Animal Services Representative

If you are both a people and animal person, this may be an ideal opportunity for you to use those skills! This is moderately complex work providing clerical support, customer service and animal care at a large animal control shelter operation. The employee greets and welcomes all people who come to Animal Services. This includes residents interested in adopting, finding a lost pet, renewing their license, or seeking assistance offered by other programs in the department such as public nuisance complaints.

Animal Services Representatives work courteously and skillfully with customers as well as with animals. Staff has knowledge about safe handling of animals and ensures that they, colleagues, visitors and other animals remain safe in the lobby environment. The Animal Services Representatives staff rotates duties from front lobby working directly with customers in person to back office answering phones and doing research related to lost animals or processing mail from customers. The employee is responsible for evaluating situations and inquiries in order to provide the most useful and appropriate information; explaining in general terms the procedures and functions of the various County and other governmental agencies; helping and assisting others and taking appropriate action or making proper referrals based upon this knowledge. Emphasis is placed upon exhibiting extreme tact and courtesy in handling customers and judgment is required in making frequent decisions. Decisions concerning departures from standard situations, practices and procedures may be referred to others for action. Instructions regarding work assignments, priorities and the application of office policies and procedures are generally provided by more senior staff; however, the Animal Services Representative is expected to perform routine and standard everyday work assignments with basic guidance, exercising initiative and judgment based upon experience.

What Would You Do?

• Demonstrate excellent customer service attitude and skills, both in person and over the phone.
• Facilitates all major services that residents seek with department, demonstrating excellent customer service, knowledgeable on animals & policies and positive problem solver for customers & animals that come to Pinellas County Animal Services.
• Proactively responds to customer needs, utilizing knowledge about various pet breeds, dog and cat characteristics, and county policies and procedures to help facilitate excellent customer service.
• Completes all animal and customer service transactions.
• Performs computer related duties including encoding data, data entry and retrieval, and routine computer operations.
• Produces business correspondence, reports, and documents.
• Performs routine cashier, billing, receipt, clerical and filing duties.
• Checks for licensing and inoculation of animals admitted to kennel; records animal history, weight, food intake, and license tags, microchips, or vaccination/license tags.
• Greets and welcomes all visitors to Animal Services.
• Helps customers in adopting, finding a lost pet, animal intake for strays and surrenders, renewing licenses or seeking assistance offered by other programs in the department such as nuisance complaints.
• Work courteously and skillfully with customers as well as with animals.
• Rotates duties from working directly with customers in person to answering phones and doing research related to lost animals, processing mail from customers and other administrative support.
• Performs cleaning, feeding and any other (care or custodial) activity required to maintain animal welfare in Adoption Area.
• May be required to keyboard up to 35 wpm depending on area of assignment.
• Performs related work as assigned or required.
  
  

What Do You Need to Have?

• At least 3 months of animal care/training experience or coursework in veterinary technology; or
• At least 2 years of office support experience dealing with administrative matters, customer accounts, and experience in the use of computers and general office equipment within the veterinary field; or
• An associate degree, trade school, or vocational training degree, diploma, or certificate that includes training or experience in veterinary technology; or
• A bachelor’s or higher-level degree with major course work in veterinary technology.
• Possession and maintenance of a valid State of Florida Driver's License upon hire with eligibility based upon evaluation of a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) driving report.
• Work in close proximity with animals (cats and dogs) and handle animals safely.
• Assignment to work a variety of work schedules including compulsory work periods in special, emergency, and/or disaster situations.
• Ability to work on-site at the Animal Services facility located at 12450 Ulmerton Road, Largo FL 33774.
• Ability to work a rotating schedule that differs weekly with rotating assignments. Monday – Saturday as early as 8:30am and as late at 6:15pm.
  
  

Highly Desirable

• Proficient in cash handling skills.
• Experience in providing good customer service in a difficult environment.
  
  

Why choose Pinellas County?

Our benefits rank among the top in the area!

We are dedicated to offering employees a multitude of comprehensive and competitive benefits including, but not limited to:

• Medical coverage at a low cost
• Benefits package includes health, vision, prescription, dental, life insurance, disability, and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
• Florida Retirement System (FRS)
• Generous leave time
• Wellness Program: access to county gyms 24/7
• Deferred compensation plans
• To learn more, see What We Offer
  
  

Want to learn more?

Review the full classification description with the Physical/Mental Demands and Working Conditions at the below link.

Animal Services Representative