Join the VRHS Team
We welcome anyone who wants to dedicate their time to making a difference in the lives of our shelter pets. Consider applying for our open positions and come be a part of our growing team of committed animal lovers who believe in the mission of saving the lives of abandoned and neglected pets.
The VRHS is located in Marble, NC, and serves Cherokee and Clay counties in Western NC. We offer a comparable salary for full and part-time employment. Please see our available openings below, and contact us if you have any questions or need more information!
Valley River Humane Society is an equal opportunity employer.
Current Job Postings
Animal Shelter Manager
This job generally requires the ability to do the following:
Operational:
● Ensuring animals in the shelter have everything they need
● Supervising and leading shelter employees
● Developing operational procedures
● Overseeing inventory
● Creating and maintaining budgets
● Preparing reports and paperwork
● Keeping all licenses up to date
● Overseeing payroll
Public Relations:
● Seeking additional sources of funding
● Promoting and organizing adoption events
● Organizing donations and interacting with donors
● Representing the shelter at community events
The VRHS Animal Shelter Manager (ASM) supervises all animal shelter employees, including:
● Kennel Lead and Kennel Workers
● Cat Staff Lead and Cat Staff
● Shelter Office Manager and Front Desk Staff
● Shelter Pet Adoption and Transport Coordinator
● On-Call Veterinarians and Shelter Clinic Staff
● Day-of / on-site Volunteers
The ASM also is tasked with ensuring that animals are treated humanely and that the facilities and outside surroundings are safely maintained, cleaned daily and upgraded properly.
Education Requirements & Qualifications:
Education: A college degree in business administration, animal science, or a closely related field is generally preferred for most ASM positions.
Experience: Experience working with animals (particularly in a shelter environment) is a great benefit. Several years of experience in a managerial role is also usually a prerequisite, ideally completed with work at an animal nonprofit or rescue organization.
Required Skills & Competencies: There are certain qualities and skills you need to be effective in this field:
● Compassion:
○ Love of animals and kindness towards them and their helpers, fosters, and potential owners is a must for this type of position.
● Physical stamina:
○ When working directly with animals, the ASM may need to kneel, crawl, bend, and be on their feet.
○ Must be able to lift up to 75 pounds at a time.
● Communication Skills:
○ The ASM must interact regularly with staff members, reinforcing the values and mission of VRHS. Must be able to emphasize the importance of following safety and medical processes and procedures.
○ The ASM acts as an Animal Advocate. He/She must be able to engage with the public and promote the benefits of pet adoption; sensible animal control policies and solicit funds via any number of fundraising events.
● Financial management skills:
○ ASM must oversee a budget and report to the Board of Directors in real time about needs and/or overages. ○ Knowledge to use Quickbooks
○ Coordinates with Board Members on fundraising initiatives, including describing with financial specificity, capital campaign projects for submission to foundational grants.
● Comfort with Technology:
○ Since ASM responsibilities are largely focused on operational and administrative reporting duties, He/She should have solid computer skills including familiarity with using ShelterLuv, Quickbooks, and other mainstream record keeping and word processing programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other database management software).
Salary: $48,500 annual salary commensurate with experience
Front Desk Receptionist
The Valley River Humane Society is seeking a compassionate, organized, and dependable Front Desk Receptionist to join our team. This position plays an important role in helping both animals and the community by providing excellent customer service and administrative support in a fast-paced animal shelter environment.
Responsibilities include:
- Answer incoming phone calls, take messages, and direct calls appropriately
- Greet visitors, adopters, and volunteers in a professional and friendly manner
- Input and maintain animal medical records and customer information
- Schedule adoptions, spay/neuter appointments, and other services
- Assist adopters through the adoption process
- Assist with shelter adoption events and community outreach events
- Perform clerical duties, including filing, scanning, photocopying, and data entry
- Maintain the cleanliness and organization of the front desk and lobby area
- Monitor and respond to emails
- Process adoption paperwork and transactions
- Support shelter staff with daily administrative tasks
Qualifications & Skills:
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to multitask and prioritize tasks effectively
- Comfortable working in a busy and sometimes emotionally demanding environment
- Basic computer and data entry skills required
- Must be dependable, professional, and compassionate toward animals and people
- Previous customer service or receptionist experience preferred
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Comfortable and confident handling both dogs and cats.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact professionally and empathetically with the public.
Available to work weekends and weekdays.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Job Types: Full-time or Part-time
Pay: $10.00 per hour
Must be able to work weekends
If you are passionate about helping animals and making a difference in your community, we encourage you to apply to join our team at the Valley River Humane Society.
Laundry Attendant
Valley River Humane Society is seeking a dependable and detail-oriented Laundry Attendant to support daily shelter operations. This role is essential in maintaining a clean, sanitary, and comfortable environment for the animals in our care.
Responsibilities include:
- Wash and sanitize dog and cat food dishes
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Clean and disinfect cat litter boxes
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Operate washers and dryers to clean animal bedding, blankets, and towels
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Maintain cleanliness and organization of laundry and dishwashing areas
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Follow proper sanitation procedures to ensure a healthy environment for animals
Qualifications:
- Reliable and able to maintain consistent attendance
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Ability to work independently and efficiently
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Strong attention to cleanliness and detail
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Capable of performing physical tasks including standing, bending, and lifting
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Positive attitude and willingness to support team needs
Preferred Qualifications:
-
Previous experience in cleaning, laundry, or animal care (not required)
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Comfortable and confident handling both dogs and cats.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact professionally and empathetically with the public.
Available to work weekends and weekdays.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Job Types: Full-time or Part-time
Pay: $10.00 per hour
Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week
Schedule:
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8am – 4pm
-
Including weekends
Please stop by the Shelter for an application Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm. We look forward to meeting you!
Veterinary Assistant
Responsibilities
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Provide daily care for animals, including feeding, cleaning, medicating, and vaccinating.
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Assist Veterinarians and assistants with examinations, procedures, and treatments.
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Handle and restrain animals safely during examinations and treatments.
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Collect and prepare laboratory samples
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Utilize proper restraint techniques for safe animal handling.
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Assist with the intake and processing of new animals.
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Assist with assessments and record keeping.
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Prepare animals for surgery and assist during surgical procedures.
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Monitor animals during surgical procedures, while recovering from surgery, and provide post-operative care.
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Maintain cleanliness and organization of animal enclosures and clinic areas.
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Communicate effectively with community members and volunteers
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Ensure compliance with safety protocols and provide excellent customer service
Preferred Skills/Qualifications:
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Previous experience working with animals in a shelter, veterinary clinic, or similar environment.
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Ability to regularly lift/carry 50 pounds may be required.
Work Environment:
-
This role involves working in a fast-paced environment with exposure to animal dander and various cleaning agents. It does require bending, standing, stooping, walking, and the ability to lift and move animals and supplies.
Must be 18 years of age or older.
High School Diploma or GED certificate.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Comfortable and confident handling both dogs and cats.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact professionally and empathetically with the public.
Available to work weekends and weekdays.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Job Types: Full-time
Pay: $10.00 – 12.00 per hour
Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week
Schedule:
-
8am – 4pm
-
Including weekends
Please stop by the Shelter for an application Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm. We look forward to meeting you!
Cat Care Staff
Join our team to help us provide compassionate care for our shelter cats!
Valley River Humane Society is seeking a compassionate and reliable Full-Time Cat Care Staff member to join our team. This position includes weekend shifts (8:00 AM – 4:00 PM) and plays a vital role in the daily care and well-being of our cats.
Responsibilities include:
- Feeding cats according to schedules and dietary needs
- Cleaning and sanitizing cat kennels, litter boxes, and common areas
- Providing enrichment, socialization, and gentle handling
- Monitoring cat health and behavior and reporting concerns to supervisors
Qualifications:
- Dependable, hardworking, and comfortable working weekends
- Compassion for animals and ability to work in a shelter environment
- Ability to perform physical tasks such as bending, lifting, and standing for extended periods
- Prior animal care experience preferred but not required
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Comfortable and confident handling both dogs and cats.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact professionally and empathetically with the public.
Available to work weekends and weekdays.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Job Types: Full-time
Pay: $10.00 per hour
Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week
Schedule:
-
8am – 4pm
-
Including weekends
Please stop by the Shelter for an application Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm. We look forward to meeting you!
Kennel Worker
Valley River Humane Society is seeking a reliable, hardworking, and compassionate individual to join our team as a Kennel Worker. This role is essential to maintaining a clean, safe, and enriching environment for the animals in our care while helping them find loving homes.
Responsibilities include:
- Clean and sanitize kennels, dog yards, and shelter areas
- Scoop and properly dispose of animal waste
- Feed and provide fresh water to dogs daily
- Walk, exercise, and socialize dogs to support their physical and emotional well-being
- Transport crates and assist with animal movement as needed
- Assist with and complete adoption appointments to help dogs find homes
- Monitor animal health and behavior, reporting any concerns to management
Qualifications:
- Must be dependable and able to work independently and as part of a team
- Comfortable working around animals of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments
- Ability to perform physical tasks, including lifting, bending, standing, and walking for extended periods
- Strong work ethic and willingness to maintain cleanliness standards
- Good communication and customer service skills for interacting with adopters
Preferred (but not required):
- Previous experience working with animals or in a shelter environment
Must be 18 years of age or older.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Comfortable and confident handling both dogs and cats.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to interact professionally and empathetically with the public.
Available to work weekends and weekdays.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
Job Types: Full-time or Part-time
Pay: $10.00 per hour
Expected hours: 30 – 40 per week
Schedule:
-
8am – 4pm
-
Including weekends
Please stop by the Shelter for an application Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm. We look forward to meeting you!