Animal Care Field Officer

Job Description Summary

Department - Pima Animal Care Center

Job Description

Job Type: Classified

Job Classification: 5806 - Animal Care Field Officer

Salary Grade: 5

Pay Range

Hiring Range: $19.14 - $22.49 Per Hour

Full Range: $19.14 - $25.84 Per Hour

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification.

Pima Animal Care Center is looking to hire its next Animal Care Field Officer. Pima County’s Animal Protection Services (APS) team completes roughly 26,000 calls for service annually. Calls for service include things like helping to rescue injured animals on roadways; assisting local law enforcement any time there is an animal involved; responding to complaints of dangerous or aggressive dogs; and addressing cases of neglect and hoarding where pets may be in immediate danger.

APS Officers aren’t just focused on punitive measures when enforcing laws in the community. They take a proactive approach to pet ownership by providing education and resources. Taking this approach allows us the opportunity to address the root cause of a problem and save punitive measures for the most egregious crimes.

Pima Animal Care Center is open seven (7) days a week. Current rotating schedules include 6 am-4 pm, 11 am-9 pm, and 8 pm- 6 am. This position rotates schedules quarterly and is subject to change based on department need. Availability to work all schedules is required.

• APPLICATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE WITHOUT COPY OF DIPLOMA OR GED.
  
  

Essential Functions

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.

• Enforces state, city and county animal care laws and ordinances governing such issues as dangerous and vicious animals, neglect, cruelty, excessive noise, quarantines, bite incidents, and license and vaccination requirements;
• Patrols assigned areas to ensure compliance with animal care regulations and responds to routine and emergency animal care calls;
• Assesses reported or observed violations of animal care regulations, makes determinations and takes required action, such as issuing citations and complaints;
• Provides field services including capturing domestic and wild animals, dispensing first aid treatment to animals, examining injured and ill animals to select treatment disposition and removing animals from a variety of hazardous situations;
• Provides information and education to the public covering a range of animal care topics including laws and ordinance, animal nutrition, behavior, injuries, and common diseases;
• Operates and performs operator-level maintenance, servicing and safety inspection of assigned vehicles;
• Operates and performs operator-level maintenance for chemical-immobilization and other animal care equipment, such as snares, ropes, nets, and traps in capturing animals;
• Testifies in court on cases pertaining to animal care issues;
• Assists federal, state, city and county commissioned law enforcement officers as required;
• Prepares manual and automated records and reports;
• Gathers evidence on animal care cases, including photographs, tape recordings, and other information for presentation in court;
• Maintains legal chain-of-custody for evidentiary materials;
• May perform animal euthanasia as directed by qualified personnel;
• May prepare specimens for rabies analysis;
• May dispense medication to animals at direction of qualified personnel;
• May calculate and collect fees for animal quarantine, impound and licensing services
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

A high school diploma or General Education Development (G.E.D.) certificate.

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and “Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Preferred Qualifications: (Be specific in describing your experience in your application. Ensure the descriptions provided illustrate your competencies, specifically addressing the required and preferred qualifications.):

• Previous paid or volunteer experience working with animals.
• Education or experience in animal welfare, including animal control, sheltering, and rescue.
• Education or experience in public safety.
• Education or professional experience in social work, education, community organizing, or program development.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).
  
  

Selection Procedure

Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum/desired qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum/desired qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidates from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information

Licenses and Certificates: Valid driver license is required at time of application. Valid AZ driver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.

Special Notice: Within nine months of appointment, employees must receive the full series of pre-exposure rabies immunizations. Medical inability to be immunized or previous immunization must be verified by the County Physician prior to employment. Recommended boosters are required for the duration of employment, unless medically excused or physiologically unable to develop immunity. May be exposed to a variety of infectious diseases, deceased animals and humans. Some positions may require fluency in English and a second language as determined by the Department. Some positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems. The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. This position will require a post-job offer physical and drug screen.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: This position requires the ability to lift, push, and pull up to 100lbs. Additional physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position.

EEO Information: Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.