Senior Animal Welfare and Rescue Officer

What we’re looking for: A motivated, compassionate, and positive individual to join the Planning and Development Services Department in the Neighborhood Services division. The Animal Welfare & Rescue team within the Neighborhood Services Division is committed to providing outstanding service in order to enhance the community and citizens' health, safety, and general welfare. We do this as a caring team of individuals who care about making a difference.  Under general supervision, the Senior Animal Welfare & Rescue Officer supervises the animal welfare team in the Planning and Development Services Department.  In addition to performing a variety of complex functions, the person filling this position is responsible for developing and maintaining programs to enhance the Animal Welfare & Rescue team. Interaction with the public will include citizens, citizen groups, nonprofits, department leadership, City Management, appointed officials, and elected officials. 

Benefits & Total Rewards:
Our City team members are our most valuable asset! We offer Total Rewards when you join our team.

• Competitive medical, dental and vision insurance
• 2:1 match on retirement contribution
• Paid volunteer time off – 16 hours per year
• Vacation accrual starts at date of hire – up to 120 hours annually your first year
• Get paid to stay – longevity pay on top of your regular pay after one full year 
• Tuition reimbursement program
• Bilingual pay offered
• Keep learning – professional and personal development training available

The responsibilities you’ll be trusted with:
The following duties ARE NOT intended to serve as a comprehensive list of all duties performed by all employees in this classification, only a representative summary of the primary duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific duties.

• Assists the Neighborhood Services Manager in developing, overseeing, and implementing Animal Welfare team operations and work plans.
• Supervises and directs the daily operations of the Animal Welfare & Rescue Team.
• Evaluates and reviews the performance of Animal Welfare staff and other assigned direct reports; ensures staff compliance with Department and City policies, regulatory requirements, safety practices, and coaches direct reports for continuous improvement.
• Prepares, updates, and maintains a variety of records, reports, and logs.
• Enforces State and local animal control regulations, laws, and codes; ensures compliance with the Rabies Control Act, New Braunfels animal ordinances, and applicable Texas Penal codes.
• Leads and monitors animal welfare officer’s enforcement actions, including cruelty case investigations, search & seizure warrant processes and evidence documentation.
• Oversees field inspection program of commercial animal establishments, including pet shop and grooming facilities and monitors for regulatory compliance.
• Monitors quarantine activities for bite/exposure cases; ensures isolation or testing of animals with potential rabies exposure; ensures reports are produced in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Responds to and investigates public concerns and complaints involving animal welfare, animal cruelty, dog fighting, and animal bite cases.
• Impounds unrestrained and/or nuisance animals including dogs, cats, and livestock.
• Issues animal welfare citations; prepares and maintains case documentation; attends court proceedings involving animal welfare violations.
• Provides transport to injured animals; transports animals to veterinarians for medical treatment; may administer euthanasia as required.
• Performs wildlife control duties including removing trapped, injured, or dead wild animals.
• Assists law enforcement personnel in transporting/impounding animals under certain circumstances.
• Responds to animal control inquiries and participates in educating the public regarding animal safety/care and bite prevention; delivers school and community presentations.
• Performs other duties as assigned or required and engages in special projects and activities as needed.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter most for this role:
Education and Experience:

• High School Diploma or equivalent and at least five (5) years animal care/control experience, including two (2) years of supervisory experience, OR an equivalent combination of education and experience. 
  1. Bilingual (English / Spanish) skills beneficial but not required.

Required Licenses or Certifications:

• Basic & Advanced Animal Control Certification approved by Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) 
• Certification as Euthanasia Technician 
• Animal Cruelty Investigation Certification (can obtain while employed) 
• Must possess a valid Texas Driver’s License, with acceptable driving record.

 Required Knowledge of:

• Animal Welfare principals, process of supervision and training.
• Rules, regulations, principles, and practices of animal welfare.
• State and local laws pertaining to animal welfare.
• Basic animal physiology and behavioral principles.
• Common zoonotic diseases.
• Animal control equipment, tools, and documentation.
• Standard computer software applications.
• Supervisory principles, practices, and methods including hiring, training, coaching, mentoring, evaluating and disciplining team members.

Required Skill in:

• Supervising, leading, prioritizing, and delegating tasks and authority to assigned team members in a fast-paced environment. 
• Effective interpersonal, professional and customer service-oriented communication skills for building and maintaining positive relationships with employees, citizens, visitors, elected/appointed officials, representative of various agencies and organizations, and the general public.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing as appropriate for the audience: correct grammar, composition, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary.
• Coordinating and performing a variety of animal welfare functions.
• Investigating, monitoring, and ensuring compliance with municipal codes and regulatory requirements.
• Providing customer excellent service to internal and external customers; ability to set the example and to train team members in customer service.
• Responding to public inquiries and complaints regarding animal welfare related matters.
• Conducting investigations and enforcing animal control laws.
• Techniques used in the capture and restraint of animals, impounding, quarantining, and providing basic first aid to animals.
• Preparing and maintaining a variety of animal control records, reports, and documentation.
• “Customer Service First” approach to all work. 

Physical Demands / Work Environment:

• Work is performed primarily in the field and involves exposure to variable weather conditions, dangerous/vicious animals, infectious diseases, hazardous chemicals, euthanasia equipment, firearms, and potentially volatile members of the public.
• Subject to driving, sitting, standing, walking, bending, reaching, running, capturing animals; and must be able to safely pull, push, lift and carry objects up to one hundred (100) pounds. 
• Must be physically capable to receive pre-exposure prophylaxis vaccinations for applicable communicable disease exposures.
• Must be able to work flexible schedule, irregular hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays on any assigned shift.
• May be required to work on-call and able to respond as needed within twenty (20) minutes or from a twenty (20) mile driving radius.
• May be required to work immediately before, during or immediately after an emergency or disaster.
• NOTE:  This position is designated safety and/or security sensitive.

Salary : $51,979 - $72,758