Description

Under general direction of the Director of Animal Services, performs a variety of executive, management, and administrative functions involved with operating the Kern County Animal Services Department and acts for the Director during absences.
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This singleton classification reports directly to the Director of Animal Services. This position manages operations of Animal Services, supervision, and training for assigned staff.

 
Duties 

Assists the director with the planning, scheduling, coordinating, and administering the functions and operations of the Kern County Animal Services Department.

Develops and implements goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for assigned programs; evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods; recommends and administers policies and procedures.

Provides information to media outlets on departmental services, events, and newsworthy incidents; coordinates radio and television appearances for personnel; and assists in preparing materials for their use.

Acts as the department's media spokesperson; plans and coordinates speeches and press conferences; makes speeches before civic and other groups; works with representatives of other agencies in disseminating information concerning services and activities.

Manages assigned staff, determines work performance standards, conducts performance evaluations, provides direction to staff, conducts employment interviews, and handles disciplinary problems

Monitors the daily operations of the animal services center; ensures cleanliness of kennel facilities and ensures proper maintenance.

Maintains records including intake and outcome statistics for animals, time worked, location, and type of work performed by assigned staff; maintains records necessary to administer the re-imbursement for "owner surrender" animals.

Prepares and submits a variety of reports, including an annual report summarizing operations and quarterly performance measures.

Interprets and enforces local ordinances, applicable State statutes, regulations, and policies governing animal control and protection.

Ensures that assigned personnel perform duties and responsibilities in a safe and prudent manner, which does not expose them or others to unnecessary harm or risk of on-the-job injury.

Other Functions:

Performs other job-related duties as required.

Requirements

Employment Standards
 

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Animal Science, or closely related field and three (3) years of work experience with a public, private, or non-profit animal control program in a management or supervisory capacity; OR an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
 
Additional Requirements
 
Possession of a valid Class C California Driver's License at time of appointment.
 
Knowledge of: Principles of supervision, training, employee evaluation, dispute resolution, and team facilitation; modern and complex methods and techniques of animal control including skills in capturing and restraining domestic, exotic, and wild animals; physical and behavioral characteristics of domestic animals and their care and feeding; operations, services, and activities of an animal control shelter; county and state ordinances, laws, and regulations governing impounding, care, quarantine, treatment, and euthanasia of animals; various symptoms of animal diseases and appropriate identification; theories and applications of animal behavior;  work safety
methods and procedures.

Ability to: Supervise, train, assign and review work, administer discipline, and conduct performance evaluations of personnel; maintain records and prepare reports; clearly express ideas both orally and in writing; maintain effective communications with public, partnering organizations, management, and staff; maintain cooperative relationships with staff, public figures, cooperating agencies, and elected officials; effectively represent the department with the public, partnering organizations, other government
agencies, and County staff.
 

 
Supplemental
 

A background check may be conducted for this classification.
 
All Kern County employees are designated "Disaster Service Workers" through state and local laws (CA Government Code Sec. 3100-3109 and Ordinance Code Title 2- Administration, Ch. 2.66 Emergency Services.) As Disaster Service Workers, all County employees are expected to remain at work, or to report for work as soon as practicable following a significant emergency or disaster.
 

Probationary Period and Classification History
12 Month Probationary Period
Revised: 11/20/17
Item #: 2158
EEO Code: B
Bargaining Unit: M