Animal Services Manager

Click here for detailed position information.

To plan, organize, manage, and coordinate the programmatic, administrative, and operational activities of Animal Services; to direct, manage, and supervise the work of Animal Services staff/team members; to establish and implement Animal Services objectives and performance standards; to promote, coordinate, and participate in collaborative activities, programs, and projects with outside agencies and department staff.

The Animal Services Manager job class has overall responsibility for management and administration of Animal Services; provides coordination/liaison with County departments and outside agencies; provides full second-line, direct supervision to Animal Services staff and is responsible for compliance with all relevant County, State, and Federal laws, regulations, and agreements. 

Receives general direction from a Client Services Program Director.

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

• Plan, organize, and manage programmatic, administrative, and operational activities in support of Animal Services; oversee and coordinate the allocation of designated resources, administer the record keeping and reporting functions, and ensure compliance with stated mission, goals, regulations, and guidelines.
• Establish programs’ objectives and performance standards; evaluate programs’ operations and activities in terms of over-all effectiveness and compliance; implement improvements and modifications as necessary; and adjust over-all goals and objectives in response to program directives and/or client needs.
• Develop, coordinate, and participate in collaborative activities, programs, and projects to maximize available resources and responsiveness to clients; provide necessary and requested resources; act as team member/leader for assigned projects/opportunities.
• Develop, implement, and manage administrative and operational systems and processes to maximize the effectiveness and responsiveness of Animal Services; act as professional and managerial resource to program staff, project teams, and clients as well as other County departments and departmental colleagues in a positive and supportive manner.
• Plan, organize, and direct animal control field and shelter operations, including oversight of kennels, monitor and determine the quarantining of potentially rabid and/or dangerous animals; and coordinate animal licensing programs.
• Develop, implement, and maintain a public information campaign to educate the public on the Animal Services operations; present educational information to affiliated agencies and law enforcement community.
• Provide professional and managerial expertise in support of assigned and multiple program areas as well as the department’s over-all mission, goals, objectives, and directives; act as a primary resource to the department’s Policy Counsel, boards, committees, contractors, and clients in the planning, development, and implementation of department’s activities in targeted and/or proposed program areas.
• Collaborate with appropriate departments, programs, and work units to secure advice, resources, and technical services necessary to achieve assigned programs’ goals, objectives, and directives in accordance with mutually agreed upon time frames and in compliance with pertinent guidelines and regulations.
• Participate in budget preparation and administration for Animal Services; preparing cost estimates/projections, submitting justifications for requested resources, and monitoring and controlling expenditures.
• Direct, oversee, and administer contracts for service/care providers in the implementation of Animal  Services; review and evaluate quality of service and contract compliance; verify billings and payments; respond to inquiries and trouble-shoot complaints; and represent the department and Animal Services to contractors and vendors.
• Represent the department and Animal Services to other organizations, local communities, special interest groups, schools, businesses, clients, and the general public; act as primary and major resource regarding assigned programs; respond to inquiries; and promote the department’s mission and goals.
• Establish and maintain positive and open communications with other department programs, projects, and multi-disciplinary teams, including the SPCA and other local non-profit animal care organizations, civic groups, County employees, local government officials, the public, and the media; coordinate data, resources, and work products as necessary and upon request in support of a productive and positive working environment.
• Perform related duties as required.

It is the applicant's responsibility to identify in their application materials how they meet the Minimum Qualifications listed below.

Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible administrative , management, licensing, patrolling, kenneling and/or enforcement work in an animal care/protection or law enforcement agency, with at least two of the five years experience performing supervisory functions.

Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in business administration, public administration, health administration, animal science, or closely 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.

Relevant, equivalent experience (performing the same or similar job requiring similar knowledge, skills, and abilities) may be substituted for the required education as determined by the Personnel Department. 

Applicants receiving their degree outside the United States must submit proof of accreditation by a recognized evaluation agency.

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and techniques used in animal control, custody, and care.
• Pertinent local, State and Federal laws, regulations, and ordinances.
• Modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment.
• Principles and practices of research, analysis and management.
• Budgeting procedures and techniques.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluations.
• Cultural, religious, economic, and social groups and their relationship to the delivery and acceptance of services.

Ability to:

• Organize, implement, and direct Animal Services 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 a desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone, and communicate through written means; and lift light weight.
• Interpret and explain pertinent local, State, and Federal laws regulations, and ordinances; and, Countywide and departmental policies and procedures.
• Plan, organize, and implement Animal  Services through multi-disciplinary and multi-agency programs that include public, private, and contract agencies/providers.
• Assist in the development and monitoring of an assigned program budget.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures related to assigned operations.
• Work with various cultural and ethnic groups in a tactful and effective manner.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the performance of required duties.

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.

All applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be required to respond to an online Conviction History Questionnaire, which will be sent as a link on their notification that minimum qualifications have been met.  Failure to respond to this questionnaire within (3) three calendar days of the minimum qualification notification will result in disqualification from the examination.

Prior to the date of hire, applicants must undergo a fingerprint test by the Department of Justice, pass a medical examination, which may include a drug screening and possibly a psychological evaluation, sign a constitutional oath and submit proof of U.S. citizenship or legal right to remain and work in the U.S.  For some positions, applicants may also be required to submit proof of age, undergo a background investigation and/or be bonded.

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 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 Human Resources 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 Human Resources Department.

Click here to view benefits for Management bargaining unit

Recruitment Timeline (approximate)

Minimum Qualifications Screening Complete:  8/10/2016

Conviction History Questionnaire (CHQ) Emailed:  8/10/2016

CHQ Responses Due: (CHQ email will confirm response due date.)  8/15/2016

Eligible List Established/Rank Notices Emailed:  8/31/2016

Interviews:  Applicants selected for hiring interviews will be contacted directly by the hiring division.