Animal Services Operations Manager

Description

NOTICE OF CHANGE : This recruitment will remain open until filled.

SALARY

$110,385.60 - $140,878.40 Annually

We invite passionate individuals committed to animal welfare to apply for the position of Animal Services Operations Manager in the County of Santa Barbara within the Public Health Department - Animal Services Division.

The County classification title is Regulatory Compliance Manager I. If you are enthusiastic about making a meaningful impact on the well-being of animals and the community, we encourage you to consider joining our dedicated team.

Although the primary location for this position is home-based in Santa Maria, the position requires regular travel to all locations throughout the County of Santa Barbara.

Applicants must be willing to accept work in any of the available locations and transfer as needed. Applicants must select "All Locations" on their application and supplemental questionnaire.

Benefits Overview :

• Vacation : 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment
• Holidays : 12 days per year
• Sick Leave : 12 days sick leave per year. Unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement.
• Health Plan : Choice of medical and dental plans (with vision care). County contributes toward the employee's premium.
• On-Site Employee Health Clinic in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria : Provides ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents over age of 5.
• Life Insurance : $20,000 Term Life Insurance
• Retirement : The County offers a Defined Benefit Plan and eligibility to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.

The County contributes 0.24% of base salary to a 401(a) Deferred Compensation Plan.

For more information on benefits please click here .

In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for :

• Retirement reciprocity
• Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual rate.

Note : The County may provide reimbursement for reasonable relocation expenses, and at the discretion of the CEO, can provide cash incentives and / or time off advanced accruals in the interest of attracting the best talent to the organization.

THE PROGRAM :

Santa Barbara County Animal Services houses approximately 6,000 pets a year across three shelters, and has 8 ACOs closing approximately 10,000 activity sequences.

Annually we place over 2,500 pets in foster care, are gifted roughly 20,000 volunteer hours, and have a noses in, noses out live release rate around 92%.

To learn more about the Animal Services Division, please click here .

THE POSITION :

This exciting management position reports to the Animal Services Director and has management responsibility over shelter, field operations and volunteer program coordination.

In addition, this position drafts policy, develops program goals and objectives, manages supervisors and support staff, monitors the division's budget and directs day-to-day activities.

The work schedule for this position will depend on the needs of the department, which may include working weekends, holidays, evenings, and on-call shifts.

The Ideal Candidate will possess :

• Experience leading a team of staff and volunteers to create a collaborative, cooperative, and positive work environment.
• Creativity, enthusiasm, self-motivation with proven leadership experience and strong communication skills to manage and empower a diverse team.
• Knowledge of industry best practices for field services and shelter operations, including foster programming, open adoptions, pet support, HASS, Socially Conscious Sheltering, the No-Kill movement, bite investigations, officer dispatch, shelter medicine, and the Human-Animal bond.
• CAWA, RVT, Shelter Management, NACA ACO or other relevant certification that indicates a quantifiable understanding of animal welfare.

The ideal candidate is committed to providing stellar service to the community, has innovated solutions to complex problems, and is a champion for change.

Preferred candidates will demonstrate experience in training, scheduling and developing new programs and initiatives. Knowledge of report writing, analyzing statistics, developing policies and procedures, animal behavior, training and handling are all highly desirable.

Examples of Duties

• Assists in planning, directing, organizing, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating day-to-day activities of the shelter, and field, including animal intakes and outcomes, evaluations, care, communications and community engagement through creation and enforcement of standards, and protocols.
• Creates strategies for volunteer and foster recruitment, training, and scheduling, and assumes responsibility for supervising and directing volunteer program initiatives through the Community Outreach Coordinator.
• Assigns and directs daily activities including investigation of complaints and biting animals, patrol, enforcement of state and local laws regarding animal control, quarantine, euthanasia and disposal of animals, directly and through staff supervisors.
• Develops and directs the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for all phases of the program and all shelter facilities.
• Investigates and resolves complaints regarding animal control and shelter activities; ensures safe working practices.
• Creates and conducts training and growth opportunities related to best practices, safe animal handling, customer service, animal husbandry, disease prevention, and other items related to working within a municipal animal service.
• Participates in a wide variety of management level activities, including personnel hiring and management, budget and fiscal responsibility, employee safety and facilities management.
• Assists in the development of departmental policies and procedures and analysis of new legislation.
• Acts as a liaison with public and private agencies and provides information on departmental activities.
• Supervises staff and acts in the absence of the Animal Services Director.
• Acts as Incident Commander or a support position in a disaster or emergency situation, as needed, including adjusting emergency response and shelter evacuation plans, isolation and disease outbreak, and staff preparation and training.
• Develops and implements community outreach programs that honor the human-animal bond and encourage responsible pet ownership through community events, schools, and townhalls.
• Works with local animal and human support agencies to coordinate efforts and meet community needs.

