Animal Services Supervisor - Coachella Valley

ABOUT THE POSITION

The County of Riverside seeks candidates to fill positions throughout Riverside County. A list of eligible candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies. This recruitment will remain open until vacancies are filled.
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has an opportunity for an Animal Services Supervisor servicing the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, located in Thousand Palms.
The Animal Services Supervisor will provide oversight to the Animal Care Team, which consists of 10-12 employees. The incumbent must be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment with ever changing priorities and staffing levels. The Animal Services Supervisor will plan from basic to complex needs of the animals and community members. For animals, intake found/relinquished, feeding, inventory, shelter care including exercise yards, adoptions and, if necessary, the ability to assist medical teams with humane euthanasia. For community members, answering calls, in-person/social media inquiries, e-mails and de-escalation during crisis/emergency situations.

Highly competitive candidates will have extensive job-related animal husbandry lead or supervisory experience and participated in the recruitment and training/on-going mentoring of team members. 

Chameleon Software or other integrated Shelter Case Management Systems is also highly desired but not required. 

If you have a job-related customer service background, strong verbal and written communication skills and strive to serve your community take a moment to review the Examples of Essential Duties and consider applying today!

Important Note: Hours for this position can range from 9A - 5P Monday through Sunday. The Animal Services Supervisor will be scheduled for weekends, events, holidays and will be on-call. 

Meet the Team!The Riverside County 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.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Plan, schedule, assign, train, and supervise the activities of the animal care staff including the care of animals, breed recognition, disease control, prosecution of violations of animal control ordinances and laws, and the impounding, releasing, sale, and/or destruction of stray or dangerous animals within a particular geographical area or program function; may act as the Animal Services Chief in the event of his or her absence.

• Oversee the administration and clerical work of an assigned department unit including, but not limited to, customer service, veterinary services, call-centers, shelter services, admissions, citations, impounding, adoptions, spay and neuter, foster care, and licensing.

• May on occasion repair minor shelter facilities and maintenance issues; contact Facilities for work orders and equipment requests.

• May conduct inventory check of animals to ensure all animals are accounted for; may check inventory of supplies in warehouse; prepare food and supply orders for department operations; organize supplies.
• Enter licensing, spay/neuter, surgery, microchips, vaccines, adoptions, foster logs, transfers, and release information into database.

• Answer customer complaints and provide conflict resolution management.

• Oversee the processing of adoptions, euthanasia requests and intend to comply reports.

• May handle cash payments for animal services fees; balance and count cash at the close of business.

• May conduct audits on reconciliations, microchip transactions and licensing transactions.

• May direct the operation of an animal shelter including feeding, kenneling and the general handling of animals, marketing efforts to encourage redemptions and adoptions of animals, and interviewing and selecting new employees.

• Plan and participate in departmental training programs for assigned staff; conduct courses and evaluate employee achievements and course effectiveness; prepare performance evaluations and review with subordinates; counsel employees in an attempt to resolve grievances and, when necessary, recommend disciplinary action.

• May assist the Animal Services Chief with the planning and developing of the Animal Care Program by identifying objectives of animal regulations, preparing policies and standard procedures, and developing overall goals.

• Recommend changes and improvements in existing programs and procedures; assist with the preparation of the annual budget, recommending and justifying adjustments in personnel and equipment.

• Interpret ordinances, statutes, regulations, and policies to the staff and general public while providing technical assistance in the resolution of difficult field investigations; prepare case files and assemble necessary documentation; may submit and discuss cases with the Animal Services Chief, Deputy Director and legal counsel, as appropriate.

• Promote animal control services by community relations with civic, governmental and private groups; assist the Community Outreach and Education Division; coordinate educational programs with schools, law enforcement agencies, media, and other groups; work cooperatively with other law enforcement groups when joint action is required.

• Maintain workload statistics; prepare reports and correspondence concerning the Unit; may set up maintenance schedules for shelter devices required in the performance of animal care duties to ensure that they are kept in safe operating condition.

• Review reports and other written materials composed by the staff; conduct and attend various supervisory meetings and conferences with management; may inspect and supervise the maintenance of equipment and vehicles of personnel.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

Application Status

How to confirm your application was received or check on the status of your application, log-in to www.GovernmentJobs.com, click on your name in the upper right corner and click on “Applications & Status”.

Sign Up for Job Alerts

Go to www.RC-HR.com, click on “Careers,” click on “County Job Openings” and click on the “Subscribe to Job Alerts” icon. 

For questions regarding this recruitment:

Contact Richard Griego at or . Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.

Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test. (An associate's degree or completion of 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university, preferably with course work in animal husbandry or a closely related field is preferred.) Experience Two years of experience, in which one year was in a lead or supervisory capacity, in a public or non-profit animal control program or in a closely related animal care field (e.g., veterinary office, animal grooming facility or animal board and kennel facility), which included responsibility for the caring, impounding and disposing of animals
• License Possession of a valid California Driver's License may be required
• Physical Requirements Physical Requirements: Lift, carry, push, and pull heavy objects that may weigh more than 50 pounds
• Exposure to injured or upset animals, smells, dander, excrement, and assist in humane euthanasia
• 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 enforcement of animal control regulations and laws
• causes, symptoms and safe handling of rabid animals
• legal regulations, reports and procedures for the handling of rabies
• correct English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, format, and style
• modern office practices and procedures, including preparing correspondence and reports, and filing
• standard office equipment, including the programming of a variety of material information processing equipment
• the capabilities and applications of information processing equipment
• various breeds of animals and their care and feeding
• Ability To Plan, schedule and direct the work of others employed in animal care and clerical work
• supervise kennel investigations
• write comprehensive and detailed reports
• exercise tact and good judgment
• develop and maintain working relationships with the public and other governmental agencies
• gather and present evidence and testify in court
• work effectively under stressful situations
• organize and meet deadlines
• read, comprehend and interpret laws and regulations pertaining to animal control
• perform complex clerical work involving independent judgment and initiative
• read and interpret information from charts, graphs and tables
• gather data and organize it into report format
• understand and interpret laws, rules, regulations, and written policies and procedures, and apply them to specific situations
• supervise subordinates
• care for and safely handle animals so as to avoid injury to persons and animals

Work for Warriors is a no-cost employment program of the California Military Department for Service Members, Veterans, and military family members. The Veteran Staffing Consultant for County of Riverside is Martin Rivera.