What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Services Officer position at City of Burlington NC?
Have you been looking for a position in animal welfare where you can make a real difference for your community? Do you thrive in flexible work environments that allow you to work independently while simultaneously being part of a supportive team? Are you looking for a role where no two days are exactly alike and where you’ll be engaged in a variety of meaningful work that allows you to use a broad range of skills? Is working alongside a positive, professional team that prioritizes pet lifesaving and maintains the highest care standards important to you? If so, you belong in Burlington as an Animal Services Officer!
You’ll be a vital member of our field services team, supporting quality of life and pet lifesaving in our community through providing community-oriented animal field services, pet support education and resources, and enforcing local ordinances and state animal laws. You’ll also have opportunities to work from home, earning overtime and supplemental on-call pay in addition to your base salary through rotational on-call responsibility for responding to after-hours animal emergencies in the field and remotely. You will participate in community events, interact with residents, investigate cases involving animal-related concerns and complaints, and use modern field services strategies and practices that contribute to positive outcomes and pet lifesaving.
About Us:
Burlington Animal Services, a department of the City of Burlington, NC, is committed to pet lifesaving, community engagement, and proactive initiatives. Guided by a no-kill philosophy, we envision a future where pets and families thrive together. In 2024, our Burlington Pet Adoption and Resource Center cared for over 7,000 pets with a 93% pet lifesaving rate. BAS operates with transparency, collaboration, and a commitment to high-quality public service, ensuring positive outcomes for every pet that can be saved.
Learn more about our mission and impact at burlingtonnc.gov/pets.
Community Response & Public Safety
- Respond to, investigate, and resolve calls for service from the community related to public health or safety, such as pets in danger; pets creating a danger or nuisance; animal bites and rabies exposures; animal-related community problems; preventing animal bites and animal-related communicable disease concerns.
- Provide animal-related emergency assistance and support to community members through direct requests from the local community and mutual aid requests from law enforcement and other governmental units.
- Issue warnings and citations when appropriate to enforce local ordinances, coordinate with law enforcement in addressing criminal offenses involving animals in the community, prepare professional reports, and attend court to provide expert testimony as necessary.
Community Engagement & Education
- Act as a resource to citizens by offering information, counseling, and collaborative problem-solving of animal issues using modern animal welfare practices.
- Engage in public relations and community service activities at events to build positive, cooperative, and collaborative relationships between the department and the community.
- Analyze situations, think critically, problem-solve, and facilitate resolutions to conflicts in the community concerning animal nuisance issues and other animal-related concerns.
Animal Welfare & Lifesaving Initiatives
- Contribute to the programs and services that support the agency’s pet lifesaving and positive outcomes goals.
- Practice humane animal handling and capture techniques in alignment with regulatory requirements and industry guidelines
- Perform EBI for animals with irremediable conditions.
Administrative & Digital Record-Keeping
- Prepare and maintain digital reports, records, appointments, and photographs of incoming pets, as well as case investigations utilizing Chameleon, Acuity, Office 365, and other applications within a digital records system environment.
Other Duties
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
- Comprehensive Legal & Regulatory Knowledge: Well-versed in animal welfare laws and guidelines, including NC G.S. Chapters 19A (Protection of Animals), 130A Article 6 (Rabies), 67 Article 1A (Dangerous Dogs), 68 Article 3 (Livestock Law), NCAC 52J (Animal Welfare Section), COB Ordinances, NAPHV Compendium of Rabies Prevention & Control (2016), and NIMS ICS.
- Animal Control Officer Competencies: In-depth understanding of animal control practices, humane animal handling, care and treatment, investigative strategies, court procedures, community relations, and emergency/disaster response protocols.
- Strong Communication & Critical Thinking: Expert in oral and written communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking, with a focus on prioritizing and resolving complex issues.
- Emotional Intelligence: Skilled in exercising sound judgment and managing emotional stress, especially in high-pressure situations involving animal welfare and public interactions.
- Tech-Savvy & Office Proficiency: Experienced with modern office technologies, software, multi-line phone systems, and various applications to enhance daily operations and streamline workflows.
- Adaptability & Flexibility: Demonstrated ability to adjust to changing priorities, new assignments, and unexpected challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic work environment.
- Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in any major and one year of relevant work experience. An equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience that includes a high school diploma and at least three years of relevant work experience will be considered if there are not enough applicants who meet the minimum qualifications.
- Valid driver’s license.
- NACA Level I & II ACO Certification (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
- ICS 100, 200, 700 & 800 (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
- Euthanasia Technician Certification (EBI) in the State of North Carolina in good standing (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
- Fear Free © Certification (or obtained within the first six months of employment).
- One (1) year of work experience in any field using skills that utilize critical thinking, communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving involving phone, email, and in-person public-facing functions.
- Educational background with majors related to human services/ social sciences, communications/public relations, or animal science
- Oral and written fluency in both English and Spanish languages.
Handle animals that are sick or injured, frightened, dangerous, and who may display unpredictable behavior.
Individual must be able to lift up to 75 lbs.
Stand, sit, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl to perform procedures and handle pets.
Must be able to lift, carry, and restrain pets, and operate vehicles and equipment during the day and at night.
Work requires exposure to potentially hazardous conditions such as aggressive animals, potential exposure to anesthetic gasses, hazardous chemicals, drugs, and zoonotic diseases.
Work in this position is primarily performed indoors and outdoors.
This job description in no way implies that the duties listed are the only ones the employee may be required to perform. The employee is expected to perform other tasks, duties, and training as requested by their supervisors.
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Inclement Weather Classification: Essential
Salary : $41,142 - $65,832
