Animal Control Officer - Supervising - Senior

Placer County Helath and Human Services - Animal Services is currently recruiting for the position of Animal Control Officer - Supervising - Senior.  This eligible list may be used to fill future vacancies within the Department of Health and Human Services.

This position oversees animal control operations in Auburn as well as in Tahoe and is responsible for county-wide animal services operations, critical emergency response and coordination during fires and other disasters.  The position also requires supervision of the Auburn Animal Shelter and significant administrative and operational duties.  The Senior Supervising Animal Control Officer will also work as a field officer and will provide daily response to calls for service and nightly after-hours standby coverage on a rotational basis.

To plan, organize, direct and supervise county-wide animal control operations; to assist in the administration of the County's animal control activities including kennel and field services; and to act as a resource and liaison between community groups, private agencies and other governmental jurisdictions for Placer County Animal Control.

The Senior Supervising Animal Control Officer classification not only performs second-line supervisory duties but also performs a variety of administrative functions in support of the County's animal control program.  This senior supervisory level is distinguished from the Supervisory Animal Control Officer classification in that the former is responsible for county-wide animal control operations and is responsible for performing significant administrative and operational functions on a divisional level.  This single position job class acts as the primary resource to managements, staff, other county departments and work units, community organizations and the general public regarding the technical and operations processes and procedures of animal control.

Receives general direction from a Client Services Director.

Exercises direct supervision over assigned supervisory, technical and clerical personnel.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Assist in the day-to-day supervision of operational and programmatic activities within the County's animal control program.
• Plan, prioritize, assign, supervise and review the work of staff involved in the sale of animal licenses, collection of fees, prosecution of violations of animal control ordinances and laws and the impounding, releasing, sale and/or destruction of stray or dangerous animals.
• Act as a primary resource and liaison regarding the technical and operational functions of the County's animal control operations, programs and facilities; represent the County's animal control division on inter-agency task forces, special projects, and other community outreach activities as assigned.
• Recommend and implement goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for animal control activities including field and kennel operations; implement policies and procedures.
• Evaluate operations and activities of assigned programmatic, administrative and operational responsibilities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various reports on operations and activities.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration; prepare cost estimates for budget recommendations; submit justifications for assigned personnel and equipment; monitor and control expenditures; prepare and maintain the program's equipment inventory.
• In absence of the Client Services Director assumes lead role for shelter, field and office staff.
• Participate in the selection of staff; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies; implement discipline procedures.
• Direct the operations of the County's primary animal shelter including feeding, kenneling and the general handling of large and small animals; work to market efforts to encourage redemptions and adoptions of animals.
• Work cooperatively with other law enforcement groups and animal related organizations when joint action is required.
• Supervise and review the recording of all citations issued; assist staff in the investigation and preparation of formal complaints for court action against violators of ordinances and laws; prepare case files; assemble necessary documentation; submit and discuss cases with the Client Services Director and staff of the District Attorney's Office as appropriate.
• Set up maintenance schedules for tranquilizer guns, rifles, shotguns and any other weapons required in the performance of animal control duties to ensure that they are kept in safe operating condition.
• Investigate complaints of potential violations to achieve compliance with pertinent State laws and local ordinances.
• Answer questions and provide information to the public; investigate complaints and recommend corrective action as necessary to resolve complaints.
• Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other County employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
• Supervise, monitor and train staff and volunteers in such technical functions as the practice of euthanasia, enforcement of quarantine procedures, and the handling and impounding of large and small domestic and wild animals in order to assure public safety and animal welfare.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Experience and Training
Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying.  A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible experience in caring for, licensing, impounding and disposing of animals in a public animal control program, including two years of performing supervisory functions.

Training: Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade supplemented by college course work in business administration, management, animal science or a related field.

License or Certificate:

• May need to possess a valid driver's license as required by the position.  Proof of adequate vehicle insurance and medical clearance may also be required.
• Possession of a certificate showing successful completion of the P.O.S.T. training requirements for Penal Code 832, Module A, Firearms Training.

