Animal Attendant and Reception Positions at Busy Boarding Kennel

About us:

Cottage Kennels and Cattery are a family owned business since 1988. We are one of the busiest boarding establishments in Australia, with over 40,000 active clients and high volumes of arrivals and departures every day, even in off peak periods.

We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of pet care through a team of passionate and dedicated animal lovers. We place a strong emphasis on ongoing staff training and education and recognise the importance of empowering and equipping our staff with skills and confidence to care for every pet. We communicate openly and honestly with our clients to create meaningful relationships and provide the highest quality experience for both them and their pets.

We have upcoming opportunities in both our kennels/cattery and office.

A split role between the positions can be made available for the right candidate.

What we can offer you:

• Commitment to your learning and knowledge base, ongoing mentorship and regular performance reviews

• A dynamic, interesting and varied role in a positive environment

• Career advancement

• Respect for your knowledge, experience and the opportunity to collaborate on improvements to structures, policies and procedures

• The opportunity to work with experienced and renowned industry professionals specialising in veterinary medicine, canine behaviour and training, reproductive health and breeding, biosecurity, and more

We are looking for a confident, positive and animal loving team member who are eager to join our busy team. The successful applicant has a passion for providing excellent animal health and well-being.

Cottage is not your average kennel We are a consistently busy facility with exceptionally high standards of care. This position is therefore physically demanding, high intensity, and has a regular high work load which can be challenging when transitioning from other industry positions at smaller kennels, vet clinics, shelters, etc. Applicants should be comfortable receiving regular feedback, be able to execute high attention to detail, efficiency and multitasking. The ability to work with a dynamic team in a fast paced and demanding environment is essential.

Position Type: Casual

Hours: Flexible. Applicants comfortable with fewer hours during school terms with an increase in hours over holiday periods will best fit this position. Must be willing and able to work both weekend days if required.

Availability: Must be available weekends, school holidays, and Public Holidays.

Applicants should maintain flexibility to work, especially during holidays and peak periods. This includes scheduling leave outside of busy periods. Must be available for rotating rostered shifts, and have the flexibility to cover other unplanned absences at short notice from time to time. Where possible we share weekend shifts so attendants typically only work one per week.

Career Advancement: An employee in this position who exhibits the necessary characteristics, performance and attitude will be able to advance in hours and responsibility should this be their aim.

Full time hours with set days can be made available for applicants with extensive previous experience in both animal care and supervisory roles who are seeking a leadership position.

Applications close: 12th June 2025

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Adhere to Cottage Kennels and Cattery policies and procedures

• Contribute to a positive team environment

• Provide a high standard of animal care

• General animal husbandry including: handling of dogs and cats, feeding, watering, medicating, cleaning and disinfecting enclosures and exercise yards, undertake exercise and enrichment programs, bathing and drying dogs, etc.

• Address and investigate animal health concerns, and maintain a working knowledge of common health issues to appropriately address pet health needs

• Participate in regular training and accept direction and feedback in a positive and enthusiastic manner

• General upkeep of the facilities

Key Selection Criteria:

• High Emotional Intelligence

• Previous industry experience

• Knowledge of dog/cat health, breed, and behavioural requirements

• Strong animal handling and animal management skills

• Ability to work in a fast paced, busy, and demanding environment

• Multitasking and effective prioritisation

• Great time management skills, and ability to successfully plan your own time as well as being able to assist others to plan and prioritise their workload. Ability to work at a brisk pace and carry out tasks to required timeframes.

• Physically fit and be able to be on the move all day. Must be prepared to work in inclement weather and carry out repetitive lifting, pulling, bending, scrubbing, etc.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Attention to detail and thorough record keeping and reporting

• Dependability, punctuality and a can do attitude

• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills. Willingness to jump at the chance to help others in your team and get personal satisfaction from seeing others succeed.

• Flexibility and a willingness to work closely with management to improve systems, procedures, care and output.

Only successful candidates will be contacted. To be considered for the position you must include a Cover Letter that addresses the position you are applying for and your minimum weekly hour requirements.

We have an exciting opportunity for an upbeat, positive, mature and experienced receptionist to join our team.

This is not your typical reception role Our office team are the first point of call for all communication across our facility, including clients, animal attendants, drivers, veterinarians, suppliers, etc.

The ability to lead dynamic teams in a fast paced and demanding environment is therefore essential.

Position Type: Casual

Hours: Flexible. Approx hours.

Availability: Monday through Saturday. Must be available over school holidays and peak periods.

Applications close: 12th June 2025

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Managing the day-to-day operations of the facility

• Managing four consistently busy phone lines and heavy arrival/departure numbers

• Delivering personalised customer service and care

• Liaising with clients, animal attendants, drivers, veterinarians, industry partners, suppliers, etc.

• Managing, communicating and following up pet medical, behavioural or wellbeing concerns

• Executing the accurate completion of office responsibilities including: high volume phone and email enquiries, online reservation requests, scheduling reservations and additional services, allocating appropriate lodgings, conducting inspections, general administrative duties, etc.

• Working closely with management to improve business operations

Key Selection Criteria:

• High Emotional Intelligence

• A minimum 3 years industry experience

• Previous experience in a busy reception (ideally a high volume Veterinary clinic or similar)

• Knowledge of cat and dog breed, health, and behavioural requirements

• Excellent customer service skills and the willingness to build meaningful relationships with clients

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a positive attitude.

• Strong teamwork and collaboration skills. Willingness to jump at the chance to help others in your team and get personal satisfaction from seeing others succeed.

• The ability to think practically, problem-solve and think on your feet

• Great time management skills, and successfully plan your own time as well as being able to assist others to plan and prioritise their workload. Ability to work at a brisk pace and carry out tasks to required timeframes.

• The ability to learn and understand complex reservation and facility terms, policies and procedures and effectively communicate and execute them

• High attention to detail and effective record keeping

• Computer literate with the ability to learn new programs with ease

• Dependability and punctuality

• Initiative and the ability to multitask with effective prioritisation. The ability to work independently, and willingness to ask for guidance for more complex matters

• Supervisory or leadership experience preferred

Only successful candidates will be contacted. To be considered for the position you must include a Cover Letter that addresses the position you are applying for and your minimum weekly hour requirements.