Position Description

Senior Animal Control Officer
$4,514 - $6,166 per Month

Final Filing Date: September 23, 2024

Exam # 24/34C02/08PH

SUMMARY OF POSITION
Animal Services Bureau is looking for a dynamic and motivated Senior Animal Control Officer (ACO) to provide daily oversight and direction to the Field Services team as they all work to enforce local animal control ordinance and ensure the humane treatment of animals. An ideal candidate will have prior ACO experience, excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and leadership skills that allow them to be an example as well as provide guidance to staff. It is also important that this person have excellent customer service skills and can demonstrate compassion to both animals and their people.

In additional to field assignments and the oversight of the field services team, the Senior ACO will also provide some oversight on the department’s permit programs, potentially dangerous dog/vicious dog investigations and rabies control program. This position will initially start as a Monday - Friday shift but may transition to a Tuesday - Saturday shift as the needs of the department grow.

Hitchcock Road Animal Services is a Joint Power Agency between the County of Monterey and City of Salinas. The County of Monterey acts as the lead agency and all employees are hired by the County of Monterey. While protecting, promoting, and enhancing the health, safety, and quality of life for companion animals and people within Monterey County, Animal Services performs duties that include field services for the impoundment of animals roaming at large; the treatment, control, and prevention of rabies in animals; the permitting of kennels, pet shops, rooster keeping in Monterey County; as well as responding to animal nuisance and code issues such as aggressive animals, dog barking, animal bites and enforcement of local animal related ordinances. Animal services also provides animal sheltering for stray and lost animals found in the County of Monterey, City of Salinas and other contracting cities; pet licensing for dogs and cats as required by state and local ordinances; veterinary services for care of and spay/neuter of animals that are housed within the shelter; and volunteer and education services that has a robust volunteer program and provides education and community outreach to increase and promote responsible pet ownership and HRAS services.

The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise.

Examples of Duties

• Assists Animal Services Supervisor (Control) with planning, scheduling, assigning, and monitoring daily activities of Animal Control Officers; oversees the daily operation of animal control activities, a 24-7 operation, in the absence of the Animal Services Supervisor - Field; reports to the supervisor periodically on individual work accomplishments, problems, progress in mastering tasks and work processes, and training needs.
• Conducts the more complex vicious dog investigations or oversees investigations performed by other officers; recommends actions to be taken by the Department regarding the continued maintenance of declared vicious dogs; impounds repeat offending vicious dogs and/or issues citations to owners/custodians.
• Administers breeding/boarding kennel permit process. Inspects facilities; approves or denies application; issues permits and licenses and collects fees.
• Provides and assists supervisor with on-the-job training and instructions to subordinate staff; provides input to performance evaluations and makes recommendations to the supervisor/manager regarding recognition of outstanding performance and performance improvement required.
• Ensures that staff members are aware of and in compliance with established safety practices and procedures.
• Patrols an assigned geographical area of the County, provides technical support to other animal control officers in the field, and assists less experienced Animal Control Officers in the performance of duties; works with a member of the Sheriff’s Department on highly charged matters such as dog attacks, cruelty to animals, etc.
• Responds to and investigates complaints concerning possible violations of animal control laws. Issues citations for violations of animal control and licensing laws.
• Captures and impounds stray, injured, unlicensed, vicious or quarantined animals, euthanizes severely injured animals in the field which are too agonal to transport to a veterinary hospital.
• Participates in rabies control programs.

To view the complete job description, please visit the Monterey County website: Senior Animal Control Officer

Examples of Experience/Education/Training

THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Will have a proven track record demonstrating the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Thorough Knowledge of:

• Methods and techniques used in the capture, control, care handling and disposal of various breeds of animals.
• Physical and behavioral characteristics, normal and abnormal animal behavior.
• Causes, symptoms and the safe handling of rabid animals; protective legal regulations for this disease; required quarantine reports and procedures.
• County ordinances and State laws related to the control, protection, and licensing of animals including Fish and Game, Agriculture, Health and Safety, Business and Professional, Penal, etc., related to animals.
• Care and feeding of common breeds of cats and dogs.

