Animal Services Officer I/II/III, Grade 17/18/20

WHO WE ARE

The Montgomery County Office of Animal Services is responsible for providing animal related services to the citizens of Montgomery County, MD from its headquarters located in Derwood, MD.  

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The Office of Animal Services (OAS) is currently recruiting for a full-time Animal Services Officer (ASO) who is passionate about providing a high standard of service to the community. The ideal candidate will possess excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as demonstrated attention to detail. They must be able to work independently and manage multiple tasks simultaneously while always maintaining a professional demeanor, especially when interacting with the public. Additionally, the candidate should be knowledgeable about State and County laws and regulations relating to animal cruelty, animal neglect (including domestic animals, horses, and livestock), wildlife, and other animal-related public safety or nuisance issues. 

To ensure a positive workplace and comply with Federal, State, and County laws, the incumbent is responsible for completing various mandatory trainings within the first three to six months of hire.

ASOs enforce county and state laws and complete tasks related to the care, control, and licensing of animals within Montgomery County. They respond to sick and injured animals, conduct animal rescues, handle stray animal calls, and address various other animal-related complaints. ASOs investigate citizen complaints and respond to animal emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This position collaborates with all other areas of Animal Services, including Dispatch, Veterinary Services, Adoptions, and Admissions. The role requires shift work including days, nights, weekends, and holidays, and involves overnight “Stand-By” coverage on a rotating schedule. ASOs are essential employees expected to work during periods of general emergency or when there is a need for liberal leave.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Investigating complaints concerning public nuisance and dangerous animals.
• Investigating allegations of animal cruelty and neglect.
• Investigating animal bites and placing animals in quarantine, and preparing animals for laboratory analysis.
• Coordinating call responses with dispatchers, ensuring a complete record of each call for service.
• Communicating effectively and persuasively with the public, employees, management, government agencies, and public officials to explain numerous County and State ordinances, statutes, violations, and required corrective action about animal care, control, and licensing.
• Explaining problems, gathering information, and gaining voluntary compliance to resolve complaints.
• Responding to inquiries and providing information regarding various animal-related programs, i.e., feral cats, spay/neuter, rabies, vaccinations, etc.
• Handling a high volume of cases, often including stressful situations, and interacting with confused, upset, insulting, and argumentative people in a calm and rational manner.
• Issuing warnings and citations, applying for warrants, writing statements of charges, and preparing accurate and detailed written documents. All of this is done with organized thoughts and using proper grammar to convey the appropriate ordinance, facts, and information.
• Documenting call responses, violations, animal bite information, and animal impound, concisely and entirely in the OAS computer database. Gathering evidence pertinent to an investigation and providing testimony in District Court, Circuit Court, and other administrative proceedings on behalf of the County and State.
• Inspecting animal-related businesses such as commercial and fancier animal facilities, exotic bird facilities, and riding stables yearly.
• Capturing and transporting animals, both domestic and wild, to the appropriate facility safely and without harm to the ASO, staff, public, and animals.
• Performing other job-related duties as assigned.

Essential Personnel

The individual selected for this position will be considered an “Essential Employee.”  Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave.

Background

A background investigation will be conducted on the selected candidate prior to appointment and will be a significant factor in the hiring decision.

 

Minimum Qualifications

If filled at the Animal Services Officer I, Grade 17 level:
Experience:  Two (2) years of experience in animal-related work in caring for and handling of animals in a facility such as animal shelter, veterinary clinic, pet store, research lab, or similar facility; OR Two (2) years of experience in either code enforcement, law enforcement or work involving public contact, interpreting, explaining, enforcing rules and regulations.
Substitution:  Possession of a Registered Veterinary Technician Certificate issued by the State of Maryland may be substituted for one (1) year of the required experience.

If filled at the Animal Services Officer II, Grade 18  level:
Experience:  Three (3) years of experience in one or more of the following areas: animal services code enforcement, law enforcement work, animal sheltering, or veterinary work; AND One (1) year of code enforcement work directly related to animal services activities.
Equivalency:  An equivalent combination of training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

FOR ALL LEVELS:
Education:  Graduation from High School or High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland.
License Requirement:  Possession and maintenance at all times of a valid Class "C" (or equivalent) driver’s license from the applicant's state of residence.
Work Environment:  Perform work indoors and outdoors under all weather conditions and involves exposure to dust, dirt, biomatter (including bodily fluids, animal wastes, pests, and bacteria/disease), etc., and employees may enter dilapidated structures to perform their assignments. Employees are subject to working shifts, stand-by, on-call, weekends, and holidays as assigned.
Essential Personnel:  The individual selected for this position will be considered an “Essential Employee.”  Essential employees must report to work during a period of general emergency or liberal leave.
Background Investigation:  A background investigation will be conducted on the selected candidate prior to appointment and will be a significant factor in the hiring decision.
Medical Examination: The selected candidates will be required to successfully complete a medical exam and drug screen. A rabies vaccine may need to be administered to the selected candidate if not previously vaccinated. 

Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences

The interview selection will be based on the following interview preference criteria:  The applications of those individuals meeting the minimum qualifications will be reviewed to determine the extent, relevance of training, and experience in the following areas:

1.  Experience with animal control laws, animal care, and behavior.
2. Experience in capturing, handling, and transporting fractious animals.
3. Experience using animal control or law enforcement systems and applications, including dispatch and call-taking operations.
4. Experience in preparing and testifying at administrative and other legal proceedings.