Animal Control Officer- Police Department

Please note that this is an external job posting intended for non-city employees. If you are a current city employee applying through this posting, your application will not be reviewed with other internal candidates. In order to be considered with internal candidates, please apply on the internal posting by clicking HERE.

The following duties are illustrative for this position.  The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification.  Other duties may be required and assigned.  

• Keeps the mission, vision and values of the City of Port St. Lucie and Animal Control Division at the forefront of decision making and action; builds strategic and collaborative relationships and interacts with others in a way that builds confidence and trust; provides excellent customer service by taking action to accomplish objectives, maintaining high levels of work and productivity by generating innovative solutions to work situations.
• Humanely captures and confines unrestrained domestic animals, nuisance wildlife, reptiles, exotic and indigenous animals that pose safety concerns in the community.
• Conducts investigations into cruelty to animals.
• Actively patrols City streets for unrestrained animals.
• Responds to complaints and other calls for service.   Investigates animal bites.
• Transports animals to appropriate shelter.
• Issues warnings and citations.  Testifies in court.
• Answers telephones.  Prepares reports.  Performs routine clerical work.  Accesses, inputs and retrieves information from a computer.
• Assists Police Department with removal of animals in residences when needed.
• Responds to call outs when scheduled.
• Ensures proper care and handling of animals at the Animal Control Compound.
• Other duties as assigned.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Knowledge, Skill and/or Ability Required:

• Knowledge of State/County/City animal control regulations and animal care procedures.
• Knowledge of trapping, ensnaring, handling, transporting and caring for domestic and wild animals.
• Ability to distinguish between various breeds of animals for proper identification.
• Ability to access, input and retrieve information from a computer.
• Ability to maintain sanitary conditions of kennels and vehicle.
• Ability to prepare written reports.
• Ability to work effectively in stressful situations.
• Ability to display compassion.
• Ability to read well and to communicate effectively in writing and orally.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City employees and the public.
• Ability to maintain continuing education credits for Animal Control Officer certification.
• Ability to work both independently and in a team environment setting.
• Ability to establish and maintain an effective working relationship with other City departments, public officials, employees and the public.
• Ability to focus on the positive in every situation.
• Ability to model respect for individuals, teams, and the organization.
• Ability to stay centered when challenged.
• Ability to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of the department and public. 

Education and/or Experience:
Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma required. Ability to obtain an Animal Control Officer Certification within one year of date of hire required. Valid Florida Driver's License and maintenance of clean driving record required. A comparable amount of training, education or experience may be substituted for the minimum qualifications.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk, hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to walk and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, run, and jump. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 45 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to outside weather conditions that may be adverse and extreme (heat, humidity, cold, rain, etc.). The employee is frequently exposed to noise, dust, uneven surfaces, heights, poor lighting, flea-infected areas, moving animals, dead and infected animals, stressful situations, fumes, or airborne particles.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud.

Salary : $47,757