Animal Services Division Manager - Contract

Salary : $81,852.00 - $131,040.00 Annually

Location : California, MD

Job Type: Contract

Job Number: 202200330

Department: Emergency Services

Opening Date: 07/10/2024

Closing Date: Continuous

Job Summary

The Animal Services Division Manager is responsible for animal control activities and the operations and general management functions of the County's Animal Shelter and related functions. The position ensures humane animal custodial and remedial care; oversees admissions, adoptions, and euthanasia; and maintains regulatory compliance. The Animal Services Division Manager provides strategic direction and leadership to include business operations and shelter management, public relations, budgeting and integrating the activities and programs of assigned functions, staff, and volunteers. The position reports to the Director of Emergency Services or designee.
Essential Functions

Manages the operations, staff, volunteers, physical facility and programs of the Animal Shelter and Animal Control Division. Ensures that care and services are provided in accordance with current laws, rules, regulations, and standards both within the shelter and while in the custody of Animal Control. Develops and implements practices, policies and programs which promote animal welfare;

Creates a positive culture, focusing on developing employees, managing relationships and fostering teamwork;

Directs operations at the Animal Shelter, including the proper intake, impoundment, care, and limited humane euthanized services, while ensuring the facility is operating as a "Low kill - No Kill Shelter". Manages the daily operation of the shelter in accordance with Federal, State, and County laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and keeps abreast of related changes to assure compliance by the facility;

Performs daily inspection of shelter facilities to monitor the general health of shelter animals and insure proper medical care is rendered in a timely, humane, and efficient manner. Inspects shelter property for needed repairs and maintenance;

Oversees the development of the Animal Control budget; approves or denies requisitions and purchases, as authorized by the Director of Emergency Services. Ensures that the Animal Control Officers are properly trained, current in their required certifications, and responds and handle incidents appropriately;

Works with the Animal Control Supervisor to develop and refine policies and procedures for response and handling of animal incidents.

Prepares and monitors budget and operates within budgetary constraints. Prepares the Shelter's budget for submission to the Director of Emergency Services; forecasts additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies, monitors and approves expenditures; and recommends adjustments as necessary. Prepares reports on the operational statistics and shelter activities to ensure information is readily available to interested parties;

Completes training and applications necessary to obtain and maintain a DEA Registration Permit for Controlled Dangerous Substances. Ensures compliance with State Department of Agriculture license regulations in the application of drugs for euthanasia and maintains records required by State regulations and County policies;

Works with the Animal Control and Shelter supervisors to hire, supervise, train, evaluate, promote, and discipline; prepares work assignments and schedules. Reviews and evaluates work schedules, products, methods, and procedures to identify opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures. Identifies clear work functions and daily assignments for volunteers and inmates that increase accountability and ensure high level of customer service to the community;

Monitors and enhances the safety and well-being of staff and volunteers to include identifying and addressing compassion fatigue. Conducts meetings with staff to review policies and procedures, discuss workplace safety and issues, and share ideas to improve animal care;

Develops and implements goals, policies and procedures for the Animal Shelter and Animal Control components to include disaster preparedness documentation to ensure care of all shelter animals during an emergency;

With the exception of dogs declared dangerous; makes final decision regarding euthanasia and supervises euthanasia to ensure proper techniques are used in accordance with State Law. Ensures that staff performing euthanasia is properly trained and have the required veterinary supervision;

Ensures that files, records, and statistics are properly maintained, including animal intake, disposition, adoption, euthanasia, spay and neuter of shelter animals, and controlled substances;

Develops and coordinates a manageable capacity work plan for the shelter to effectively utilize space and systematically respond to seasonal influxes of animals;

Prepares and administers contracts for professional veterinary services which provide for consistent humane and timely services to sheltered animals. Coordinates contract terms and conditions with service and food supply vendors and serves as the point of contact for the shelter;

Oversees the inventory and purchasing of consumable shelter supplies for animal care, kennel, triage, and quarantine to include needed pharmaceuticals;

Acts as the technical advisor to the Animal Control Advisory Board and provides an avenue to continued dialog with various animal groups for the humane care and treatment of animals; and provides public education on the care and adoption of animals;

Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of Federal, state, and local laws, codes, ordinances, policies, and procedures relevant to animal services including but not limited to animal welfare, custodial and remedial care, adoptions, animal behavior, basic care, and euthanasia;

Knowledge of Proper use, secure storage, and disposal of lethal chemicals, syringes, and related equipment;

Knowledge of Occupational hazards, safety precautions, and safety regulations related to effective animal care, maintaining sanitary conditions and overall health of shelter animals, and other work-related precautions;

Knowledge of Effective techniques of supervision;

Ability to Plan and direct animal services;

Ability to Interpret, implement, and explain complex laws, codes, rules and regulations governing unit activities; enforce regulations in an effective and positive manner;

Ability to Establish and maintain effective working relationships with others encountered in the work;

Ability to Employ economic and accounting principles and practices in the analysis and reporting of budgeting data;

Ability to Manage staff, daily operations, and policy development and implementation;

Ability to Communicate effectively orally and in writing;

Ability to Operate a personal computer, printer, calculator, copy and facsimile machines, telephone, radio, or other equipment as necessary to complete the essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, or other system software.

Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in animal or behavioral science, business administration, public administration or related field

Four years of progressively responsible experience in the operation, management and oversight of a governmental animal shelter or kennel facilities or equivalent to include supervisory experience managing staff, daily operations, customer service, and policy development and implementation and two years' experience enforcing animal control laws and regulations.

Or equivalent technical training, education, and/or experience.

Additional Requirements:

Negative drug screen.

Successfully pass a physical, hearing and vision exam.

Successfully pass a psychological fitness examination with favorable results.

Successfully pass extensive background investigation with favorable results.

Subject to a thorough background investigation;

Valid Maryland Driver's License;

Certification in Humane Euthanasia at County Expense within 6 months of hire;

Pre-exposure rabies vaccinations within three months of start date at County expense;

May be required to work beyond normal scheduled hours.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:

Work demands requires long periods of standing, frequent walking, repeated bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, or reaching; recurring lifting of objects up to 49 pounds; operation of keyboard devices.

Work environment involves exposure to dirt, dust, dander, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, weather, temperature and noise extremes, hazardous materials, toxic agents, animal attacks, animal/human bites, disease, pathogenic substances, or rude/irate customers.

We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, identity theft protection, sick-leave transfer, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Regular Part-time employees who work an average of 20 or more hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at the following link:

01

Do you have animal shelter certification and/or training? If yes, please explain.

02

Do you have experience working with animals in a shelter setting? If yes, please explain.

03

Do you have 3 or more years' experience in an administrative/leadership position? If yes, please explain.

04

Do you have a valid Maryland driver's license?

• Yes
• No

Required Question