Position InformationAre you passionate about animal welfare and committed to public safety? The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services (DHS) is looking for dedicated individuals to join their Animal Services team as an Animal Control Officer. Apply today!Starting salary up to $31.51/hour ($65,765/year) and a competitive total compensation package!*The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services is currently recruiting to fill an Animal Control Officer position at either the I or II levels. If you are interested in applying at the II level, you will need to apply to the separate, concurrent recruitment being conducted.
About the Position The County of Sonoma's Department of Health Services is seeking a dedicated and compassionate individual to join their team as an Animal Control Officer (ACO). This role is essential in ensuring the safety and well-being of both animals and residents within our community. Responsibilities include:
- Enforcing local and state animal control laws and ordinances
- Responding to and investigating reports of stray, injured, or dangerous animals
- Capturing and impounding stray or at-large animals, using safe and humane methods
- Conducting animal welfare checks and investigating cases of animal cruelty or neglect
- Collaborating with local law enforcement, veterinary services, and animal shelters
- Preparing detailed reports and maintaining accurate records of incidents and actions taken
The ideal candidate will have a passion for animal welfare, excellent problem-solving skills, and the ability to handle challenging situations with professionalism and care. Additionally, they will possess:
- Previous experience working in animal control, law enforcement, or other related fields
- Knowledge of animal behavior, care, and safe handling techniques
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays
- Physical ability to perform duties, including lifting and restraining animals of various sizes
The Sonoma County Animal Shelter provides services on a 24-hour/7-day a week basis, and as such, ACOs are expected to be available to work some weekends and holidays. ACOs are also assigned standby coverage several nights a week and are on-call for emergency situations. Officers wear a County-provided uniform and all assigned equipment on a duty belt, plus a ballistic vest. The department has a three-month field training program for new officers.
NOTE: Completion of, or eligibility to, obtain certification of P.O.S.T. in the use of firearms and exercising powers of arrest as specified in California Penal Code 830.9 as required, within one year of the date of employment.
What We Offer Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- Salary Advancement - A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security
- Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
- Student Loan Debt Relief - County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .
This recruitment is being conducted to fill an Animal Control Officer position at either the I or II level in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list.
Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Minimum QualificationsEducation and experience: Any combination of education and experience which would provide for the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, experience of a responsible nature involving public contact in situations requiring the exercise of tact and good judgment coupled with experience in the care and control of animals or in law enforcement will provide the knowledge and abilities.
License: Possession of an Animal Health Technician Certificate is highly desirable. Possession of a valid driver’s license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Special Requirements: Completion of P.O.S.T. course work and certification in the use of firearms and exercising powers of arrest as specified in Penal Code 830.9 is required within one year of the date of employment.
Knowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesWorking knowledge of: grammar, spelling, and punctuation sufficient to write reports.
Knowledge of: the physical and behavior characteristics of common breeds of domestic animals and livestock.
Ability to: read, learn and understand laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to animal and rabies control, and the licensing of animals; understand and follow oral and written instructions; exercise tact and good judgment in dealing with the public; analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action in emergency and stressful situations; learn the techniques of capturing, corralling, herding and controlling animals and performing euthanasia; maintain records and prepare accurate and concise reports; speak and write effectively; learn to safely use and care for small firearms and other assigned equipment; drive a light truck with or without a trailer; demonstrate strength and agility to insure effective performance of prescribed duties; lift, carry, handle and transport animals weighing over 75 pounds.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED.Responses to supplemental questions may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.
Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: BH
HR Technician: RR
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan : Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generousCounty contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Student Loan Debt Relief :County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
