Animal Control Director

County of St. Clair•St. Clair County Animal Control Office, MI

22h•Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the County Administrator/Controller, this position is responsible for planning and developing animal control operations in accordance with established policies and regulations. The Director is responsible for the enforcement of State regulations and County ordinances governing animals in the County, and supervises the reporting of animal bites to the Health Department for rabies control follow-up. The Director is accountable for the distribution, sale, and revenue received for dog licenses sold in the County. This role has primary responsibility for managing and administering the County's Animal Shelter, which includes adoptions, shelter and kennel operations, euthanasia licenses, marketing and fundraising, medical treatment and veterinary services, disposal of deceased animals, community relations, volunteer recruitment and management, staff supervision, budget preparation, and staff and volunteer training. Performs related tasks as directed by the County Administrator/Controller.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in animal control management, law enforcement, business administration or animal care related field required and 3 years experience in animal welfare and/or animal control including 1 year in a supervisory or management capacity.
OR an Associate's degree in animal control management, criminal justice, business administration or animal care related field an 5 years of experience in animal control or animal welfare including 1 year in a supervisory or management role
Ability to obtain a valid license from the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) for a license to perform animal euthanasia and sedation per the Board of Pharmacy --Animal Euthanasia and Sedation Rules, at R 338.3501, et al.
Must possess a compassionate demeanor to handle animals and demonstrate a genuine concern for their welfare.
Ability to demonstrate sound ethics and judgment and to use sound judgment to detect unusual, harmful or emergency situations and act accordingly.
Ability to demonstrate predictable, reliable, and timely attendance.
Ability to read, write & communicate in English; follow written and verbal instruction and understand basic mathematics and figure checking.
Ability to interpret and apply procedures, rules, technical information, instructions, manuals to complete tasks accurately and on schedule.
Ability to learn from directions, observations, and mistakes; and apply procedures using good judgment.
Ability to use discretion and maintain sensitive and confidential information.
Ability to work independently or part of a team; ability to interact appropriately with others such as County officials, employees, vendors and the general public.
Ability to work under supervision, receiving instructions/feedback, coaching/counseling and/or action/discipline.
Adaptability to change in the work environment, managing competing demands and ability to deal with frequent changes, delays or unexpected events.
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services including customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction
Proficient skills using Microsoft Office programs including, but not limited to: Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook required. Proficiency may be tested.
Prior to starting employment, the candidate must complete a satisfactory background check. The background check is בנו understood to encompass all forms of pre-employment screening, including but not limited to: drug screen, physical, criminal background, driving record, sex offender registry, education, training and licensing verification, employment history, credit check, and professional and personal references.
Must possess a valid State of Michigan operator license and maintain this license throughout employment in this position.

Nice To Haves

Willingness to further credentials by attending additional education, training and workshops.

Responsibilities

Plans, directs and coordinates activities of all departmental employees and volunteers in the office, shelter and enforcement activities.
Assists employees in performance of duties.
Prepares and submits budgets, reports, employee time sheets, and accounts payable functions within the department.
Prepares and maintains written standard operating procedures for the shelter and Animal Control operations.
Prepares regular work schedules, on-call and emergency duty rosters for all Animal Control personnel including dog census activity.
Hires, trains and ensures necessary continuing education of employees.
Ensures adherence to established safety procedures, monitors work environment, and use of safety equipment.
Performs employee evaluations, including counseling sessions and disciplinary action as necessary.
Presents reports and information to commissioners, citizen groups, and schools; communicates with public on matters concerning Animal Control Department including the policies, procedures and laws governing activities of the department.
Responds to citizen complaints regarding dogs or other animals; secures cooperation of animal owners to comply with laws; enforces laws regarding care and treatment of animals.
Represents St. Clair County Animal Control in any court of law dealing with animal control issues with assistance from the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney or Corporate Counsel.
May testify in legal proceeding regarding citations for violation of animal control laws and ordinances.
Works with the County Treasurer in the issuance of dog licenses; receives and record fees; and make bank deposits.
Serves as the manager of Animal Control's impounding of stray animals, and is assigned responsibility for the operations of the pound areas of the shelter. These operations include transport, in-processing, redemption, adoption, euthanasia, medical care, cleaning, feeding, and watering of animals.
Serves as the County's animal shelter director and is assigned responsibility for compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, and County policies and procedures applicable to the operation of the shelter.
Oversees the County's animal adoption and spay/neuter programs.
Responsible for development and implementation of fundraising efforts, community relations programs, and volunteer recruitment initiatives.
Works cooperatively with other agencies to further the mission of St. Clair County Animal Control.
Develop and maintain working relationship with other governmental, community and other professional agencies and/or individuals that interact with the Animal Control Division.
Personally handles difficult problems that arise.
Meet with contracted service providers as needed to address quality assurance issues and resolve areas of concern.
Maintain through working knowledge of and comply with applicable county personnel policies and applicable Collective Bargaining Agreements, Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity programs and applicable Federal, State and Local laws.
Performs additional duties or completes special projects as directed by the County Administrator/Controller.