Animal Services Supervisor

City of Fremont; Fremont (CA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Fremont seeks an experienced Animal Services Supervisor to oversee field and shelter operations within the Animal Services Administration of the Police Department. You will supervise staff, coordinate volunteers, and ensure compliance with laws and policies.

You will handle scheduling, training, budget input, and public inquiries while guiding the team in animal care, housing, and humane euthanasia decisions in alignment with city standards.

Qualifications

• College level course work in Administration of Justice and/or Veterinary Technology and four years of animal control experience.
• Experience as a lead worker and/or supervisor is desirable.
• Possession of a Class C Driver License and related driving requirements.

Responsibilities

• Organizes, schedules, assigns, reviews, and participates in the work of Animal Services staff.
• Supervises care and euthanasia of animals and coordinates shelter operations.
• Investigates violations and enforces Fremont Municipal Codes and State laws.
• Responds to public inquiries and coordinates dispatching for field units.
• Prepares complex written reports and participates in budget input.

Skills

Animal control knowledge

Supervision

Training ability

Public speaking

Education

Admin/Justice or Vet Technology studies

Job description

Animal Services Supervisor Specification

Definition

Under direction, supervises and participates in the work of the field and/or animal shelter section of Animal Services Administration of the Police Department; may supervise operations in the absence of the Administrator; and performs related duties as required.

Class Characteristics

This is the non-management, working supervisory level classification in the Animal Services Officer classification series, reporting to an Administrator. Incumbents are assigned to the field services section of Animal Services. The Administrator sets assignments and objectives for the incumbent. Work methodology is the responsibility of the employee within established policies, rules, and/or regulations. Work review is periodic to assure conformance and measure results, or upon employee initiation when significant changes from past procedures, or policy issues are involved. It is distinguished from the Administrator classification by the latter's responsibility to manage the activities of Animal Services. It is distinguished from the next lower level of Animal Services Officer by the latter's responsibility to perform fully qualified journey level animal control work in the field and in the animal shelter. Depending upon assignment, incumbents of positions in this classification work either in the animal shelter or in the field.

All Assignments:

• Organizes, schedules, assigns, reviews, and participates in the performance of work.
• Evaluates and disciplines assigned staff.
• Reviews and provides solutions to technical issues and problems.
• Provides technical training in laws, rules, regulations, processes and procedures related to the administration of the City's animal services program.
• Reviews operations, field developments, and productivity records.
• Determines where improvements can be made and recommends and implements changes.
• Monitors work for adherence to professional and mandated standards, completeness, accuracy and timeliness.
• Investigates state and municipal code violations in the area of animal service and takes enforcement action.
• Collects evidence and obtains statements.
• Provides input in the budget process.
• Prepares complex written reports.
• Receives and responds to phone and radio calls.
• Dispatches calls for service.
• Testifies in administrative hearings and court proceedings for violations of local and state laws.
• Operates two-way radios.
• Communicates orally and in writing with internal and external clients, individually and in-groups.
• Identifies domestic and wildlife animal species.

Animal Shelter Assignment:

• Supervises and participates in the work of Animal Services staff assigned to the animal shelter section.
• Coordinates the activities of volunteers assisting with animal shelter operations.
• Coordinates the public information services of the section.
• Supervises the care and euthanasia of animals.
• Receives and responds to inquires from the public on animal shelter policies and practices.
• May participate in the care, treatment and custody of animals.

Field Services Assignment:

• Supervises and participates in the work of animal services staff assigned to the field section.
• Receives and responds to calls for service either personally or by assigning other staff.
• Enforces animal control laws in the field.
• Investigates animal service requests.
• Issues citations for Fremont Municipal Codes and State laws.
• Coordinates dispatching calls to field units.
• Issues citations and/or warnings.
• Testifies at Administrative Hearings and in Court.
• Impounds, quarantines, and euthanizes live animals.
• Disposes of dead animals.
• Quarantines animals responsible for biting humans.
• Recommends Potentially Dangerous and Dangerous Dog designations and coordinates hearings.

Marginal Functions

All Assignments:

• Participates in the recruitment, examination and hiring process.
• Conducts selection interviews for part time vacancies.
• Prepares and presents animal service education programs.
• Decapitates suspected disease carriers and coordinates the transport of the head or small carcass to the County Health department for analysis.
• Maintains written files and records regarding shelter functions.
• Uses an automated information system to research and maintain license and shelter data.
• Evaluates need for and order supplies.
• Collects fees.
• Prepares receipts.
• Handles cash and prepares cash reports.
• Prepares department forms and reports.
• Maintains written records.
• Collects fees and handles cash transactions.
• Issues dog licenses.
• Cleans animal cages.
• Receives, redeems, adopts, euthanizes and disposes of animals.
• Performs occasional trapping.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of: Laws, rules, and regulations related to animal control activities and animal shelter maintenance; cat, dog and other domestic animal characteristics; general animal behavior and physiology; sanitization protocols for proper kennel and cage cleaning; animal euthanasia by injection; rabies and other zoonotic diseases; recognition and response to common diseases; report writing; court and administrative hearing procedures; and safe work practices; principles and practices of training and supervision; work scheduling; addition, subtraction, multiplication and division of whole numbers, fractions and percents.

