Sonoma County, CA
Santa Rosa, California, United States
Sep 14, 2023
Full Time
Position Information Are you passionate about animal welfare and looking to make a positive impact in the lives of shelter animals? Do you have six or more months of full-time experience caring for animals? If so, apply today as an Animal Care Assistant! Starting salary up to $25.42/hour ($53,054/year) and a competitive total compensation package!* At the Department of Health Services (DHS), Animal Care Assistants (ACAs) are essential members of the Animal Services team. Working in the Animal Shelter, these demanding but rewarding positions aid with the care for animals and the upkeep of the facilities. Day-to-day work is done in teams, although there may be tasks that a single ACA may take on, such as inventorying supplies needed to care for the animals or assisting with procedure development. Typical responsibilities also include: Feeding and providing water to animals Cleaning and maintaining animal enclosures and facilities Providing assistance with medical treatments for the animals Monitoring the health and behavior of the animals Working with volunteers Participating in animal enrichment activities We are looking for candidates who possess: Experience caring for animals in a shelter, veterinary clinic, or boarding facility environment Coursework or practical experience in animal behavior and handling Knowledge of common diseases that animals could contact in a shelter environment including identifying signs of these diseases Excellent communication skills Basic data entry and Microsoft Office skills The ability to perform tasks that may require heavy lifting and how to do so safely A strong work ethic, flexible attitude, and the ability to work in a fast-paced environment Flexibility to work weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings While not required, completion of large and small animal handling training courses is beneficial and desirable. About the Sonoma County Animal Shelter The Animal Shelter is committed to serving the public in the care and well-being of animals, both domestic and livestock throughout the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County, and the City of Santa Rosa. The Shelter offers such diverse services as finding homes for adoptable animals, providing shelter for stray animals, aiding owners and finders of lost animals, providing limited veterinary care, and maintaining pet licensing. The Shelter's field services include rescue and care of injured or distressed animals, rabies control, investigation of reports of animal abuse and neglect, and the enforcement of animal regulation laws and ordinances. In addition, the Shelter sponsors various community education and outreach programs throughout the year. What We Offer 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: Salary Advancement - 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 Paid Time Off - Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year County Paid Health Premium Contributions - 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options Staff Development/Wellness Pay - Annual benefit allowances of up to $500 and ongoing education/training opportunities Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement - County contributions to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits Retirement - A pension fully integrated with Social Security Paid Parental Leave - May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) 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 an Animal Care Assistant 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. (If the position would be a promotional opportunity for County employees add the following) : Qualified County 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: Six months of paid or unpaid full-time experience caring for animals. Examples of qualifying experience are: kennel attendant, shelter worker, veterinarian technician, assistant, or helper. License: Possession of a valid driver's license at the appropriate level, including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Working knowledge of: the methods and techniques used in the care of animals; basic animal handling; disease control techniques, practices, methods, and materials used in cleaning animal facilities; occupational hazards of and safety precautions for working around small and large animals. Ability to: lift, carry, and move up to 50 lbs. without assistance; learn herd health disease transmission and control procedures; recognize common symptoms and common diseases of animals; perform safe animal handling techniques; perform the work in a humane manner; be exposed to the euthanasia of animals by direct injection; perform general labor for extended periods, sometimes under adverse weather conditions; carry out oral and written instructions; properly and legibly complete necessary forms; work tactfully and effectively with co-workers, staff of other agencies, volunteers, inmates, and the general public; operate a personal computer. 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 employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. 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 hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process. APPLICATION SUBMISSIONS REQUIRE THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE BE COMPLETED. Responses to supplemental questions will or may be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that 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%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria: Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application & Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates. 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 online 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. 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: BH 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: 10/2/2023 11:59 PM Pacific