Salary: $100,900.00 - $141,200.00 Annually
Location : 505 Forest Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Police
Opening Date: 06/09/2026

Description
The City of Laguna Beach is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Animal Shelter Manager (Classification is Kennel Manager) to lead the daily operations of our Animal Shelter. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on animal welfare and public safety while overseeing a talented team of staff and volunteers. The Animal Shelter Manager is responsible for ensuring the humane care, treatment, and placement of all animals, maintaining a safe and legally compliant facility, and fostering strong partnerships with veterinarians, community organizations, and residents. This position combines leadership, hands-on animal care, and community engagement to promote responsible pet ownership and enhance the City's animal services programs.

Please note: While the current classification is Kennel Manager, the position will be listed with the working title "Animal Shelter Manager". As part of the City's Classification and Compensation Study, is anticipated to be updated. Changes may include reclassification and retitle to Animal Shelter Manager, and moving the position to the Police and Fire Management Association.

What You'll Be Great At:

• Leading and inspiring staff and volunteers to provide exceptional animal care.
• Managing daily shelter operations, including intake, medical care, and adoptions.
• Ensuring a safe, clean, and compliant facility.
• Engaging the community through outreach, education, and animal welfare programs.
• Overseeing budgets, supplies, and vendor partnerships.
• Making thoughtful decisions and responding to emergencies with professionalism.
• Using technology and social media to promote adoptions and share shelter stories.

Apply now to be part of the first review! Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis, with the next review on June 30, 2026.
Examples of Duties
The normal duties for this position can be found in the job description for They are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Qualifications
Any combination demonstrating the ability to effectively and successfully perform the duties of the position is considered qualifying. A typical combination is as follows:

Education:

• Graduation from high school or equivalent is required.
• An Associate's degree in animal science, veterinary technology, animal husbandry, business or public administration, or a related field is highly desirable; a Bachelor's degree is preferred.
• Coursework or certification as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) or Animal Shelter Management certification is desirable.

Experience:

• Three (3) to five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the care, handling, and treatment of domestic animals in an animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or related facility, including experience with animal intake, health monitoring, and adoption programs; and
• At least two (2) years of supervisory experience overseeing staff and/or volunteers in an animal care or shelter environment.

License/Certificate Requirements:

• Possession of a valid driver's license at the time of appointment.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain within six (6) months of hire, certification in euthanasia by injection.
• Certification or training in animal shelter management, chemical immobilization, or similar fields is desirable.

Supplemental Information
This recruitment will establish an eligibility list that may be used to fill future vacancies in the same or lower classifications.

The position is subject to being on-call for natural disasters and other emergency incidents that might require the evacuation of the animal shelter and the transportation of the animals to alternative locations.

Application Process: All interested applicants must submit a completed online city application. Applications will be accepted on a continuous basis with the next review on June 30, 2026. Applications will be screened carefully, and selected applicants will be invited to participate in the Structured Panel Interview. Additional job-related skills testing may be used to assess an applicant's ability to perform successfully in this position. All those candidates passing each exam component will be placed on an employment eligibility list. The appointing hiring authority will further review the job-related qualifications of those deemed eligible for hire before making selection decisions. The selection process may be modified based on the needs of the City.

Pre-employment Process: A candidate selected for this position must successfully a complete police background investigation including a fingerprint check and polygraph examination, a thorough reference check/employment verification, and a pre-employment medical exam including a drug test.

The proposed salary range of $100,900 - $141,200 is subject to City Council approval.
for the link to the MOUs.
01

I understand and acknowledge that I must thoroughly complete the application and supplemental questions, honestly, truthfully, and to the best of my ability. Qualifications for inclusion in the selection process will be based on a review of the application and supplemental questionnaire responses, not a resume or CV. Resumes in lieu of completed supplemental questionnaire responses will not be accepted. Incomplete responses or "see resume," "see application" responses will be grounds for disqualification.

• Yes
• No

02

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than a High School Diploma
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate

03

Please indicate the degrees and formal certificates, or professional certifications/specialized training you possess, along with your area of study or relevance to animal care and shelter management. Examples may include: Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), Veterinary Technician Specialist (RVS), Veterinary Nurse Specialist (VNS), Shelter Management, Euthanasia Certificate, Chemical Immobilization, etc. If you do not have any degrees or certificates, please enter "NA."
04

How many years of experience do you have caring for, handling, and treating domestic animals in an animal shelter, veterinary hospital, or similar facility, including experience with animal intake, health monitoring, and adoption programs? (Please note, experience must be detailed in your application).

• No experience
• Less than (2) years
• Two (2) years but less than three (3) years
• Three (3) years but less than four (4) years
• Four (4) years but less than five (5) years
• Five (5) years but less than six (6) years
• Six (6) years but less than seven (7) years
• Seven (7) years or more

05

Please describe your experience in animal care or shelter management, including animal intake, health monitoring, adoptions, and supervising staff or volunteers. Include any programs or initiatives you have led. If you do not possess any experience, please write "N/A."
06

Describe any experience you have using Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Canva or other tools relevant to shelter management, such as shelter databases, inventory tracking systems, or volunteer management tools. If you have no experience in this area, please enter "N/A."
07

How many years of experience do you have supervising staff and/or volunteers in an animal care or shelter environment? (Please note, experience must be detailed in your application).

• No experience
• Less than (2) years
• Two (2) years but less than three (3) years
• Three (3) years but less than four (4) years
• Four (4) years but less than five (5) years
• Five (5) years but less than six (6) years
• Six (6) years but less than seven (7) years
• Seven (7) years or more

Required Question