Canine Care Specialist

About Zoomies Chicago

Zoomies is Chicago's premier indoor/outdoor dog park experience — a one-of-a-kind destination where dogs play and people unwind. Our facility features expansive off-leash dog parks, a full-service café, a craft beverage bar, daycare and boarding, professional grooming, and private runs, all under one roof. We're building a team that loves dogs as much as our members do. At Zoomies, every role matters — from the bark rangers keeping our parks safe to the baristas fueling the humans who love them. We're building the future of pet services with a high-energy eatertainment vibe. Because we're a startup, our hiring needs are tied to our 2026 launch milestones. We're starting interviews now to find the perfect fit, with the goal of bringing this role onboard in a few months as we move into our next phase of execution. We value transparency and want to find someone who thrives in a dynamic, startup environment.

Position Overview

The Canine Care Specialist is Zoomies' core operational role — and it's one of the most dynamic jobs in the facility. Each shift, you'll be scheduled to either the dog park or the daycare and boarding side of the facility, so you always know where you're starting and what you're responsible for. That said, we're a fast-moving operation and flexibility is part of the job — our team supports each other across both sides of the building as needed. On the park side, you're the eyes and ears keeping off-leash play safe and fun. On the daycare and boarding side, you're providing attentive hands-on care for every dog in our facility and serving as the primary point of contact for pet parents during drop-off and pick-up. This is a physically demanding, high-responsibility role that requires genuine expertise with dogs, strong communication skills, and the ability to make calm, confident decisions under pressure. We're looking for people who are as comfortable de-escalating a tense dog interaction as they are greeting a member family at the front desk.

What You'll Do

Dog Park Operations

• Maintain an active and vigilant presence in the off-leash park areas. You are responsible for the full oversight and safety of your assigned station at all times
• Monitor dog behavior and group dynamics continuously; identify and de-escalate tension, redirect inappropriate play, and separate dogs when necessary
• Communicate with Customer Success staff to receive dogs safely and calmly into the park; perform behavioral assessments on incoming dogs and ensure each one integrates comfortably into the park environment
• Enforce Zoomies park rules and member code of conduct with professionalism and diplomacy; educate guests as needed
• Complete incident reports for any dog behavior events, injuries, or health concerns and communicate findings to management
• Maintain park hygiene at all times — you are the first line of defense for cleaning up after dogs, including waste removal throughout your entire shift

Daycare & Boarding Care

• Provide attentive, hands-on care for all daycare and boarding dogs — feeding, watering, health monitoring, and medication administration per individual dog instructions
• Supervise group play in daycare areas; escalate behavioral concerns to management promptly
• Maintain cleanliness and sanitation of kennels, suites, runs, and all common areas throughout the day; perform thorough end-of-shift cleaning
• Document health concerns, behavioral observations, and incidents clearly; communicate notes to the oncoming shift
• Ensure each dog's kennel card, feeding schedule, and medication instructions are followed accurately and kept up to date
• Experience with dog bathing and basic grooming is a plus — team members who take on bathing duties receive additional compensation

Daycare & Boarding Desk & Guest Communication

• Serve as the primary point of contact at the daycare and boarding desk during morning drop-off and evening pick-up windows
• Check dogs in and out of daycare and boarding; verify vaccination records and reservation details in our facility software
• Communicate warmly and professionally with pet parents — provide updates on their dog's day, flag health or behavior notes, and answer questions with confidence
• Coordinate with Customer Success Managers on the park side for any cross-department member needs
• Assist with reservation management and daycare scheduling during slower periods
• Complete a daily report card and capture photos for each daycare and boarding dog when stationed on that side of the facility; when on the park side, capture candid photos of dogs in play to share with pet parents and support Zoomies' social media content

Shifts

• Hours: 6:00 AM - 2:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Overnight: Openness to occasional overnight shift coverage a strong plus

What We're Looking For

• Minimum 2 years of hands-on dog experience required — daycare, boarding, dog park, shelter, rescue, veterinary, or similar environment
• Demonstrated knowledge of dog body language, breed temperaments, and group play dynamics; ability to read a room full of dogs and act decisively
• Calm, confident, and capable of making quick, sound decisions in high-pressure situations — you don't rattle easily
• Physically active and comfortable on your feet for extended periods and in both indoor and outdoor environments in all weather conditions — this is a hands-on, high-energy role that keeps you moving throughout your entire shift
• Ability to lift up to 60 lbs
• Friendly and professional communication skills — you'll be interacting directly with pet parents during drop-off and pick-up
• Organized and detail-oriented; able to follow care instructions accurately and document notes clearly for the incoming team
• Team player who communicates proactively with fellow Canine Care Specialists, Customer Success Associates and leadership
• Weekend and holiday availability required
• CPR and Pet First Aid certification required (or ability to obtain within 60 days of hire)
• All team members are expected to be willing to perform basic dog hygiene tasks including nail trims as needed
• Dog-friendly personality is non-negotiable — you'll be working around dogs every single day

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (eligible full-time employees)
• Paid time off (PTO)
• Employee discounts on all Zoomies products and services