Career Opportunity

Animal Control Officer - Animal Care and Control – Office of the City Administrator (3372) – (118146)

Recruitment: RTF0126448-01144723

Published: February 02, 2023

Apply using SmartRecruiters, the City and County of San Francisco's application portal Learn More

About:

The Department of Animal Care and Control is committed to the delivery of effective, courteous, and responsive animal care and control services to the residents of this community.

The Department is responsible for San Francisco’s stray, injured, abandoned, neglected and mistreated companion animals and wildlife, as well as for the enforcement of all state and local animal welfare, anti-cruelty, and animal control laws and ordinances.

This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: January 20, 2023 (Amended: January 26, 2023)
• Application Deadline: February 3, 2023
• Compensation Range: $67,756 - $86,476 annually
• Recruitment ID: #118146

This announcement has been amended to extend the filing period for additional recruitment.

Role description

Under general supervision, responds to requests for Animal Care and Control services and enforces compliance with city and state laws governing the humane care, control, licensing, vaccination and impoundment of animals.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties:

• Conducts routine patrols throughout the city, humanely confining dogs at large and other stray animals and transporting them to the shelter for impoundment; maintains close contact with the shelter and other field staff via radio in conformance with FCC regulations; picks up dead animals.
• Responds to requests for emergency rescue services, including injured, sick or stray animals in distress; humanely and safely handles all animals, domestic and wild.
• Administers basic first aid and transports sick or injured animals for emergency treatment; observes animals for signs of illness or unusual behavior and reports problems to the Animal Care Division and/or Veterinary Medical Services staff.
• Processes impounded animals; administers vaccinations; prepares cages/kennels for new animal residents; and participates in the care and feeding of shelter animals.
• Responds to complaints about the care, treatment and control of animals and other problem situations, including those which involve hostile, irate or distressed members of the public, in a tactful, professional and effective manner; mediates animal issues between neighbors; educates members of the public about laws and regulations on animal care and control.
• Investigates allegations of animal abuse and neglect; takes immediate action if necessary; gathers evidence and information for further investigation as indicated; documents information; consults with supervisors and/or management staff regarding cases of a complex or unusual nature; works with local law enforcement agencies, including the Offices of the City Attorney and the District Attorney, for the prosecution of responsible parties and resolution of animal-related issues; may provide testimony on investigations and findings; incumbents have powers of arrest and participate in executing arrest and search warrants.
• Issues warnings and citations and/or takes appropriate action when violations of animal care and control laws are observed.
• Provides information on laws and regulations governing the treatment, licensing, care and control of animals to the public in the field; participates in outreach services; educates the public about animal issues and responsible pet ownership and promotes a humane and caring attitude towards animals.
• Maintains assigned vehicles, work areas and other equipment in good order and in a safe and sanitary condition.
• Produces and maintains accurate and legible case files, work records and forms, and reports, including accounts of investigative findings and other information; uses a computer to access, input and retrieve work-related information, maintain case files and records and produce written reports.
• Answers the telephone and performs radio dispatch duties.
• Euthanizes animals and performs decapitation for rabies testing as required.
• Assists San Francisco Police Department (SFPD), San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD), San Francisco Sheriff’s Office (SFSO), Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) and other city, state, and federal agencies such as rescuing and/or taking custody of animals.
• Performs related duties as required.

Nature of work requires: frequent exposure to areas with hazards and other unpleasant elements; lifting and carrying heavy equipment or animals; bending, stooping, stretching, crawling, running short distances, climbing and working in narrow or elevated spaces; safely transporting animals in departmental vans. Position requires weekend and holiday work on a rotating basis, may require work on swing shifts, extended hours and/or overtime work; changes in work schedule may occur with limited advance notice.

How to qualify

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:
One (1) year of animal handling experience involving public contact or customer service at a facility that cares for and houses animals (e.g., animal shelter, kennel, veterinary hospital, boarding or pet day care facility, pet store, park, zoo, museum or university setting).

License and Certification:
Possession of a valid California driver license.

