Animal Control Supervisor I

Nash County, NC; Nashville (NC); On-site; USD 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Nash County, NC is seeking an Animal Control Supervisor to oversee daily field operations for four Animal Control Officers, coordinate response, enforce ordinances and state laws, and support the Animal Services Director in planning and training.

This on-site leadership role will require collaboration with law enforcement, public health, veterinarians, and community partners to uphold humane animal welfare standards.

Qualifications

• Graduation from high school and three years of experience in Animal Control, Animal Shelter operations, or Law Enforcement; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of hire and maintain it throughout the course of employment.

Responsibilities

• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the Animal Control Division.
• Coordinates daily animal control operations, service calls, patrol activities, investigations, and emergency response.
• Prepares reports and maintains Animal Control files and records.
• Promotes responsible pet ownership and positive community relations.
• Attends training courses to stay updated on best practices.
• Testifies in court and administrative proceedings as required.
• Communicates with law enforcement, public health officials, veterinarians, and partner agencies.
• Assists with hiring, onboarding, and training of new Animal Control Officers.
• Reviews incident reports and documentation for accuracy and completeness.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Public safety coordination

Animal welfare knowledge

Policy development

Job description

Primary Purpose of Position:

The Animal Control Supervisor oversees daily field operations for four Animal Control Officers. This position is responsible for coordinating animal control response, enforcing applicable animal ordinances and North Carolina laws, supporting public safety, ensuring humane animal handling, and providing leadership to staff engaged in animal welfare and enforcement activities. The Animal Control Supervisor performs both supervisory and field duties, including responding to complex or high-risk animal control calls, investigating complaints, preparing reports and case documentation, assisting with court-related matters, and supporting the Animal Services Director in planning, training, policy implementation, and operational oversight.

Work Schedule:

Varies; may include evenings, weekends, holidays, emergency response, and on-call duty. The regular work schedule is 8AM-5PM, Monday-Friday.

• Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the Animal Control Division. Develops policies and procedures for the efficient operation of the Animal Control Program.
• Assigns, directs, inspects, and evaluates the performance of four Animal Control Officers; coaches, counsels, and disciplines four Animal Control Officers; develops on-call schedules for four Animal Control Officers.
• Coordinates daily animal control operations, service calls, patrol activities, investigations, and emergency response.
• Prepares reports and other types of correspondence; prepares and maintains Animal Control files and records.
• Promotes responsible pet ownership, public education, compliance with animal ordinances, and positive community relations.
• Attends various training courses, seminars and conferences to maintain knowledge of current trends and developments in job-related skills and techniques.
• Coordinates annual rabies vaccination clinic with local veterinarians. Ensures that clinics are adequately advertised to the public.
• Testifies in court, administrative hearings, dangerous dog hearings, or other proceedings as required.
• Communicates with law enforcement, public health officials, veterinarians, emergency management, rescue organizations, municipal staff, county departments, and other partner agencies.
• Supports development and implementation of standard operating procedures, training materials, safety protocols, and operational improvement for Animal Control.
• Assists with hiring, onboarding, training, and field training of new Animal Control Officers.
• Monitors officer compliance with departmental policies, safety procedures, animal handling protocols, records management requirements, and customer service expectations.
• Reviews incident reports, citations, notices, bite reports, investigation files, photographs, body-worn or vehicle camera footage if applicable, and other documentation for accuracy and completeness.
• Provides guidance and support to officers in the field, including complex investigations, aggressive animal situations, bite cases, cruelty complaints, and citizen disputes.
• Ensures officers use humane, safe, and legally compliant animal capture, restraint, transport, impoundment, and handling practices.
• Enforces local animal control ordinances and applicable North Carolina General Statutes related to animal welfare, rabies control, dangerous dogs, public health, and public safety.

• Ensures Animal Control timesheets are accurate and submits them to the Animal Services Director each pay period.
• Performs weekly inspections of Animal Control vehicles to ensure compliance with established cleaning standards.
• Assists the Animal Services Director in gathering materials needed to respond to public records requests and submits them in a timely manner.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Thorough knowledge of animal control operations, humane animal handling, field enforcement practices, and shelter-related procedures.
• Working knowledge of North Carolina animal-related laws, rabies control requirements, dangerous dog provisions, animal cruelty statutes, and local ordinances.
• Knowledge of investigative techniques, evidence collection, report writing, citation procedures, and courtroom testimony.
• Ability to supervise, schedule, train, coach, and evaluate employees.
• Ability to make sound decisions in high-pressure, emotionally charged, or potentially dangerous situations.
• Ability to safely capture, restrain, transport, and handle domestic animals, livestock, and other animals encountered in the field.
• Ability to recognize signs of animal illness, injury, neglect, cruelty, aggression, or behavioral concerns.
• Ability to communicate effectively with the public, elected officials, law enforcement, public health personnel, veterinarians, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to interpret and apply ordinances, statutes, policies, and procedures consistently and fairly.
• Ability to prepare clear, accurate, and detailed reports, case files, citations, correspondence, and records.
• Ability to use computers, mobile devices, radios, animal services software, mapping tools, and standard office applications.
• Ability to de-escalate conflict and provide professional customer service in difficult situations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize calls, and coordinate multiple field activities simultaneously.

ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Regular and reliable attendance at work location is an essential function of this position. Work is generally performed indoors and outdoors and requires a considerable amount of physical activity including walking, running, standing, kneeling, bending, crouching, reaching, stooping and climbing. Duties require the physical and mental ability to work with animals, which may be considered dangerous at times. In addition, job duties require the ability to tolerate an indoor and outdoor work environment, which includes contact with dust, dirt, noise and inclement weather. Employee must have the physical strength and agility to move and/or control resistant or immobilized animals, and to move, push, pull, lift, and/or carry up to seventy-five pounds (75 lbs.), unassisted, on a frequent basis. Employee must possess the coordination and manual dexterity necessary to maneuver a net, rope or other devices utilized in the capturing of animals.

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Graduation from high school and three years of experience in Animal Control, Animal Shelter operations, or Law Enforcement; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.

Must possess a valid driver’s license at the time of hire and maintain it throughout the course of employment.