Employment Standards

Education and Experience

The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience.

A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be :

Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in environmental, biological, or physical science;

business or public administration, finance, or related field; AND Three (3) years of progressively responsible management experience in the care and handling of domestic animals that includes supervision of staff; OR,

A combination of training, education, and experience that is equivalent to the employment standard listed above and that provides the required knowledge, abilities, and competencies.

Licenses and Certificates : For specific positions, possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs as a condition of continued employment.

Knowledge of :

• Principles and practices related to animal sheltering, enforcement, community policing, and community engagement related to pets and animals.
• Principles and practices of the administrative civil penalty process.
• Principles and practices of planning and conducting inspections and investigations.
• Principles and practices of public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Management principles, practices, and techniques.
• Principles and practices of fiscal management and budgeting.
• Principles and practices of program planning and administration.
• Personnel management principles and practices, including employee supervision, training, and evaluation.
• Principles and practices of group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
• Principles and practices of procurement and contract administration.
• Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment.

Ability to :

• Effectively administer regulated programs and activities.
• Coordinate the investigation and prosecution of violations.
• Plan and conduct inspections.
• Prioritize multiple competing work priorities and meet deadlines.
• Monitor and interpret operational data, regulatory and financial information and statistics.
• Manage assigned operations / programs; ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures.
• Develop and implement policies and procedures.
• Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, participating in the development of goals and strategic objectives, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning / monitoring work.
• Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures.
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies.
• Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation.
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics.
• Oversee the implementation of, and adherence to, quality assurance activities and standards.
• Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
• Resolve complex problems within area of assignment.
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations.
• Make presentations to stakeholders, elected officials, County leadership, and the public.
• Collaborate with program stakeholders, elected and appointed boards, the public, and internal leadership.
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
• Communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including but not limited to coworkers, subordinate staff, supervisors, other managers, professional agencies, and the general public.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :

• May be required to work a varied schedule of hours, which may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Completion of a background investigation to the satisfaction of the County may be required for some assignments.

Supplemental Information

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS :

Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process . Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS : The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants.

Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting.

We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

Conditional Offer : Appointee will be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

The Public Health Department (PHD) requires all employees working in direct contact with patients or clients in a high-risk environment to comply with the PHD Employee Immunizations policy.

This can be accomplished by providing documentation of immunizations, submitting laboratory immune titers demonstrating adequate immunity, or obtaining required vaccinations.

A list of requirements, based on the specific program, will be sent at the time an offer letter is presented to the selected candidate(s) and initial documentation will be required at this time.

Disaster Service Worker : Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service.

Activities as may be assigned to them by their superiors or by law.

Statement of Commitment

The County of Santa Barbara is dedicated to cultivating and sustaining an environment that exhibits equity and inclusion everywhere, and at all levels of our organization.

The County believes equity is a fundamental principle that must be imbedded in policies, institutional practices and systems.

The County recognizes the negative impacts of systemic racism and is committed to eliminating the barriers affecting our Black, Latinx, Indigenous, and Asian community members, as well as people of other diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.

We envision a world where society and its systems (e.g. education, criminal justice, and health care, housing the economy) are just, fair, and inclusive, enabling all people to participate and reach their full potential.

We celebrate community and employee diversity, strive for inclusion and belonging, and promote empowered participation. We aspire to build a workforce that is reflective of these values and the communities we serve.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and will resolutely uphold federal, California state law and / or Santa Barbara County ordinances.

We believe equity and inclusion are vital to fulfill the County's mission and to embody a culture of "One County, One Future.

Expanding the full range of employee talent allows the County to deliver our best to all our community members.

We believe in the dignity and humanity of all people. We strive for a healthy and prosperous society that promotes all people having equitable access and opportunity.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE : Open until filled. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com.

Erin Kuhn, Talent Acquisition Analyst II, [email protected]