Skill to: Operate radio dispatching equipment; lift and carry live and dead weights; use a tranquilizer gun; vaccinate and administer oral medications; and operate a motor vehicle.

Ability to: Plan, organize, supervise and participate in the work of other animal services staff; participate in the hiring process; conduct performance evaluations; recommend, sign, and implement discipline; train subordinates; receive and respond to public service requests; communicate effectively with individuals from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds; read and prepare complex technical reports; identify problems, analyze alternatives and arrive at logical decisions in emergency situations; hear standard radio communications traffic; lift and carry animals; handle frightened, vicious and difficult to handle animals patiently and compassionately; perform cage cleaning; handle sick, injured, vicious or dangerous and dead animals; perform euthanasia on animals; tolerate the cleanup/handling of animal parts, blood, feces and fluids; learn, interpret, and administer City and State laws, ordinances and regulations; investigate violations of applicable law, compile facts and prepare clear and concise reports; and represent the City in cases of violation of animal control laws.

Incumbents must possess the physical and mental capacity to work under the conditions described in this document and to perform the duties required by their assigned position.

Education/Experience

Any combination of education and/or experience that has provided the knowledge and skills necessary to satisfactory job performance would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge and skills would be: College level course work in Administration of Justice and/or Veterinary Technology (formerly known as Animal Health Technology) and four years of progressively responsible animal control experience with a city, county, or humane society. Experience as a lead worker and/or supervisor and/or a two-year college degree in Animal Health Technology or Administration of Justice is highly desirable.

Licenses/Certificates/Special Requirements

This classification requires possession of a Class C Driver License. Failure to maintain this license will result in discipline up to and including termination. Possession of valid certificates in Standard First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and successful completion of a Penal Code 832 course within first year of employment. State certification to perform euthanasia is required prior to employment. Possession of a valid Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) certificate (formerly known as Animal Health Technician certificate) issued by the State of California may be substituted for one year of the above stated experience requirement. May be required to work weekends, holidays, nights, and rotating shifts; respond to emergency animal services assignments during off-duty hours; wear a uniform.

Physical and Environmental Demands

Rare = < 10%, Occasional = 11-33%, Frequent = 34-66%, Constant = >66%

Sitting: Frequent

Walking: Frequent

Standing: Rare

Bending (neck): Frequent

Bending (waist): Frequent

Squatting: Rare

Climbing: Rare

Kneeling: Occasional

Crawling: Rare

Jumping: Rare

Balancing: Rare

Twisting (neck): Frequent

Twisting (waist): Rare

Grasp - light (dominant hand): Frequent

Grasp - light (non-dominant): Frequent

Grasp - firm (dominant hand): Rare

Grasp - firm (non-dominant): Rare

Fine manipulation (dominant): Rare

Fine manipulation (non-dominant): Rare

Reach - at/below shoulder: Frequent

Reach – above shoulder level: Rare

Push/pull:

Up to 10 lbs. Occasional

11 to 25 lbs. Rare

26 to 50 lbs. Rare

51 to 75 lbs. Rare

76 to 100 lbs. Rare

Over 100 lbs. Rare

Lifting:

Up to 10 lbs. Rare

11 to 25 lbs. Rare

26 to 50 lbs. Rare

51 to 75 lbs. Rare

76 to 100 lbs. Rare

Over 100 lbs. Rare

Carrying:

Up to 10 lbs. Rare

11 to 25 lbs. Rare

26 to 50 lbs. Rare

51 to 75 lbs. Never

76 to 100 lbs. Never

Over 100 lbs. Never

Coordination:

Eye-hand: Required

Eye-hand-foot: Not required

Driving: Required

Vision:

Acuity, near: Required

Acuity, far: Required

Depth perception: Required

Accommodation: Required

Color vision: Required

Field of vision: Required

Talking:

Face-to-face contact: Required

Verbal contact w/others: Required

Public: Required

Hearing:

Normal conversation: Required

Telephone communication: Required

Earplugs required: Not required

Work environment:

Works outdoors, exposure to extreme hot or cold temperature, working at unprotected heights, being around moving machinery, exposure to marked changes in temperature / humidity, exposure to dust, fumes, smoke, gases, odors, mists, or other irritating particles, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals (euthanize), Exposure to animal urine, feces and blood, exposure to excessive noise, exposure to solvents, grease or oil, exposure to slippery or uneven walking surfaces, working below ground (water ways), using computer monitor, exposure to vibration, works around others, works alone, works with others

Class Code: 6735

FLSA: Non-Exempt

EEOC Code: 3

Barg. Unit: CFEA

Probation: 12 months

Rev.: 4/5/17