Minimum Qualifications
Education and/or Equivalent Experience: - Graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus one (1) year of experience in a field related to customer service
Licenses or Certifications: - Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License.
- Basic Animal Control Training must be completed within six (6) months of hire.
- Notary Public must be obtained within six (6) months of hire.
- Euthanasia Technician course must be completed and must pass exam within (6) months of hire.
Notes to Applicants
Who Are We?Austin Animal Center‘s mission is to enhance the lives of pets and people by preventing animal homelessness, to help lost pets find their way home or find new homes, to provide education and resources to preserve the human-animal bond, and to administer animal-related ordinances to ensure public and animal safety, all while achieving a 95% live outcome rate for sheltered pets.
Why work here?
If you love animals and want to make a positive impact on our community this is the place for you!We at Austin Animal Center is committed to the wellbeing of animals in our community and shelter. On a daily basis, the work we do here helps hundreds of animals and people within our network.
Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits such low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more. Please click
HERE for more information.
What is the Job?The Animal Protection unit is seeking someone who will share our commitment to the programs and services that support the shelter’s live outcome goal. We work to build trust in the community through a message that balances community engagement with enforcement. Our goal is to explore available options to ensure that the Austin/Travis County animals remain with their families whenever possible. They will minimize the need for animal sheltering services by effectively addressing an individual’s barriers to pet retention and connecting the individual with the resources that will enable them to keep their pet in the home. By providing resources as well as listening to concerns, the Animal Protection Unit does its part to keep the City of Austin No-Kill.
The Animal Protection Officer will respond to citizen calls for animal service issues including but not limited to rabies exposure investigations, stray animals, police assists, animal neglect investigations, and injured animals. Additional support to our goal is to communicate with citizens about bite prevention and responsible pet ownership. This position will safely and humanely capture and transport animals, including those who are sick, injured or potentially dangerous.
Regarding Your Application: A detailed, complete employment application is required. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position. Be sure to provide job title and employment dates for all jobs you wish to be considered. Please include contact information from previous employers.
Driving Requirement:This position requires a valid Texas Class C Driver License or the ability to acquire one by your hire date. External New Hires must meet the
City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation ( DRE ) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.
If you are selected to interview: Military/Veterans must provide a copy of their DD214 at the time of initial interview to receive military/veteran interview preference.
If you are selected for hire: You must provide proof of education which may include your official college transcript, High School diploma, GED or equivalent degree and your professional licenses. A Criminal Background check ( CBI ) will be conducted.
Additional Information:Animal Service Office worksite locations are tobacco-free. Use of tobacco products and/or e-cigarettes is not permitted on any ASO worksite - including construction sites, parking lot, or in any personal vehicle located on the premises.
Please Note this posting may close any time after 7 days. Pay Range
$21.78 - $24.50 per hour
Hours
This position will work 40 hours per week; the schedule will include one weekend day.
10-Hour Shifts Sunday-Wednesday
This position may be required to work on official City of Austin holidays.
Days and hours subject to change with notice.
This position is considered “essential,” employees may be required to report to work when the City of Austin offices are otherwise closed (bad weather, etc.).
Job Close Date 07/01/2024 Type of Posting External Department Animal Services Regular/Temporary Regular Grant Funded or Pooled Position Not Applicable Category Technical Location Austin Animal Center, 7201 Levander Loop Bldg A 78702 Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Experience: - Experience in a customer service field that requires face to face customer interaction on a regular basis or in a field setting.
- Experience handling animals in a work or volunteer setting.
- Experience writing work reports and data entry.
- Experience building community networks or community-based programs.
- Bilingual in Spanish.
Duties, Functions and Responsibilities
Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
Safely and humanely capture and transport animals, including those who are sick, injured or potentially dangerous. Investigate reports of rabies exposure, dangerous or vicious animals and proper care violations. Participate in prevention services such as teaching bite prevention classes, responsible pet ownership classes, etc. Contribute to the programs and services that support the shelter’s live outcome goal. Establish quarantines and oversee home observations. Respond to observed or reported emergency situations and ordinance violations as well as after-hours emergency calls as needed at the request of citizens and other government agencies such as the Austin Police Department. Answer citizen questions and provide assistance, education regarding responsible animal ownership/ordinance requirements and assist in complaint mediation. Write reports and record data on appropriate log/forms. Dispatch service calls to field personnel. Issue citations; obtain affidavits and testify in court. Euthanize animals when necessary with understanding and compassion for the animal.
Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised: Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed. - Knowledge of animal services and related programs.
- Knowledge of State and local laws, regulations and ordinances concerning animal related issues/complaints.
- Knowledge of City of Austin and Travis County streets, roads, etc.
- Skill in safely handling wild, domestic and livestock animals, including those with unknown temperament.
- Skill in using computers and related software applications.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining good working relationships with other City employees and the public.
- Skill in the use of tools used to capture, restrain and transport animals.
- Skill in verbal and written communication, including the ability to draft grammatically correct, concise reports under strict deadlines.
- Skill in public speaking.
- Skill in handling multiple tasks, prioritizing and problem solving under pressure.
- Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
- Ability to identify animal species and breeds.
- Ability to diffuse heated encounters, both human and animal.
- Adhere to disease management and safety protocols.
Criminal Background Investigation This position has been approved for a Criminal Background Investigation. EEO/ADA
The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.
The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual’s AIDS , AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.
Information For City Employees: If you are an employee within the department, are in good standing and meet both the minimum and preferred qualifications, then you will receive an initial interview.
Supplemental QuestionsRequired fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
* This position requires graduation from an accredited high school or equivalent, plus one (1) year of experience in a field related to customer service. Do you meet these minimum qualifications?
* This position requires a valid Texas Class C Driver License. Do you have a valid Texas Class C Driver license or, if selected for this position, do you the ability to acquire a valid Texas Class C Driver license by your hire date?
* The City of Austin Driver Eligibility Standards require that External New Hires meet the City’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite. To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months. Do you meet this requirement?
* The following certifications relevant to the job must be obtained within the given timelines. The City will pay for any certifications obtained while employed with the City of Austin: 1. Basic Animal Control Certification must be completed within six (6) months of hire. 2. Notary Public must be obtained within six (6) months of hire. 3. Euthanasia Technician course must be completed and must pass exam within (6) months of hire. Are you willing and able to meet these requirements?
* This position requires a criminal background investigation (CBI). By selecting the following, you are acknowledging that you understand if you are selected as a top candidate for this position, you will need a successful CBI to be hired.
- I acknowledge and understand this position requires a Criminal Background Investigation.
* Do you have experience in a work/volunteer environment handling animals?
* Do you have experience managing real-time data entry and reporting?
* Briefly describe your experience building community networks or community-based programs.
(Open Ended Question)
* Briefly describe your experience working in a customer service position that required regular face to face customer interaction or in a field setting.
(Open Ended Question)
* Are you bilingual with the ability to fluently speak and write in both English and Spanish?
Optional & Required DocumentsRequired Documents Optional Documents Resume
