Director, Animal Services

Directs the staff unit that is responsible for the operation and administration of animal control and animal kennels to protect citizens from stray, lost, or diseased animals within the guidelines of state laws, local ordinances, and department and county policies and procedures. Reports to the Deputy Administrator arid works with Administration, Augusta, Georgia Commission, Advisory boards, Law Enforcement agencies, Court Officials, Public Health agencies and the public in accordance to the guidelines of ordinances, departmental and county policies and procedures.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

• Manages the day-to-day operations of the Animal Services department, which includes planning, developing, coordinating, implementing, and evaluating programs, processes policies and procedures, systems, standards, and/or service offerings; ensures compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and/or standards. Completion of all required reports; prepares and manages an operational budget and prepares specifications for capital purchases. Seeks grants and other funding opportunities. Supervises staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff is trained and that employees follow policies and procedures; making hiring, disciplinary and termination decisions; and maintain a healthy and safe working environment. Perform inspections of Animal Services building, equipment, vehicles, workstations for cleanliness, and ensure proper usage.
• Implements and maintains the Animal Services program in accordance with adopted Animal Control and county regulations. Coordinates activities of the Augusta, Georgia Animal Services department. Collaborates with local veterinarians and maintains records of animals receiving veterinary services.
• Prepares recommendations for discussion with Augusta, Georgia Commission. Represents Augusta, Georgia and Animal Services in the community; speaks to groups; drafts promotional materials, articles and literature regarding pet ownership to establish and promote educational programs, (e.g., how to provide for the general health and welfare of animals; the importance of vaccinations, wellness and spaying/neutering of pets).
• Oversee pet adoptions and donations, kennel sanitation, euthanasia procedures and ensure compliance with State law and reporting methods; reviews financial, adoption, reclaim, and other related reports to ensure accuracy.
• Prepares and implements annual service agreements with humane societies and other local municipalities as needed. Provide assistance to various municipalities within the county on issues related to animal services operations. Collaborates with advisory boards to develop guidelines and provide protection for citizens from stray, diseased or dangerous animals.
• As Required:  Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Animal Science, Criminal Justice or related field.

Experience: Four (4) years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in animal control with an understanding of enforcing state and local laws, regulations, codes and ordinances within a government agency.

• Knowledge of animal diseases and its relation to humans.
• Knowledge and understanding of the habits of animals.
• Knowledge and understanding of best practices and trends in the animal services industry
• Excellent interpersonal, teambuilding and organizational skills.
• Strong leadership skills that will provide innovative approaches to animal service operations and motivate employees to perform at their highest levels. while placing high priority on public safety and well-being.
• Ability to create and expand upon partnerships and relationships with key community leaders.
• Ability to supervise others proactively.
• Ability to understand the procedures for the custodial care of animals.
• Ability to perform research and analysis.
• Ability to deal tactfully with diverse individuals enforcing Animal Control ordinances with firmness and impartiality.
• Ability to read, interpret and explain codes, ordinances, policies, procedures, rules and regulations to the public with tact and courtesy.
• Ability to plan for the care and needs of animals and their owners before and during a disaster.
• Ability to plan, assign and review work of employees.
• Ability to present programs and recommendations clearly and concisely, both orally and in written form.
• Ability to demonstrate compassion for animals.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities. Ability to work under stressful conditions

Licenses:

Possession of a valid driver's license with good driving history. If State license is other than Georgia or South Carolina, applicant must obtain a license in Georgia or South Carolina within 30 days of employment.

Physical Requirements: 

Depending upon area of assignment, positions in this class typically require walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions. Work is performed in an office setting.

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds occasionally, up to 10 pounds frequently, or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If use of arm and leg controls require exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary labor and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Financial Responsibility:   

This position involves budgetary/financial approval responsibilities.

OTHER:   

This position requires staff call up in emergency situations.

PERFORMANCE APTITUDES:

• Data Utilization: Requires the ability to coordinate, manage, and/or correlate data. Includes exercising judgment in determining time, place and/or sequence of operations, referencing data analyses to determine necessity for revision of organizational components, and in the formulation of operational strategy.
• Human Interaction: Requires the ability to function in a managerial capacity for a division or organizational unit; includes the ability to make decisions on procedural and technical levels.
• Equipment: Requires the ability to operate, maneuver, and/or control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and/or rapid adjustments.
• Verbal: Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Math: Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations with fractions; may include ability to compute discount, interest, and ratios; may include ability to calculate surface areas, volumes, weights, and measures.
• Functional Reasoning: Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or synthesis functions; to deal with several concrete and abstract variables; and to analyze. major problems that require complex planning for interrelated activities that can span one or several work units.
• Situational Reasoning: Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving broader aspects of organizational programs and operations, moderately unstable situations, or the direction, control and planning of an entire program or set of programs.
• Physical Abilities: Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5 - 10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.
• Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, odor, and visual cues or signals. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.
• Environmental Factors: Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as noise extremes, confined spaces, bright/dim lights, firearms, violence or rude/irate customers.

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to this job.