Some Knowledge of:

• Basic practices and techniques in leading a work crew including assist and organize team to accomplish work; coach, facilitate, solve work problems, and recommend disciplinary measures as needed.

Skill and Ability to:

• Plan and organize own work and work independently on specialized assignments.
• Train new staff in proper control and licensing of animals, and in the care of impounded animals.
• Quickly assess a situation and take appropriate action.
• Establish and maintain effective work relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Recognize symptoms of rabies and other animal diseases.
• Read and interpret regulatory provisions.
• Humanely and safely handle frightened, injured, ill and/or aggressive animals.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing, in order to understand and carry out oral and written directions, and prepare clear, complete reports.

EXAMPLES OF EXPERIENCE/EDUCATION/TRAINING
Any combination of training, education and/or experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities and required conditions of employment is qualifying. An example of a way these requirements might be acquired is:

• Two (2) years of experience performing a variety of animal control duties in a class comparable to the classification of Animal Control Officer with Monterey County.

Additional Information

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• Successfully complete a background check to include fingerprinting.
• Possess and maintain a valid California Class C driver’s license or the ability to provide suitable transportation that is approved by the appointing authority.
• Requires satisfactory completion of PC 832 training in Search, Seizure, Arrest and Firearms within 6 months of hire according to Penal Code 830.9.
• Be available to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and during times of disaster and/or emergency.
• Ability to exercise tact, self-restraint, good judgment and strategy in dealing with members of the general public, including individuals who may be angry, hostile or distraught; and to promote the good will of the public by acting with courtesy when dealing with difficult and potentially explosive animal control situations.
• Ability to tolerate and implement the destruction of animals.
• Pursuant to Section 2039 of the State of California Code of Regulations, Title 16, successful completion of euthanasia training and certification is required for positions in this class at the time of hire.
• Pursuant to California Penal Code 830.9 successful completion of a course in the exercise of powers of arrest pursuant to Section 832.

BENEFITS: The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Bargaining Unit J Benefit Summary Sheet . This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

NOTES:

• As a condition of employment, prospective employees may be required to submit to a background review which may include a review of information concerning present and/or prior employment, driving record, and record of any criminal convictions.
• Employment is contingent upon acceptable documentation verifying identity and authorization for employment in the U.S.; a list of acceptable documents is available on the USCIS Form I-9.
• If you are hired into this classification in a temporary position, your rate of pay will be hourly, and you will not be eligible for the benefits listed in the summary.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCEDURES
Apply on-line at https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/montereycounty

by the final filing date of Monday, September 23, 2024, at 11:59 PM (PST)

OR

Hard copy applications may be obtained from and submitted during normal business hours,

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM by contacting: Michelle Cazola

Monterey County Health Department

Attn: Human Resources Division

1270 Natividad Road

Salinas, CA 93906.

Phone: (831) 755-4519 Fax: (831) 796-8682

The selection process is tentative, and applicants will be notified if changes are made. To assess applicants' possession of required qualifications, the examination process may include an oral examination, pre-examination exercises, performance examination, and/or written examination. The competitive examination process includes submittal of required application materials. A complete application package will include:

• A completed County of Monterey Employment Application
• Responses to the Supplemental Questions

Applicants who fail to provide all required materials by the final filing deadline will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, letters of interest, and other correspondence will not be accepted as a substitute for required application materials. All required application materials will be competitively evaluated. Those applicants that are determined to be the most appropriately qualified will be invited to participate further in the selection process.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:
Monterey County is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer. The County seeks candidates who can make contributions in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity. Monterey County is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact Jeremy Hathaway, Human Resources Management Analyst I, at (831) 755 - 4749 or hathawayj@countyofmonterey.gov.

http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/human-resources/human-resources/benefits/benefit-summary-sheet

Closing Date/Time: 9/23/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

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