Animal Control Dispatcher

Are you passionate about serving the community and supporting a team that is committed to making a positive impact? The Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire is seeking skilled, compassionate, and experienced individuals to join the organization to be a part of a collaborative environment where your skills can make a difference. If you are interested in the honorable profession of public service, join in this unique opportunity as the Agency’s first Animal Control Dispatchers. The Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire will begin providing animal services July 1, 2025, which include animal control and sheltering services. The Animal Control Dispatcher will be responsible of receiving and responding to a variety of routine and emergency animal-related calls for service and dispatching Animal Control Officers in the field.

Under general supervision, the Animal Control Dispatcher receives emergency and non-emergency animal control-related requests for service from staff, the public and outside agencies. The Animal Control Dispatcher performs a variety of general clerical and data entry duties related to recordkeeping, typing and filing, while performing any other related duties as assigned.

The ARCIE Executive Director of Animal Services will serve as the ultimate hiring authority.

The ARCIE is not employed by the City of Ontario nor City of Chino.  The successful candidate will be an at-will employee of the Animal Resource Center of the Inland Empire and ultimately they will be appointed by and serve under the ARCIE Executive Director of Animal Services . 

 Completed applications will be reviewed and only qualified applicants whose qualifications best meet or exceed the requirements of the position and needs of the Agency, will be invited to participate further in the selection process. All applicants must provide an attached Resume and Cover Letter. Those candidates whom fail to attach these items will not move forward in the selection process.

1. Receive emergency and non-emergency telephone calls from the public and law enforcement agencies relating to state and local animal cruelty and regulatory laws, in addition to other animal control law enforcement matters and shelter operations.
2. Elicits information from callers, evaluates telephone calls, and decides upon or takes proper action to resolve complaints or other animal control issues.
3. Dispatches Animal Services Officers to a variety of calls including bites, attacks, neglect, dogs at large, strays, noise, sanitation, wildlife, and injured/dead animals; provides information necessary to respond in an efficient manner; enters all information on computer.
4. Utilize department case management software, mapping tools and radio systems; assign priority level to call based on established departmental procedures and guidelines and dispatch animal control officer staff based on appropriate geographical location.
5. Maintains contact with the employees in the field and other involved parties by using public safety radio system, radio or telephone and may write teletype messages to coordinate assignments and monitor the movement, progress and status of employees.
6. Communicate with callers to determine continuing disposition of calls, provide assistance and explain response procedures.
7. Performs a wide variety of advance-level clerical work including maintaining accurate and detailed records, verifying accuracy of information, researching discrepancies and recording information.
8. Organize and coordinate activities of field units.
9. Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of: 

• State and local laws, ordinances, regulations associated with animal care and control.
• Techniques, procedures, and methods used in operating a public service communications or dispatch center.
• Techniques and procedures in dispatching and operating radio transmitters.
• Modern office practices and procedures including filing, recordkeeping, and operating standard office equipment.
• Animal control equipment and materials and voice communication devices.

Ability to:  

• Operate public safety radio system, radio and telephone equipment.
• Follow oral and written directions quickly and accurately.
• Elicit from and explain information effectively and accurately to a wide variety of callers including the public and law enforcement officials.
• Read, understand, and interpret ordinances, rules, regulations, and procedures
• Exercise tact and good judgment.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with the public and other governmental agencies
• Communicate effectively with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures and backgrounds and function calmly in stressful situations, which require a high degree of sensitivity, tact, and diplomacy.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs.
• Collecting, compiling, and analyzing information and data.
• Compose correspondence and reports independently or from brief instructions: maintaining records and databases.
• Learn and understand the organization and operation of the agency and of outside agencies as necessary to assume assigned responsibilities.

Any combination of education and/or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position. A typical combination includes:

Education

Equivalent to completion of the twelfth (12th) grade.

Experience
Six (6) months of full-time experience as a dispatcher, telephone operator, or a clerk responsible for receiving, evaluating, recordkeeping, and responding to inquiries or complaint that has included public contact.

Licenses
Individuals must be physically capable of operating a motor vehicle safely and possess a valid Class C California Driver’s License OR be able to demonstrate the ability to travel on scheduled or unscheduled visits to various locations which may or may not be reachable by public transportation.   This requirement applies at time of appointment and throughout employment in this classification.

Desirable

Experience in a public agency, animal shelter or center is highly desirable.

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• This position requires the ability to work in a standard office environment with continuous upward and downward flexion of the neck. 
• Frequently sitting, repetitive use of hands to operate computers, printers and copiers.
• Occasional walking, standing, bending and twisting of neck, bending and twisting of waist, squatting, simple grasping, reaching above and below shoulder level, and lifting and carrying of files weighing up to 25 pounds.
• Some exposure to cold, heat, noise, outdoors, confining workspace, and chemicals. 
• Ability to travel to different sites and locations; ability to attend evening and weekend meetings.

How to Apply
Apply online by clicking on the "Apply" link at the top of this announcement. If this is the first time applying for a position using governmentjobs.com you will be prompted to create a new user account, otherwise log in with your user name and password. Your application and responses to any supplemental questions will be used to evaluate your qualifications for this position. It is suggested that your application include the following:
 

• List any relevant experience and education that demonstrates that you qualify for the position.
• List all periods of employment for at least the past 10 years, beginning with your most recent or present employer (including, if applicable, all employment with the City of Ontario).
• Separately list each position held, including different positions with the same employer.

A resume may be attached to your application but will not substitute for the proper completion of your application. Applications that are not properly completed may be rejected.

 

NOTE: Transcripts from colleges, universities or technical schools outside of the United States must be assessed for U.S. equivalency by a NACES educational credential evaluation service. Failure to provide a transcript or credential evaluation report will result in your application being rejected and you will not be able to continue in the selection process for this position.

Supplemental Questions

To complete your application for this position, you will be prompted to respond to supplemental questions. This information will be used as part of the application screening and selection process and is designed to help you present your qualifications for this position. This may include a selection step in which your application and supplemental questions are reviewed and scored by a panel of raters familiar with this position.

 

Incomplete responses, false statements, omission, or partial information may result in disqualification from the selection process. Your responses should be consistent with the information provided on your application.

 

Please provide succinct, concise, descriptive, and detailed information for each question. If you have no experience, write "no experience" for the appropriate question.

 

Email Notices

Email is the primary way that the Human Resources or Hiring Department will communicate with you. Please check your email account (including the SPAM folder) on a regular basis for any emails related to the application or selection process. Emails from the City of Ontario will come from "@ontarioca.gov" or "governmentjobs.com." If you change your email address after submitting your application, please visit governmentjobs.com and update your profile.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any additional questions regarding the application process, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Salary : $50,000 - $65,000