Animal Welfare & Response Team Member

Animal Welfare & Response Team Member

Help protect animals and respond when they need us most.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is seeking a dedicated and experienced Animal Welfare & Response Team Member to support animal welfare investigations, cruelty and neglect response, rescue operations, public education, and disaster relief efforts across Iowa. This role serves as an important resource in helping alleviate animal suffering, address welfare concerns, and support safe outcomes for animals and communities.

This is a great opportunity for someone with animal services, field services, investigations, law enforcement, animal welfare, emergency response, or public safety experience who is comfortable working in challenging situations, collaborating with multiple agencies, and advocating for animals through professional, thoughtful, and legally sound action.

Schedule

• Full-time, salaried position
• Schedule may include weekdays, evenings, weekends, travel, and emergency response needs based on animal welfare, rescue, and disaster response operations.

About the Animal Rescue League of Iowa

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is Iowa’s largest nonprofit animal welfare organization, helping animals and the people who love them through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, animal services, community programs, and pet support resources. Across multiple locations and programs in the Des Moines metro, the ARL works every day to provide compassionate care, practical support, and trusted resources for animals and families in our community.

What You’ll Do

• Conduct investigations and research related to animal cruelty, neglect, and welfare concerns.
• Collaborate with law enforcement and other agencies to address animal welfare situations and develop action plans through resolution.
• Develop and support rescue operation plans as needed.
• Assist members of the public in appropriately reporting animal cruelty and welfare concerns.
• Maintain detailed records of cruelty complaints, investigations, case information, and response efforts.
• Support partnerships with animal welfare organizations, law enforcement agencies, nonprofits, and community partners.
• Help organize and provide training for animal welfare organizations, law enforcement, and the public related to cruelty, neglect, and animal welfare response.
• Assist with disaster relief efforts in partnership with the Animal Welfare & Response team and Animal Welfare & Disaster team.
• Maintain Animal Welfare & Response equipment and vehicles to support safe and effective operations.
• Travel as needed for rescue operations, investigations, training, collaborative efforts, and response needs.
• Communicate professionally and educationally while promoting ARL programs, services, mission, and community resources.
• Must be comfortable with testifying in court on cases and media appearances.
• Follow ARL policies, safety procedures, legal requirements, and established animal welfare response practices.

What We’re Looking For

• High school diploma or GED required.
• At least three years of relevant experience in animal services, field services, investigations, animal welfare response, or related work required.
• Law enforcement experience preferred.
• Valid driver’s license with a satisfactory driving record required.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, travel, and respond to operational needs as required.
• Strong communication, documentation, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively with law enforcement, animal welfare partners, community organizations, peers, supervisors, and the public.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and legally sound in fast-paced, stressful, or emotionally challenging situations.
• Knowledge of, or ability to quickly learn, animal services practices, animal welfare laws and ordinances, safety procedures, program promotion, and response planning.
• Ability to apply sound judgment and logic quickly under physical, emotional, or intellectual stress.
• Basic math skills and strong attention to detail.
• Commitment to animal welfare, public safety, collaboration, and professional integrity.

Benefits for Full-Time Employees

The ARL is proud to offer competitive, market-driven compensation and a mission-focused culture. In addition, a variety of benefits are available to full-time employees including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Employer-paid long-term disability and basic life insurance
• Supplemental insurances, including short-term disability, supplemental life insurance, accident, and critical illness insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with an employer contribution
• Veterinary benefits
• Work-life balance through our expansive holiday and paid time off policies

Physical and Work Environment Requirements

This position works in a variety of animal welfare, field, rescue, shelter, and community environments and may require standing, sitting, walking, bending, lifting, driving, animal handling, travel, and outdoor work in varying weather conditions. Candidates must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

The role may involve exposure to animal odors, animal waste, moderate noise, zoonotic diseases, stressful or unsafe environments, and the possibility of bites or scratches while following established safety procedures. This position may also involve emotionally challenging situations related to animal cruelty, neglect, injury, disasters, or urgent rescue needs.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Why Join the ARL?

As an Animal Welfare & Response Team Member, your work helps protect animals, support communities, and respond to situations where animals may be suffering, neglected, or in need of urgent help. You will play an important role in collaborating with law enforcement, community partners, and ARL teams to create safer outcomes for animals across Iowa.

If you are experienced, steady under pressure, and committed to using your skills to support animal welfare and public safety, we would love to have you join our team.

Employment in this position is at-will, meaning either the employee or the ARL may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or notice, as permitted by law.

The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state law. Applicants and employees are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations as needed.