Supervising Animal Care Officer

The Supervising Animal Care Officer will be responsible for supervising a group of Senior Animal Care Officers, Animal Care Officers, Animal Control Assistants, and other administrative positions and will assist the Field Services Manager in the administration of Animal Control Field Services. They will also act as liaison between the community at large, city officials, private agencies and Animal Control as part of Field Services.

Responsibilities and duties for this position include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Supervise a team of Senior Animal Care Officers, Animal Care Officers, Animal Control Assistants, and other administrative staff in the performance of their duties.
• Assist management with the day-to-day operations of various programs within Field Services.
• Train, mentor, and coach others in the profession of animal care and control.
• Evaluate employee performance, coach subordinate staff, encourage skill development and, when appropriate, participate in the disciplinary process.
• Enforce County and State laws and departmental policies that pertain to the field of animal care and control.
• Interact safely and professionally with the public during tense and at times hostile situations.
• Prepare written reports and other materials in a legible, concise and accurate manner for potential court cases.
• Interact safely and professionally with healthy, sick or injured domestic, wild and exotic animals.
• Investigate and document reports of animal cruelty or neglect, amongst emotional and sometimes disturbing situations.
• Investigate animal bites and reports of aggressive animals.
• Safely and effectively secure a variety of domestic and wild animals in various circumstances.
• Assist other officers by receiving and dispatching calls for service.
• Educate the public on County and State laws, animal care standards, and responsible pet ownership.
• Rescue animals from situations or circumstances which could endanger their health or well-being.
• Testify in court or administrative hearings as needed on a variety of cases.
• Pick up and remove deceased animals from public and private properties.

Work Assignments: Assignments in this classification may involve a variety of placements, such as field work, office work, including administrative oversight of various Field Services programs, coverage in our dispatch unit/call center, or assisting other sections of OC Animal Care, such as the kennel, veterinary, or clerical units, as determined by the business needs of the department.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule of this assignment will consist of rotating assignments that may consist of four to five day work weeks, depending on business needs. Shift schedules generally rotate every four months. OC Animal Care provides service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year, including weekends and holidays.

Field Services currently has four primary shifts providing continuous staff coverage throughout the day and overnight, although other assignments may be assigned or available. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends and holidays. Incumbents may be drafted for mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency, disaster, or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages.

Special Requirements
Must pass a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County of Orange.

Incumbents must maintain the ability to legally possess, utilize, and transport controlled substances for humane euthanasia and tranquilization. Note: Some criminal convictions may preclude applicants from legally possessing, utilizing and transporting controlled substances.

In compliance with California Code of Regulations, Title 8, §5144, Respirator Protection, incumbents will be required to utilize a respirator for certain aspects of their job duties to protect against odors, harmful respiratory contaminants and/or particulates. Incumbents will need to be able to work in a moderate to heavy physical capacity while wearing the respirator. Incumbents will need to pass a respiratory equipment fit test with Orange County Employee Health Services to ensure proper sizing and protection.

License/Certification
Must possess and maintain a current, valid California Driver’s License (Class C).
 
Incumbents must be able to obtain a certificate of successful completion for a California Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Course, Penal Code §832 Laws of Arrest, within six (6) months of employment.
 
Incumbents are required to successfully complete training in compliance with California Business and Professions Code §4827(d) in order to obtain a certificate to perform humane euthanasia in the state of California within six (6) months of employment.
 
Incumbents are required to successfully complete training in compliance with the California Code of Regulations §2039.5 in order to legally transport and utilize controlled substances for humane euthanasia and tranquilization in the state of California, within six (6) months of employment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Please click here for details on the Supervising Animal Care Officer classification, including the physical, mental, environmental and working conditions.
 
NOTE: Foreign degrees require an evaluation of U.S. equivalency by an agency that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (N.A.C.E.S.).

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS AND CORE COMPETENCIES 
In addition to the minimum qualifications, the ideal candidate will also have extensive experience in the following core competencies:

Technical Expertise

• Significant experience in the animal control or animal welfare industry.
• Experience training, mentoring, and/or leading others in a professional setting.
• A college degree in communications, criminal justice, public administration, animal science, zoology, or other relevant subject matter.
• Training or work experience as a veterinary assistant or a veterinary technician.
• Training or work experience in an animal shelter, humane society, or animal control environment.
• Significant experience handling animals.
• Experience handling exotic animals or livestock.
• Training, knowledge or experience in the care and maintenance of domestic or wild animals.
• Training, knowledge or experience in animal behavioral evaluation or assessment.
• Prior training or experience in a professional enforcement setting.
• Knowledge of legal procedures, the criminal justice system, or the animal control industry.

Leadership & Supervisory Skills

• Provides leadership to ensure positive working relationships with others.
• Holds others accountable.
• Able to train, coach and mentor others providing appropriate level of feedback.
• Provide employees with guidance in handling difficult or complex problems or in resolving escalated complaints or disputes.
• Supervise the work of employees to ensure adherence to quality standards, deadlines and proper procedures, correcting errors or problems.

Oral Communication & Writing Skills

• Effectively able to accurately and concisely exchange information with peers and the members of the public both orally and in writing.
• Relay confidence when communicating information; clearly and concisely composes written documents to convey information with accuracy.
• Effectively interprets, follows, and applies written and oral instruction.
• Actively listens to others for full understanding of what is being communicated.
• Ability to recall and recreate detailed conversation or events.
• Training, knowledge or experience in conflict resolution or tactical communication.

Customer Service Skills

• Providing courteous and professional customer service to all clients and members of the public.
• Applying knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including complex problem solving to manage stressful situations effectively.
• Anticipating and meeting customer (internal/external) needs in all situations.