Career Opportunity

Animal Control Assistant Supervisor, Lieutenant (3378) – Animal Care and Control – (135805)

Recruitment: RTF0135804-01090979

Published: October 27, 2023

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

About:

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

Specific information regarding this recruitment process are listed below:

• Application Opening: October 11, 2023
• Application Deadline: October 27, 2023
• ✅ Required Supplemental Questionnaire due at the time of application: https://forms.office.com/g/jJKxejGpYY

The San Francisco Department of Animal Care & Control (SFACC) is a taxpayer-funded, open-admission animal shelter. Since 1989, SFACC has provided housing, care, and medical treatment to wild, exotic and domestic stray, lost, abandoned, sick, injured, and surrendered animals. SFACC’s doors are open to all animals in need regardless of species, medical, or behavioral condition.

The shelter also enforces all state and local Animal Control and Welfare laws and is the first responder for animals in natural disasters and citizen emergencies.

• SFACC shelters homeless, neglected, and abused animals and provides humane education and many other services to the community.
• SFACC is the local agency that investigates animal cruelty, enforces animal welfare laws, rescues injured and orphaned wildlife and birds, and aids domestic animals in distress.
• SFACC aims to adopt, re-home, or reunite domestic animals with their guardians and to release wildlife to their native habitat.

Role description

Under direction of the 3379 Animal Control Supervisor, oversees field operations and field enforcement activities, and ensures compliance with city and state laws governing the humane care, restraint, licensing, vaccination and impoundment of animals.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties:

• Trains, assigns, schedules and monitors the work of assigned staff; oversees daily animal control activities in the absence of the Animal Control Supervisor; monitors attendance and maintains daily time roll; prepares payroll with the assistance of the Supervisor.
• Ensures that radio equipment is effective and functional and that vehicles and equipment are maintained in a safe, healthful and sanitary condition; oversees the orderliness of the squad room, garage and vehicles.
• Monitors and ensures the availability of office supplies, field supplies and equipment, including related inventory and stocking functions.
• 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 according to FCC regulations.
• Responds to requests for emergency rescue services involving injured, sick or stray animals in distress; when necessary, administers first aid and transports sick or injured animals for emergency treatment; observes animals for signs of illness or unusual behavior and reports problems to Animal Care Division and/or Veterinary Medical Services staff; picks up dead animals; may euthanize animals as required.
• 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 for the prosecution of responsible parties and resolution of animal-related issues; may provide testimony on investigations and findings.
• Issues warnings and citations and/or takes appropriate action when violations of animal care and control laws are observed.
• Responds to inquiries, complaints and requests for information from members of the public; provides information on laws and regulations governing the treatment, licensing, care and control of animals; participates in outreach services; educates the public about animal issues and responsible pet ownership and promotes a humane and caring attitude towards animals; provides written information as requested. May represent the Animal Control Supervisor in community meetings, as well as vicious and dangerous dog hearings.
• 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; and
• Performs related duties as required.

How to qualify

Minimum Qualifications

Experience:
Two (2) years of experience as an animal control officer.

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:

• Experience as a law enforcement officer (with a valid P.O.S.T. Certificate), a licensed veterinary technician, or a zoo/animal keeper may substitute for up to one (1) year 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.
• 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.

• Strong supervisory skills
• Thinks critically to make decisions under pressure 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Ability to multitask 
• Analytical thinker 
• Remains calm in stressful situations 
• Customer service oriented 

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

Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for further information.  

How to Apply:

1. Select the "Apply Now" button on this job ad and follow instructions on the screen.
2. Complete the required supplemental questionnaire at this link: https://forms.office.com/g/jJKxejGpYY

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@careers.sf.gov 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.

What else should I know?

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:

In addition to submitting an application, all candidates must complete the supplemental questionnaire by the application deadline 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.

Supplemental Questionnaire (Weight 100%):
Candidates deemed to meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in a Supplemental Questionnaire 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 various species, breeds, symptoms, diseases and first aid common to domestic animals and wildlife; techniques of administering vaccinations and euthanasia by injection; laws and regulations related to the humane care, control, licensing, impounding and disposal of animals; law enforcement techniques and the provisions relating to due process, search and seizure, gathering, documenting and presenting evidence; ability to assign, schedule, monitor and train assigned staff in the performance of animal control activities; effectively prioritize, work efficiently under pressure, assess situations and take necessary action to interpret and enforce rules, laws and policies; react quickly and effectively in emergency situations; remain calm and impartial in confrontational situations; interact courteously and effectively with co-workers, staff, representatives of other departments and agencies, and members of the general public from a variety of cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, including individuals who may be angry, hostile or distraught and/or in violation of the law; establish and maintain effective, cooperative and professional working relationships; speak clearly and effectively in order to give instructions and communicate work-related information to individuals and groups in a manner that is appropriate to the audience; use of a computer system to accurately document access, input and retrieve information, produce clear and concise reports, maintain records, forms, case files, accounts of investigative findings and other information and data; resolve problems, conduct investigations.

A passing score must be achieved on the written examination in order to be ranked on the eligible list.

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-2022-23.pdf.

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
• Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

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

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.