Position Information
Do you have experience working with animals?
If so, join our dedicated team as an Animal Control Officer I! Starting salary up to $30.15/hour ($62,926/year) and a competitive total compensation package!* The County of Sonoma Department of Health Services is seeking qualified candidates to fill an Animal Control Officer (ACO) position in Field Services at either the I or II level.
If you are interested in being considered for the II level, you will need to apply to the separate, concurrent recruitment being conducted for that level.Animal Control Officers patrol an assigned area and routinely assist other officers with enforcing State and County laws and ordinances, and applying procedures pertaining to the control of rabies, and the control, licensing, caring, and dispatching of animals. Other duties of an ACO I include:
- Capturing and restraining aggressive or sick/injured animals
- Lifting animals up to 100 pounds or more, and moving them short distances in order to load and unload them into a truck
- Investigating and responding to complaints and non-compliance with laws, issuing citations, warning notices, and abatement notices for violations
- Impounding stray, sick, and injured animals
- Entering data into a computer and creating reports
- Communicating with the public and appearing as a witness in court, as needed
- Using a firearm to dispatch suspected rabid, unrestrained, vicious, and/or severely injured animals
- Driving County vehicles including a three-quarter ton truck, operating a two-way radio to communicate with a dispatcher, and performing dispatch duties, as needed
- Assisting other law enforcement departments
The ideal candidate will possess:
- Experience working with domestic animals and livestock, and/or a law enforcement background
- Experience explaining laws/ordinances to the public
- Strong communication skills, including the ability to give public presentations
- A license as a Registered Veterinary Technician issued by the Veterinary Medical Board
- Certification in the use of firearms and experience exercising powers of arrest
- The ability to interact with a diverse community and build relationships with fellow officers/employees
- The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and shift gears quickly
- Strong customer service skills
- The ability to document situations and evidence through photographs or video
- Experience with report writing and generating
- The ability to identify different breeds of domestic animals and livestock
- Knowledge and experience working in databases and other related computer programs
- The ability to identify common diseases of domestic animals and livestock, as well as disease control best practices
- A positive attitude, compassion for both people and animals, and a good sense of humor
The Sonoma County Animal Shelter provides services on a 24 hour/7 day a week basis, and as such, ACOs are expected to be available to work some weekends and holidays. ACOs are also assigned standby coverage several nights a week and are on-call for emergency situations. Officers wear a County-provided uniform and all assigned equipment on a duty belt, plus a ballistic vest. The department has a three-month field-training program for new officers.
What Makes Sonoma County a Great Choice Working at the County of Sonoma offers expansive opportunities for growth and development, the ability to be a part of a challenging and rewarding work environment, and the satisfaction of knowing you're working to better our communities. You can also look forward to flexible work arrangements and excellent benefits* including:
- A hybrid telework schedule that meets the needs of our staff, department operations, and the communities we serve may be available depending upon assignment
- Eligibility for a salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
- County paid 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
- An annual Staff Development/Wellness Benefit allowance of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities
- County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits
- Retirement fully integrated with Social Security
- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment
*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Service Employees International Union Local 1021 Memorandum Of Understanding (SEIU MOU) and our Employee Benefits Directory .
This recruitment is being conducted to fill one full-time Animal Control Officer I position in the Department of Health Services. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help (temporary) positions as they occur during the active status of the list.
Qualified C ounty employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED. Minimum Qualifications
Education and experience: Any combination of education and experience which would provide for the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, experience of a responsible nature involving public contact in situations requiring the exercise of tact and good judgment coupled with experience in the care and control of animals or in law enforcement will provide the knowledge and abilities.
License: Possession of an Animal Health Technician Certificate is highly desirable. Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level including special endorsements, as required by the State of California, may be required depending upon assignment to perform the essential job functions of the position.
Special Requirements: Completion of P.O.S.T. course work and certification in the use of firearms and exercising powers of arrest as specified in Penal Code 830.9 is required within one year of the date of employment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Working knowledge of: grammar, spelling, and punctuation sufficient to write reports.
Knowledge of: the physical and behavior characteristics of common breeds of domestic animals and livestock.
Ability to: read, learn and understand laws, regulations and procedures pertaining to animal and rabies control, and the licensing of animals; understand and follow oral and written instructions; exercise tact and good judgment in dealing with the public; analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action in emergency and stressful situations; learn the techniques of capturing, corralling, herding and controlling animals and performing euthanasia; maintain records and prepare accurate and concise reports; speak and write effectively; learn to safely use and care for small firearms and other assigned equipment; drive a light truck with or without a trailer; demonstrate strength and agility to insure effective performance of prescribed duties; lift, carry, handle and transport animals weighing over 75 pounds.
Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying
- Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
- You should list all your employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application and should be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
- You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
- Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.
Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the application, examination, and department selection processes.
APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED. Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses which state "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:
An
Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%). Each application and supplemental questionnaire will be thoroughly evaluated for satisfaction of minimum qualifications and relevance of educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities that relate to this position. Candidates possessing the most appropriate job-related qualifications will be placed on an employment list and referred to the department for selection interviews.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.
Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.
HOW TO APPLY Applications are accepted on-line at: www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be RECEIVED by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Continuous recruitments may close without notice at any time that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.
The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.
HR Analyst: DP
HR Technician: RR
IMPORTANT NOTE: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.
COUNTY OF SONOMA BENEFITS: GENERAL*These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:
Paid Time Off :Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.
Health Plan : Choice of five health plans (a PPO, EPO, HMO, and two deductible HMOs) with a County contribution toward the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit. For specific details, please refer to the applicable MOU). A County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement is available for some bargaining units.
Retirement :Fully integrated with Social Security.For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .
IRS 457 Plan : Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.
Retiree Medical :County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.
Plus excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.
For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331.Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources/divisions-and-units/employee-relations/labor-agreements-and-salary-resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts go to https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/human-resources or, contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonoma-county.org or (707) 565-2900.
*IMPORTANT NOTES: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.
Closing Date/Time: Continuous
