Assistant Director of Animal Services

Job Title: Assistant Director of Animal Services

Department: Animal Shelter

Hours: Full Time

Job Description:

City of Horn Lake

Purpose of Position_________________________________________________________________________________

This is a position that reports to the Animal Services Director and assists with day-to-day activities of the Horn Lake Animal Services Department and responsible for all animal control operations for the City of Horn Lake.   To include, community education regarding the importance of licensing; promotes responsible pet ownership and pet population; and assists the director in development of community problem solving techniques regarding nuisance animals. Assists the Director in operation of the City owned Horn Lake Animal Shelter responsibilities to include, but not limited to, building and grounds maintenance, budget, adoption programs, pet licensing as per City ordinance or direction, volunteers, and community service workers, and all related duties.

 

Essential  Duties and  Responsibilities_________________________________________________________

The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed.  The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the class. 

• Proper feeding and grooming of all animals.
• Conduct a daily walk through to assess animal safety and well-being.
• Perform brief assessment of animal health and temperament on arrival.
• Keep all animal areas clean.
• Determine ownership of animals at large.
• Set-up and house incoming animals.
• Proper use of equipment such as cleaning tools, disinfectant sprayer, ladders, and catch poles.
• Assist the public to locate lost pets, including the viewing of dead on arrival (DOA’s) as needed for identification; greet and accompany to areas of shelter housing stray animals.
• Vaccinate animals and administer prescribed medications as necessary.
• Restock supplies in all animal areas; maintain adequate supplies, including food, cleaning and disinfectant supplies.
• Perform census of sheltered animals.
• Monitor security of all cages.
• Rinse drains to assure feces and disinfectant removal.
• File all necessary paperwork or complete documentation of transaction in an appropriate software program.
• Access computer files as needed.
• Handle vicious animals or irate citizens, utilizing safety.

• Record animals claimed, adopted, released, and impounded into appropriate computer logging system.
• Balance and prepare deposits for revenue collected and maintain related records.
• Answer incoming calls and return calls.
• Assist the director in delivering lectures, prepares materials for media broadcasts, and prepares correspondence to report shelter activities through local media outlets and community events to promote animal adoptions and licensing.
•  Review and respond to complaints, paperwork, reports, summons, and warrants assuring completeness and accuracy as necessary.
• Respond to citizen complaints.
• Works with veterinarians, animal health care product providers, animal shelters, and other humane organizations.
• Community resources.
• Principles and practices of leadership, supervision, and management.
• Animal behavior and health issues
• Perform the duties of all Animal Services personnel, as necessary.
• Perform other duties as directed.

Job Context_________________________________________________________________________________________

The Assistant Animal Services Director will be actively involved and will exhibit hands-on management in all aspects of the Department in the absence of the Director.  The person in this position is responsible to assist in the overall administrative management and supervision for the Animal Services Department and must work effectively and collaboratively with other governmental agencies, community and civic groups, animal activist groups and the general public.  This position is a full-time, permanent position in the Animal Services Department.  The immediate supervisor for this position is the Animal Services Director.  This position supervises two (2) or more full-time employees and possible contract and/or volunteers.  The Assistant Animal Services Director works regularly scheduled hours year-round, with frequent overtime and night work as necessary.  This position is 50% indoors and 50% outdoors and requires work done in all types of weather conditions.  This position has accountability for monetary, fiscal, budgetary, safety and legal issues related to the work for which this position is responsible.

            There is some exposure to chemicals and/or hazardous materials.  The person in this position must have a high school education, or its equivalent, and three (3) years of equivalent combination of experience and/or training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.  The stress level associated with this position varies with activities.  This job requires the ability to perform the essential functions contained in this description.  These include, but are not limited to, the following requirements. 

Working Conditions:

Works in office conditions and the animal shelter.

Regular exposure to odors of animals.

Exposure to noise of the impounded animals.

Exposure to disease communicated by animals.

Exposure to the risk of being bitten by animals.

Exposure to animal feces and urine.

Exposure to fumes from cleaning products.                                   

Exposure to parasites (fleas, ticks, mites).

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities_     _____________________________________________________________

• Pertinent federal, state, local laws, codes and ordinances related to the care and control of animals.  
• Perform a variety of animal control activities.
• Knowledgeable experience in dealing with stray animals
• Know poisonous reptiles from non-poisonous
• Know how to detect animal diseases
• Knowledge of appropriate animal control methods.
• Knowledge of personnel policies, supervision techniques, and budget development and administration principles.
• OSHA standards and regulations concerning employee safety
• Skill in handling difficult animal cases.
• Plan, organize and supervise.
• Respond to common inquiries and complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, other agencies and the public.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Maintain accurate records.
• Basic methods of animal collection and impoundment.
• Maintain confidentiality
• Handle multiple tasks simultaneously with frequent interruptions
• Prioritize daily work flow
• Meet specified or required deadlines

FLSA:                  Non-Exempt

REPORTS TO:  Animal Services Director, CAO/City Clerk, Mayor

SUPERVISES:  Animal Control Clerk, Animal Control Officer I, II & III

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.   Characteristics described in this job description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform them. 

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