Part-Time Animal Care Specialist (Weekends, Holidays & Relief Coverage)

**The Austin Centers for Exceptional Students** is a multifaceted special education program, designed specifically for students with emotional disabilities, autism, intellectual disabilities, specific learning disabilities or other educational challenges. Austin Centers currently serves over a thousand students per year from more than 100 school districts and charter schools on all our campuses. Our Vision: To ignite a brighter tomorrow for every child and youth, regardless of their struggles, by providing unwavering support, world-class education, and a nurturing environment. **Part-Time Animal Care Specialist (Weekends, Holidays & Relief Coverage)** **Location:** Peoria, AZ We are a specialized school serving students with special needs in Peoria, Arizona. As part of our educational programming, we care for a small collection of farm animals that support hands-on learning and meaningful student interaction. We are seeking a reliable and compassionate Part-Time Animal Care Specialist to provide consistent, quality care for our animals. **Position Overview** We are seeking a reliable, compassionate, and self-motivated **Part-Time Animal Care Specialist** to provide consistent, quality care for our animals during weekends, school holidays, and occasional weekday coverage. This position is ideal for someone who enjoys working with animals, is comfortable working independently, and is looking for a small number of consistent, meaningful hours each week. **Schedule** - Approximately **4–6 hours per week** - Typically **2–3 visits per week** - **Weekday morning care:** Generally **9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.** - **Weekends and school holidays:** Generally **10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.** - Each visit averages **approximately 2 hours** The primary responsibility is providing animal care when school staff are not on campus, including weekends and school holidays. Additional weekday shifts may occasionally be available to provide coverage when one of the school's regular animal care staff members is absent due to illness, vacation, or other scheduling needs. **Responsibilities** - Feed and provide fresh water to all animals according to established schedules. - Clean stalls, pens, coops, and surrounding animal enclosures. - Monitor the health, behavior, and overall well-being of the animals, reporting any concerns promptly. - Provide attentive daily care and positive human interaction. - Maintain clean, safe, and humane living environments for all animals. - Ensure supplies are stocked and notify supervisors when additional supplies are needed. - Follow established animal care and safety procedures. **Animals in Our Care** Our educational animal program currently includes: - Horses - Goats - Poultry **Qualifications** - Previous experience caring for horses is strongly preferred. - Experience working with farm animals is highly desirable. - Dependable, punctual, and able to work independently with minimal supervision. - Compassionate and committed to providing excellent animal care. - Reliable transportation. - Mobile phone available for communication while on duty. - Preference will be given to candidates who reside in or near Peoria, Arizona. - Must be available to work weekends and school holidays, with flexibility to occasionally provide weekday coverage as needed. This is a meaningful opportunity to support a unique school environment where animals and students positively enrich one another's daily experiences. If you enjoy working with animals and are looking for a flexible, rewarding part-time role, we'd love to hear from you. Pay Range $17—$18 USD Joining our team means that you are part of a passionate team of professionals dedicated to meeting the needs of our exceptional students. Austin Centers is committed to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued and supported, regardless of their background or identity. Come help us empower bright futures: transforming lives, one stude…