Successful completion of the Penal Code 832 course, state-mandated euthanasia training and Animal Control Officer Academy within the probationary period.

Substitution:
Six (6) months of experience in the interpretation and enforcement of laws or codes, which included issuing warnings and citations or executing arrests, may substitute for six (6) months of the required experience.

Completion of coursework in animal husbandry, veterinary science or related program at an accredited college or university may substitute for up to six (6) months of the required experience (30 semester / 45 quarter units equals one (1) year).

Note(s):

• One-year full-time employment is considered equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40 hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.
• A valid out-of-state driver’s license is acceptable during the application process. A valid California driver's license must be obtained prior to appointment and maintained throughout employment.
• Applicants must meet minimum qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.

Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

• Experience in customer service including in-person interactions with customers and/or the general public
• Bilingual fluency

Verification:
“Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education verification is required, information on how to verify education requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://sfdhr.org/how-verify-education-requirements”

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.

SELECTION PROCEDURE/EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS
After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Minimum Qualification Supplemental Questionnaire (MQSQ):
Candidates will be required to complete a MQSQ as part of the employment application. This MQSQ is designed to obtain specific information regarding an applicant's experience in relation to the Minimum Qualifications (MQ) for this position. The MQSQ will be used to evaluate if the applicant possesses the required minimum qualifications.

Written Examination (Weight 100%):
Candidates deemed to meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in a written examination designed to measure their relative knowledge, skills and abilities in job-related areas, which may include, but not be limited to: knowledge of safe and effective handling, restraint and confinement of animals; characteristics of different species and breeds of animals; basic principles and techniques of law enforcement and provisions relating to due process, search and seizure, gathering, documenting and presenting of evidence; ability to interpret rules, policies, laws and regulations related to the humane care, control, licensing, impounding and disposal of animals; handle domestic animals and wildlife; identify symptoms and diseases, administer animal first aid, vaccinations and euthanasia; use a computer system; use radio equipment according to FCC regulations; effectively prioritize, complete tasks and assignments with minimal oversight; assess situations, make appropriate and rapid decisions, deal courteously, fairly and effectively with others; remain calm and impartial in confrontational situations; establish and maintain effective and professional working relationships; communicate orally clearly, concisely and effectively; elicit information, express facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing and organized manner; resolve problems and complaints, conduct investigations; work in narrow, confined or elevated spaces; bend, stoop, stretch, crawl, climb and run short distances; lift, carry and restrain moving animals, objects and equipment weighting up to 50 lbs.; Safely operate a motor vehicle. A passing score must be achieved on the written examination in order to be ranked on the eligible list.

What else should I know?

Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created, and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 6 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2021-22.pdf.

Additional Requirements:

1. Employees will be required to undergo a background investigation to determine fitness for employment. The investigation is limited to job-relevant matters and may include checks of criminal, driving and motor vehicle records, references and employment history
2. Incumbents must meet the requirements for and enroll and successfully complete the Penal Code 832 course within the probationary period
3. Incumbents must complete the state-mandated euthanasia training within the probationary period. 
4. Successful completion of the Animal Control Officer Academy is required within the probationary period.

NOTE: Cruelty or mistreatment of animals, as determined by the Department of Animal Care and Control is subject to disciplinary action and/or termination.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity 
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

HOW TO APPLY:
Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are only accepted through an online process. Visit https://careers.sf.gov and begin the application process.

• Select the “Apply Now” button or “I’m Interested” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this announcement and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses @sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu).

Applicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst at rosalie.platzer@sfgov.org.

CONDITION OF EMPLOYMENT:  All City and County of San Francisco employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Someone is fully vaccinated when 14 days have passed since they received the final dose of a two-shot vaccine or a dose of a one-shot vaccine. Any new hire must present proof of full vaccination status to be appointed. Any new hire who will be routinely assigned or occasionally enter High-Risk Settings, must provide proof of having received a COVID-19 booster vaccine by March 1, 2022, or once eligible.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.