Animal Control Specialist II

Description/Duties

First review of applications will be Monday, July 8, 2024, and weekly thereafter as needed.

An Animal Control Specialist II performs clerical support duties and field work that includes a variety of code enforcement and customer service tasks related to City and Arizona State codes and ordinances regarding the licensing, care, and control of animals for Animal Control. An employee in this class acts as a back-up for the Animal Control Specialist I by assisting with answering a heavy volume of incoming phone calls, on-line requests, electronic mail, and walk-in citizen contacts regarding complaints or inquiries.

This includes interacting in a tactful, confidential, knowledgeable, and courteous manner with customers who are often angry, confused, and/or hostile; therefore, incumbents must be able to verbally diffuse encounters. Duties include: determining call priority and dispatching Animal Control Officers; interpreting and explaining ordinances and procedures to the public such as leash laws, licensing requirements, barking/nuisances, livestock restrictions, and vicious dog ordinances; gathering information and writing reports and supplements; following up on warnings issued; notifying owners and victims of quarantine results; checking for compliance with court orders; testifying in court; issuing citations; and processing and maintaining records of all citations including long form complaints. Additional responsibilities include issuing civil and criminal warnings and citations; preparing and processing vicious dog and animal noise complaint cases for civil administrative hearings; and acting in a quasi-prosecutor nature representing the City in civil vicious animal and animal noise disturbance hearings.

Incumbents in this class handle low-priority calls for service in the field (examples: barking disturbances, livestock complaints, etc.) which involves exposure to a variety of pets and/or wild animals often in unsanitary conditions. Animal Control Specialist II also serve in an educational and community outreach capacity to promote animal safety through educational materials, events, and social media communication. Duties include: developing content and presenting at public events such as safety fairs and for schools, businesses, and civic groups; developing training materials for internal and external training events and community education programs; and creating attention-grabbing social media posts to generate interest and awareness in animal control programs and initiatives. This class is responsible for performing related duties as required.

This class is supervised by an Animal Control Supervisor through observation or performance and review of written reports, citations and warnings issued, problems encountered, and overall results achieved. The Animal Control Specialist II is distinguished from the Animal Control Specialist I by its responsibility for regularly handling lower-level field calls with minimal supervision; processing cases for civil hearings and representing the City as a quasi-prosecutor; and serving in an educational outreach and social media liaison capacity.

The Animal Control Specialist II is distinguished from the Animal Control Officer I by the latter's continuous patrol duties in the field handling higher-priority calls and continuous exposure to animals. This class is FLSA nonexempt.

Please refer to the link below for the full job description and additional information regarding assignments, preferred qualifications, and essential functions.

Qualifications & Requirements

Employee Values: All employees of the City of Mesa are expected to uphold and exhibit the City's shared employee values of Knowledge, Respect, and Integrity.

Minimum Qualifications Required. Graduation from high school or GED.

Any combination of training, education, and experience equivalent to two years of full-time clerical experience involving extensive public contact. Some (6 months

• 1 year) experience with enforcement of policies, procedures, rules, regulations, or court processes. Some (6 months

• 1 year) work experience handling animals.

Special Requirements. Must possess a valid Class D Arizona Driver's License by hire date.

Because of the confidential, sensitive nature of information handled, successful completion of a background investigation and polygraph is required. Must meet the qualifications to wear a tight-fitting respirator by passing a medical evaluation in accordance with Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 1910.134 by hire or promotion date and must maintain certification.

Preferred/Desirable Qualifications. Some (6 months

• 1 year) experience using a personal computer (PC) and various software programs including Microsoft Word and Excel is preferred. Completion of training or education related to animal behavior and various animal species is highly desirable.

Link to Job Description

https://apps.mesaaz.gov/jobdescriptions/Documents/JobDescriptions/cs4217.pdf