Senior Animal Care Technician

County of Monterey • Salinas, CA

18h • Onsite

About The Position

The Monterey County Health Department is seeking a Senior Animal Care Technician for the Animal Services Bureau. This position will work at the Animal Services facility, known as Hitchcock Road Animal Services (HRAS), located at 160 Hitchcock Road in Salinas. HRAS currently provides Animal related services for Monterey County and Salinas as well as some other local cities. This position works in our customer services unit and is primarily tasked with assisting customers that may include Monterey County and Salinas residents, pet owners, pet adopters, rescue partners and other agencies. This position performs and serves as the lead worker to personnel engaged in maintaining the County’s animal shelter in a clean and sanitary manner while providing sheltered animals with humane care and attention. The Eligible List established by this recruitment process will be used to fill current and future vacancies, both regular and temporary, as they arise. The County of Monterey is committed to honoring the service and sacrifice of veterans and eligible military spouses and awards veterans’ preference points for this recruitment. This is a Promotional Only recruitment; open only to current regular Monterey County employees and former employees whose names currently appear on a Recall List.

Requirements

• Thorough Knowledge of: General care, nutrition, and handling of a variety of animal breeds and species.
• Appropriate quarantine and infection control procedures.
• Safe and effective procedures for industrial cleaning and sanitation of kennels and other areas.
• Methods for the safe, effective and humane handling and restraint of a variety of animals, including animals, which may be ill, injured, quarantined, aggressive or difficult to control.
• Techniques for administering vaccinations and euthanasia by injection.
• Working Knowledge of: Laws, ordinances, rules and regulations governing the impound, release or euthanasia of animals.
• Animal first aid techniques and symptoms of animal diseases common to domestic animals.
• Some Knowledge of: Basic practices and techniques in leading a work crew including assist and organize team to accomplish work; coach, facilitate, solve work problems, and recommend disciplinary measures as needed.
• Skill and Ability to: Train staff in the safe and humane care of animals and cleaning of kennel facilities.
• Humanely and safely handle frightened, injured, ill and/or aggressive animals.
• Properly care for and handle different breeds and species of animals.
• Exercise good judgment while working under pressure.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing in order to understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Deal courteously and effectively with co-workers, staff and members of the general public from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, including individuals who may be angry, hostile or distraught.
• Maintain effective, cooperative and professional working relationships.
• Maintain accurate and legible records.
• Tolerate the euthanasia of animals.
• Move and transport animals.

Nice To Haves

• Ability to speak, read, and write effectively in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

• Assists Animal Services Supervisor with planning, scheduling, assigning, and monitoring daily activities of Animal Care Technicians; oversees the daily operation of the shelter in the absence of the Animal Services Supervisor; reports to the supervisor periodically on individual work accomplishments, problems, progress in mastering tasks and work processes, and training needs.
• Provides on the job training and instructions to subordinate staff; provides input to performance evaluations and makes recommendations to the supervisor/manager regarding recognition of outstanding performance and performance improvement required.
• Conducts general health checks, administers medicine, and vaccinates animals.
• Provides special care when advised of animals requiring medication, treatment, and/or special needs.
• Cleans, disinfects, and maintains various animal quarters, accompanying areas, supplies and equipment in a sanitary condition.
• Washes dishes and laundry.
• Euthanizes, makes recommendations for euthanasia in supervisor’s absence, records use of controlled drugs utilized in the euthanasia process, disposes of animals, and maintains records on the disposition of animals.
• Performs behavioral and temperament assessments, makes recommendations and decisions regarding whether animals are suitable for adoption or appropriate for euthanasia.
• Ensures that staff members are aware of and in compliance with established safety practices and procedures.

Benefits

• The County of Monterey offers an excellent benefits package. Please visit our website to view the Bargaining Unit J Benefit Summary Sheet . This information is not legally binding, nor does it serve as a contract. The benefits listed in the Monterey County Personnel Policies and Practices Resolution or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) prevail over this listing.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree