Operations Coordinator/Animal Services
Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County
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Job summary
Unified Government of Athens-Clarke County seeks an experienced Shelter Operations Coordinator to plan, organize, and supervise daily Animal Services shelter operations. You will oversee Animal Caretakers and inmate workers, ensure daily care and health monitoring, and manage intake, kennel procedures, and shelter records in compliance with applicable laws.
The role requires an associate degree in a related field, two years of supervisory experience, and a valid driver’s license, with additional
Qualifications
- Associate’s degree in animal science, veterinary technology, or related field; three years of experience in care/handling of animals in shelter or related setting.
- Two years of supervisory experience required.
- Must possess a valid driver’s license.
- Criminal background must indicate eligibility to supervise inmates.
- Must obtain security training for supervision of inmate workers within six months of hire; humane euthanasia training within six months of hire.
Responsibilities
- Supervises, trains and evaluates staff; plans schedules ensuring seven-day shelter coverage.
- Oversees shelter operations: intake, kennel procedures, population management, and records.
- Ensures compliance with Georgia Animal Protection Act, state rules, and ACC codes.
- Maintains facility, inventory, and safety; coordinates with health technicians and veterinarians.
Skills
Education
Job description
REPORTS TO: Director of Animal Services
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
CLASSIFICATION: Personnel System - Requires satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.
PAY GRADE: 120
SAFETY SENSITIVE: Yes- subject to random drug testing per the Athens-Clarke County Drug and Alcohol Ordinance
The purpose of this job is to plan, organize, and supervise the daily operations of the Animal Services shelter. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, supervising Animal Caretakers and assigned workers; ensuring animals receive proper daily care, sanitation, enrichment, and health monitoring; managing shelter population and length of stay; overseeing intake, stray hold, reclaim, and kennel procedures; maintaining the shelter facility, supplies, and records; ensuring compliance with the Georgia Animal Protection Act, Georgia Department of Agriculture rules, and ACC Code Chapter 4; and performing other duties as assigned.
Work Schedule: M-F 8-5P, Some Sat and/or Sun as needed. Holidays as needed.
May be required to work weekends, holidays (including religious holidays), evenings, and flexible or extended hours based on shelter needs.
May be required to respond after hours to shelter emergencies and to assist during declared emergencies or disasters.
Regular and predictable attendance is required.
Must work cooperatively with others.
When requirements include vehicle operation, responsible for the safety, readiness and operation of the vehicle and must abide by ACC's safe driving policy.
Associate’s degree in animal science, veterinary technology, or a related field with three years of experience in the care and handling of animals in an animal shelter, humane society, veterinary clinic, or animal control agency or any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Two years of supervisory experience is required.
Must possess a valid driver's license.
Criminal background must indicate eligibility for the supervision of inmates.
Must obtain security training for the supervision of inmate workers as set forth by the Georgia Department of Corrections Standard Operating Procedures within six months of date of hire or first available opportunity.
Must complete training in the humane euthanasia of animals as required by O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5.1 within six months of date of hire.
Preferred: Bachelor's degree in animal science, veterinary technology, or a related field. Certified or Registered Veterinary Technician. Fear Free Shelters certification, Dogs Playing for Life training, or similar formal training in shelter animal care and behavior.
Supervises, trains and evaluates assigned staff handling all employee concerns, directing work assignments, and counseling and disciplining employees when necessary.
Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of Animal Caretakers and inmate workers; prepares work schedules to provide shelter coverage seven days a week.
Participates in the selection and onboarding of staff; provides, tracks, and documents training; coaches and mentors staff; prepares performance evaluations; and recommends and carries out disciplinary action in accordance with the ACC Personnel System.
Reviews work in progress and gives staff timely feedback to correct errors that affect animal care or customer service.
Develops, updates, and implements shelter Standard Operating Procedures and training materials for animal care, handling, sanitation, and the proper use of equipment.
Ensures that animals receive proper daily care, feeding, handling, sanitation, and enrichment in accordance with department procedures and Georgia Department of Agriculture standards.
Conducts daily walkthroughs of animal areas to detect signs of illness, injury, or stress, and coordinates with the Animal Health Technician and veterinarian so that animals receive timely vaccinations, treatment, and care.
Ensures that sanitation, disease control, isolation, and quarantine procedures are followed, including rabies observation and bite quarantine holds.
Performs and oversees humane euthanasia in accordance with O.C.G.A. § 4-11-5.1 and department policy; ensures that controlled substances are secured, handled, and documented as required by state and federal law; and ensures the proper handling and disposal of remains.
Manages shelter population and pathway flow by monitoring daily census, kennel capacity, and length of stay, and works with the Outcome Coordinator and Foster Coordinator to move animals to adoption, return to owner, rescue, transfer, and foster.
