Supervising Animal Services Counselor

County of Riverside; San Jacinto (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services is seeking a Supervising Animal Services Counselor for the Intake Team at the San Jacinto location. The role oversees daily intake operations, supervises staff, and ensures compliant documentation using Chameleon across intake, kennel, and treatment screens.

Ideal candidates will have lead supervisory experience, strong data entry and customer service skills, and a willingness to travel within Riverside County.

Qualifications

• Two years in a public or non-profit animal services program, including customer service, intake and outcomes.
• One year of experience must be in an Animal Services Counselor position or equivalent.
• Graduation from high school or GED (or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, assign, train, and supervise Animal Services staff tied to adoptions and intakes.
• Oversee front counter operations, cash handling, and adoption transactions.
• Coordinate HPZ inquiries and scheduling, inventory, and reporting for audits.
• Interpret ordinances and guidance to staff and public; provide education and resources.
• Lead departmental training and performance evaluations.
• Serve as Animal Services Chief in temporary absence and manage vendor relations.

Skills

Supervision

Staff management

Customer service

Data entry

Spanish bilingual

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Chameleon

Job description

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services is seeking aSupervising Animal Services Counselor for the Intake Team for the San Jacinto location. This recruitment may be used to fill additional future vacancies throughout Riverside County.

The Supervising Animal Services Counselor will be responsible for overseeing all daily intake operations to ensure animals entering the shelter are processed accurately and in alignment with established procedures. Key functions include supervising staff in the collection of detailed intake information, completion of required documentation, and proper use of Chameleon across intake, kennel, tag, treatment, receipt, and contact screens. The incumbent will also manage all Healthy Pet Zone (HPZ) inquiries and scheduling, serving as the primary point of contact for community members seeking services, coordinating appointments, maintaining inventory, and tracking HPZ supply distribution for reporting and audit purposes. Additional responsibilities include overseeing front counter operations, managing cash handling and adoption transactions, resolving complex constituent situations, and providing education and resources to support pet retention. This position will require occasional driving throughout Riverside County to assist with animal transports and offsite events.

The most competitive candidates will have previous animal services experience, especially in a lead or supervisory role, in-depth experience with Chameleon, strong data entry skills, and experience with providing excellent customer service and handling complex customer situations. Spanish bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

This role may require carrying/lifting community event items such as standing banners, boxes of marketing materials, tables and chairs, as well as animal transport equipment such as kennels, cages, and crates, and handling large animals (assistance available if needed).

The Supervising Animal Services Counselor is the full supervisory level classification in the Animal Services Counselor series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager level position. Incumbents in this classification are responsible for directing the day-to-day operations and training of Animal Services Counselor staff throughout the County of Riverside.

Meet the Team!

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has a vision for promoting an environment of responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach, and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity. The Department of Animal Services believes the character of their organization is best reflected in the strong dedication of each one of their employees who strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people that they serve. The Department of Animal Services operates four shelters located in Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms.

• Plan, schedule, assign, train, and supervise the activities of the Animal Services staff including assisting customers seeking to adopt animals from the Department of Animal Services; oversee animal intakes and outcomes; coordinate the spay/neutering of animals for outreach adoptions; transport animals to outreach events; evaluate animals for adoptability and perform adoption follow-up.
• Plan, organize, schedule, and operate community outreach and adoption events.
• Direct the operations of animal intakes and outcomes, pet support for clients, general handling of animals, marketing efforts to encourage redemptions and adoptions of animals, computer update, and accounting activities for monies received.
• Interview and select new employees; prepare and review employee performance evaluations; counsel employees, attempt to resolve grievances and when necessary, recommend disciplinary action.
• Plan and participate in departmental training programs for assigned staff; conduct courses and evaluate employee achievements and course effectiveness.
• Assist the Animal Services Chief with the planning and development of the Animal Services Programs, identifying objectives of animal regulations, preparing policies and standard procedures, and developing overall goals.
• Suggest changes and improvements in existing programs and procedures; assist with the preparation of the annual budget, recommending and justifying additional personnel and equipment.
• Serve as Animal Services Chief in the temporary absence of the latter.
• Interpret ordinances, statutes, regulations, and policies to the staff, and the general public providing technical assistance in the resolution of problems related to adoptions.
• Work cooperatively with other animal services personnel when joint action is required.
• Promote animal services through community relations with civic, governmental and private groups; coordinate educational programs with the community, schools, law enforcement agencies, the media, and other groups.
• Maintain program statistics; prepare reports and correspondence concerning the Animal Services Program.
• Review reports and other written materials composed by the staff; conduct and attend various supervisory meetings and conferences with management; inspect and supervise maintenance of equipment and vehicles.

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.

Experience: Two years in a public or non-profit animal services program, which included responsibility of serving in a customer service capacity, for caring for, licensing and pet support for clients, intake and outcome programs in a public animal services program. One year of the required experience must be in an Animal Services Counselor position or equivalent.

Knowledge of: Principles and techniques of supervision related to the selection, training, direction, motivation, and evaluation of subordinates; state and county laws, codes and regulations governing animal control; legal liabilities and responsibilities of those concerned with the intake and outcome processes of shelter animals, causes, symptoms, and safe handling of rabid animals; animal handling safety rules, procedures and proper handling techniques; specific knowledge of various breeds of animals and their care and feeding.

Ability to: Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relations with the public, adoption partners and other employees; plan, schedule and direct the work of others engaged in intake and outcome processes; counsel employee's regarding denial of adoptions; write comprehensive and detailed reports; exercise tact and good judgment; develop and maintain working relationships with the public, adoption partners and other governmental agencies; work effectively under stressful situations; organize and meet deadlines; read, comprehend and interpret laws and regulations pertaining to animal intake, outcome processes, adoptions, and safety; care for and safely handle animals so as to avoid injury to persons and animals; operate a variety of basic Information Technology office desktop appliances, programs, systems, and applications (e.g., PCs, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.).

License: Possession of a valid California Driver's License.

Schedule: May be expected to work irregular work schedules such as weekends, evenings, and holidays. The schedule is subject to change based on operational needs. See Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations under APPLICATION INFORMATION for details.

Physical: exposure to inclement weather, animal dander, smells, insects. Animal handling performed as needed.

For questions regarding this recruitment

Please contact Lital Slobodsky at [e-mail] or 951-955-5005. Please allow 1-3 business days for a response to general inquiries.