FIELD SUPPORT SPECIALIST (ON-CALL)

Polk County; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

Polk County Sheriff's Office seeks a Field Support Specialist to assist the public and staff with animal control, report writing, vehicle maintenance, and related duties.

The role requires handling animals, assisting deputies, and performing non-law enforcement tasks under supervision. Training will be provided, and legal driving is required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Minimum 1 year experience in animal behavior or caretaking.
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience.

Responsibilities

• Investigates animal bite complaints, interviews victims and owners, and delivers animals to holding facility.
• Maintains vigilance for dangerous animals; apprehends and transports stray, injured, or dead animals to holding facility.
• Issues verbal warnings and assists law enforcement; may operate tranquilizer gun to protect public safety.
• Prepares and delivers specimens to the diagnostic lab.
• Maintains weekly time records, logs, and animal control reports.
• Advises the public on animal control laws and policies.
• Maintains maintenance on county vehicles and inventories supplies.

Skills

Animal handling

Communication

Record keeping

Physical endurance

Driving

Education

High school diploma

1 year of animal care experience

Tools

Vehicle operation

Job description

Under general supervision, provides a wide variety of non-sworn support related functions for the public and Sheriff’s Office staff; these services include but are not limited to, animal control duties, report writing, vehicle and general maintenance functions, and other duties as assigned by a supervisor.

1. Investigates animal bite complaints, interviews victims and animal owners, and delivers animals to a holding facility.
2. Maintains a constant vigilance for potentially dangerous animals at large, apprehends, and delivers stray, injured, or dead animals to a holding facility.
3. Issues verbal warnings and authorizes written notices to violators of animal control laws; assists law enforcement personnel in accessing property; sets traps, uses catch poles and nets; may operate a tranquilizer gun to protect public safety.
4. Prepares and delivers specimens to the diagnostic lab.
5. Maintains weekly time records, logs, and animal control reports.
6. Advises, informs, and counsels the general public regarding animal control laws and Polk County Board of Health policies.
7. Schedules and ensures that preventive maintenance is completed on all county-owned Field Support Specialist vehicles; cleans and inventories supplies and equipment.
8. Assists stranded and stalled motorists.
9. Conducts public relation patrols of residential and business areas.
10. Assists deputies and detectives as requested.
11. Performs a variety of specialized and technical non-law enforcement duties in support of the Patrol Services Division.
12. Performs related duties as assigned.

• Thorough knowledge of the careful dealing with animals in various stages of different behavior.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations governing the licensing, control, quarantine, and impounding of animals.
• Knowledge of departmental policies and standard operation procedures.
• Ability to effectively negotiate and communicate with persons who are in a distressed state.
• Ability to lift, move, and control large animals weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to perform work requiring physical endurance and agility.
• Ability to bend, stoop, climb, crawl, and run.
• Ability to work outdoors in inclement weather, travel throughout Polk County, and walk on uneven terrains.
• Ability to effectively use tranquilizer guns.
• Ability to safely operate and maintain county-owned vehicles and all related equipment.
• Ability to keep accurate and concise records.
• Ability to work independently at all hours of the day or night.
• Ability to attend and successfully complete training.
• Ability to work dependably with other agencies in completing tasks.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and decision-making.
• Ability to establish and maintain a satisfactory relationship with other employees, law enforcement officials, Animal Rescue League staff, and the general public, fostering a collaborative and professional work environment.
• Ability to handle confidential information in a sensitive manner.
• Ability to analyze situations and adopt a course of action.
• Ability to remain calm in emergency situations.
• Ability to multi-task and work steady under pressure with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work assignments.
• Ability to demonstrate an awareness of cultural diversity in the community.

• Graduation from high school or equivalent, and
• One year of experience and/or training in animal behavior, caretaking, or a related field, or
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Special Requirements

• Work is subject to call out for emergencies and after hours on a 24 hour, seven days a week basis. Employee must be able to report to duty within a 30-minute time period under normal driving conditions.
• Employee may be required to take rabies shots on a periodic basis to reduce risk of rabies infection.
• Candidate must pass a post-employment physical examination and physical capacity testing to ensure candidate meets the essential physical requirements of the position.
• A criminal background check is required.
• A drug screen is required prior to final offer of employment.
• A valid State of Iowa driver’s license is required.

*This position is on-call status and is not benefits eligible.