as needed
• Accept and unpack food shipments in accordance with set guidelines.
• Collecting data by weighing back food trail and cleaning animal bowls according to set guidelines.
• Preparation of food for feeding trials in accordance with guidelines
• Conducting food trials in accordance with guidelines
• Preparing food for animals not on feeding trials in accordance with guidelines
• Periodic assistance in providing olfactory/natural enrichment to dogs and cats
• Periodic assistance with grooming dogs monthly, cats bi-monthly or as needed in accordance with guidelines
• Set an example of expectations in professional maturity, time management, job responsibilities
• Advise Supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized hazards or infractions of safety rules
• Abide by all PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) requirements and Safety Absolutes

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Required:
  • High School Diploma or equivalent

• Desired:
  • Bachelor’s degree in food science or animal nutrition preferred but not required. Two or more years animal care experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.                 

Schedule 40h work week from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a 4-week rotating schedule working 2 weekend each month

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities To perform this job successfully, an individual must have the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Ability to work safely and follow all established Safety Absolutes
• Ability to treat animals with care and respect and feel comfortable socializing animals off leash

• Ability to assess animal health conditions
• Ability to work independently as well as be a team player
• Ability to follow instructions and respond to management direction
• Ability to write legibly and read documents

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Lifting and Carrying: Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds regularly, including pet supplies, food bags, and animals.
• Standing and Walking: Extended periods of standing and walking on various surfaces, including indoors, outdoors, and uneven terrain.
• Bending, Stooping, and Kneeling: Frequent bending, stooping, and kneeling when cleaning kennels, interacting with animals at ground level, and performing maintenance tasks.
• Handling and Restraining Animals: Ability to safely handle, restrain, and control dogs of varying sizes, weights, and temperaments using appropriate equipment and techniques.
• Repetitive Motions: Frequent use of hands and arms for tasks such as leash handling, cleaning, feeding, and grooming.
• Sensory Requirements: Ability to hear barking, alarms, or calls for assistance; ability to see clearly for monitoring animal behavior and safety hazards.
• Weather Exposure: Willingness to work in varying weather conditions when walking or exercising animals outdoors.
• Physical Stamina: Ability to perform job duties in a fast-paced environment with occasional high levels of noise and activity.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is frequently exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.