 

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of animal control, care and custody.
• Equipment, tools and materials used in animal control, including feeding, kenneling and general handling of large and small animals.
• Causes, symptoms and safe handling of rabid and diseased animals; legal regulations, reports and procedures for handling rabies.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Principles of budget monitoring and inventory control.
• Principles and practices of safety management and public health practices.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal laws, ordinances and rules.
• Legal liabilities and responsibilities of those concerned with the enforcement of animal control regulations and laws.
• Use and care for small firearms and other law enforcement equipment and tools.
• Offensive and defensive weapons nomenclature and theory; use and care of firearms, chemical agents, baton and other related law enforcement paraphernalia.
• Various breeds of animals and their care and feeding.
• Standard and accepted practices of documentation, recordkeeping and reporting for compliance with pertinent state and local guidelines and regulations.

Ability to:

• Organize, implement and direct animal control operations and activities.
• On a continuous basis, know and understand all aspects of the job; intermittently analyze work papers, reports and special projects; identify and interpret technical and numerical information; observe and problem solve operational and technical policy and procedures.
• On a continuous basis, sit at desk or in vehicle for long periods of time; walk and stand during field activities; bend, squat, kneel or twist while working in the field or kennel operations; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation.  Intermittently, twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone and write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and occasionally lift very heavy weight.
• Use chemical restraints, tranquilizers and traps; oversee euthanasia of animals with weapons or chemical immobilizers in a safe and humane manner.
• Operate an emergency vehicle which includes skid training, high speed pursuit, defensive driving, and emergency driving; complete firearm training in order to learn good judgment and competency in the use of deadly force, ancillary police weaponry, and weaponless defense.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, and recommend most effective course of action.
• Interpret and explain pertinent County and department policies and procedures.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of an assigned program budget.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Resolve confrontations in a sensitive manner; exercise tact and good judgment.
• Gather evidence; prepare a case for court; testify in court.
• Care for and safely handle animals, both large and small, including livestock.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Work shifts, standby, weekends and holidays on a rotating basis.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.

Training & Experience Rating (100%)

Based upon responses to the supplemental questionnaire, the applicant’s education, training and experience will be evaluated using a pre-determined formula.  Scores from this evaluation will determine applicant ranking and placement on the eligible list.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants for regular full and part-time positions must pass a medical examination which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation. Applicants for extra help positions may be subject to a drug screening. All applicants must sign a constitutional oath, submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S. and be fingerprinted. For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, be bonded or undergo a background check.

All new permanent employees, with the exception of sworn law enforcement and management, shall be required to join the employee organization or pay an 'Agency Fee' as a condition of employment.

The eligible list(s) resulting from this recruitment may be certified as a substitute list for a substantially similar classification.  For this purpose, a substantially similar classification is one at a lower level in the same classification (example: entry level vs. journey) and/or a similar classification (similar work performed, similar training and experience qualifications required). If you are contacted for an interview by a County department, you will be informed of the classification and other relevant information. If you choose not to interview for a substantially similar classification, you will remain on the eligible list for which you originally applied.

Placer County now offers an expedited process for qualifying certain applicants for interviews. Candidates currently employed, or employed within the last year, by a public agency operating under a personnel civil service or merit system may be eligible to be placed on a Public Agency Eligible List and certified as eligible for appointment to a similar job assignment without going through the examination process. For more information on the Public Agency Eligible List, to download forms, or to apply, please visit our website at: http://www.jobaps.com/placer/sup/abfreenames.asp.

Thank you for your interest in employment with Placer County. Placer County is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an active nondiscrimination program. It is the stated policy of Placer County that harassment and retaliation is prohibited and that all employees and applicants shall receive equal consideration and treatment. All recruitment, hiring, transfer and promotion will be based on the qualifications of the individual for the positions being filled regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, color, ancestry, religious creed, national origin, physical disability (Including HIV and AIDS), mental disability, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristics/information), age (40 or over), marital status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local laws or ordinance. Please contact the Personnel Department at least 5 working days before a scheduled examination if you require accommodation in the examination process. Medical disability verification may be required prior to accommodation.

The following information represents benefits currently available to permanent Placer County employees and may be subject to change.  It is advisable that applicants inquire as to the most current benefit package during hiring interviews or by contacting the Personnel Department.

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