Animal Cruelty Case Specialist

About the Organization

The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is dedicated to protecting animal lives and advancing their interests through legal avenues. This mission is accomplished by engaging in impactful litigation, offering free legal assistance and training to prosecutors, advocating for effective animal protection legislation, gathering and analyzing regulatory data on industries exploiting animals, and providing educational resources to law students and professionals in the growing field of animal law.

Position Overview

The Criminal Justice Program (CJP) Animal Cruelty Case Specialist plays a vital role in the ALDF's efforts by supporting criminal animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions. The specialist provides essential operational and forensic assistance to prosecutors, law enforcement, animal control, veterinarians, and animal rescues, encouraging the thorough investigation and successful prosecution of animal cruelty cases. Major responsibilities include triaging incoming cruelty reports, managing case information, conducting specialized research and training, and coordinating across ALDF departments to share case information responsibly.

Key Responsibilities

• Receive and triage animal cruelty reports and assistance requests from stakeholders and internal sources through phone and email communications.
• Evaluate and prioritize cases, engaging in fact-finding through various channels and discerning which cases warrant further investigation or forensic involvement.
• Organize and categorize cases in the database, coordinating with Managing Attorneys to assign cases efficiently to CJP staff while ensuring timely information flow.
• Utilize automated systems for data entry and case management to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
• Maintain thorough and confidential records of all case-related documentation and ensure logs are up-to-date and consistent.
• Conduct online research on active and potential cases via social media, news, and organizational websites and support preparation for meetings and court proceedings.
• Follow up with professional contacts regarding case outcomes and monitor scheduling of court events related to CJP cases.
• Manage grants for expert witnesses, forensic testing, and animal care costs, liaising with internal and external parties as needed.
• Provide guidance and support to law enforcement, veterinarians, animal control, and rescues on case strategies, including interview methods, policies, veterinary procedures, protective custody, and large-scale rescue operations.
• Deploy to crime scenes and animal rescues when necessary, making informed decisions about on-site involvement and managing logistics.
• Participate in hands-on crime scene processing including evidence collection and packaging, assistance with search and seizure, and rescue support.
• Assist the CJP Case Response Unit as required.
• Build strategic partnerships with key stakeholders to enhance forensic and investigative collaboration.
• Plan and deliver outreach and training sessions to various professional groups involved in animal welfare enforcement.
• Maintain strong internal collaboration and act as a liaison to facilitate sharing of case information and expertise across departments.

Candidate Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related domain preferred or a minimum of five years relevant professional experience.
• At least three years’ experience in enforcement operations, animal cruelty response, dispatch, or criminal case management.
• Demonstrated expertise and certifications in veterinary forensics or animal cruelty enforcement (e.g., Certificate in Veterinary Forensics, NACA, FEMA, Police or Humane Officer certifications).
• Proven ability to manage sensitive information with strict confidentiality and ethical standards including chain of custody maintenance.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize work effectively to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral, with ability to engage collaboratively with diverse audiences and maintain professionalism under stress.
• Comfort with public speaking across varied audience sizes and demographics.
• Alignment and commitment to ALDF’s mission and values.
• Willingness to travel to conferences, training, and events approximately 5-7 times annually as required.

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting salary of $71,509 annually for most locations.
• Higher starting pay based on geographic proximity to major metropolitan areas: $75,273 near Washington D.C., Cotati CA, and Los Angeles; $79,036 near New York City and San Francisco.
• No salary negotiation beyond published rates to ensure pay equity.
• Comprehensive employer-paid health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits.
• Access to Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Accounts.
• 192 hours of paid time off and 19 paid holidays.
• One-month paid sabbatical after 5 years of continuous employment.
• 16 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match up to 5% after one year.
• Possible alternative work schedules pending managerial approval.
• One-time $750 remote work allowance.
• Annual professional development reimbursement of up to $1,000.

Additional Information

This role is part of a collective bargaining unit under the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union with negotiated employment terms. It is a U.S. based position requiring eligibility verification for employment in the U.S. ALDF is an equal opportunity employer embracing diversity and is committed to a workplace free from discrimination and harassment. The organization and its events maintain an animal-product-free environment in line with its mission.