Oversees intake, stray hold, and owner reclaim procedures in accordance with ACC Code §§ 4-1-17 through 4-1-21.
Participates in the evaluation of animals for placement based on health, behavior, and temperament.
Ensures that staff pursue all available means of identifying and reuniting lost animals with their owners, including microchip scanning and lost and found reports, and that tracing efforts are documented.
Oversees the maintenance, cleaning, and upkeep of the shelter facility and grounds, and reports repair needs to the appropriate ACC departments.
Manages inventory of food, sanitation, and kennel supplies; researches cost-effective alternatives; and assists in preparing the shelter operating budget.
Promotes and enforces safety procedures; investigates staff injuries, animal bites, and accidents; reviews reports for gaps in training or procedure; and takes immediate action to correct unsafe conditions.
Coordinates shelter activities during emergencies and disasters in collaboration with the Director and partner agencies.
Ensures that animal records in the shelter database are accurate and complete, and compiles statistical and operational reports for the Director, including intake and outcome data required by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Responds to the most complex customer complaints and inquiries regarding sheltered animals, applicable ordinances, and department policies.
Coordinates with the Field Supervisor, Outcome Coordinator, volunteers, partner animal welfare organizations, and other ACC departments to support shelter operations.
Performs the duties of Animal Caretaker as needed.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the Animal Services Department as they relate to the position of Animal Services Shelter Operations Coordinator.
Knowledge of the principles, practices, and techniques of animal care, custody, and humane handling.
Knowledge of canine and feline behavior, and of the health characteristics of common domestic animal breeds.
Knowledge of infection control and disease prevention practices for animal shelters.
Knowledge of euthanasia practices and procedures, including the safe and proper handling of sodium pentobarbital, needles, and syringes.
Knowledge of the Georgia Animal Protection Act, Georgia Department of Agriculture rules, and ACC Code Chapter 4 as they relate to impoundment, quarantine, holding periods, and disposition of animals.
Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision, including scheduling, training, performance evaluation, and discipline, and of the ACC Personnel System.
Knowledge of and ability to use computer, shelter database, and standard office software.
Knowledge of basic budgeting and inventory procedures.
Ability to plan, organize, assign, direct, review, and evaluate the work of staff.
Ability to analyze census, length of stay, and other shelter data and to take an effective course of action.
Ability to interpret and explain laws, ordinances, and department policies to staff and the public.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Ability to exercise good judgment in handling hostile individuals, animals, and situations, and to act quickly and calmly in emergencies.
Ability to manage the emotional aspects of euthanasia and to support staff in difficult circumstances.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, volunteers, partner organizations, and the public.
Must be physically able to operate a variety of machinery and equipment including a motor vehicle, computer, animal traps, restraint poles, transport vehicles, bolt cutters, snake tongs, muzzles, animal stretcher, and pressure washers and cleaning equipment. This position requires: climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing, and repetitive motion. Must be able to exert up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and to restrain animals of all sizes and temperaments. Requires stamina to stand and walk for much of the shift and to work in noisy, wet, and varying temperature conditions with exposure to animal waste, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic disease. Physical demand requirements are at levels of those of medium work.
Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, animals, or things.
Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people and/or animals to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving assignments from co-workers, assistants, or supervisors.
Requires the ability to read a variety of forms, informational documentation, directions, methods, procedures, laws, and ordinances. Requires the ability to prepare reports, schedules, performance evaluations, and procedures using prescribed formats and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Requires the ability to speak to people with poise, voice control, and confidence.
Requires the ability to learn and understand basic principles and techniques; to acquire and be able to expound on knowledge of topics related to primary occupation; to analyze operational problems and develop solutions; and to make independent judgment in the absence of management.
Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in a variety of administrative, technical, or professional languages including veterinary.
Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; add and subtract totals; multiply and divide; and calculate percentages, averages, and rates such as daily census and length of stay.
Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with various animal control devices and office equipment.
Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using animal control or office equipment or in performing tasks.
Requires the ability to handle a variety of items such as animal control devices and office equipment. Must have the ability to use one hand for twisting or turning motion while coordinating other hand with different activities. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.
May require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.
Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions, including supervising staff and resolving complaints. Must be adaptable to performing under moderate stress when confronted with an emergency. Must be adaptable to managing conflict on a routine basis. Must be adaptable to coping with the grief associated with animal illness, injury, and euthanasia, and to supporting staff and the public through it.
Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (Talking - expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words). (Hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).
ACCGov is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, or genetic information. ACCGov is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, contact Leah Jagatic, HR Coordinator, Human Resources, 762-400-6370 or leah.jagatic@accgov.com.
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