Animal Services Officer I

Description

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE ANNOUNCEMENT CAREFULLY

BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION - TWO (2) ATTACHMENTS ARE REQUIRED

The City of Gaithersburg Police Department has an immediate opening for an entry-level Animal Services Officer I in the Animal Services Office in the Department's Office of Community Services.

Anticipated starting salary for this entry-level position is negotiable within the target hiring range ($52,000 to $58,000) and will be offered at a level consistent with the relevant experience and qualifications of the candidate. We provide comprehensive insurance benefits (medical, dental, vision, long-term care, life), paid time off, generous retirement contributions, health and wellness programs, tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans, training and professional growth opportunities, and excellent work/life balance.

As an Animal Services Officer, you will perform a variety of protective service work, including responding to field calls and complaints; transporting, impounding, trapping, or capturing animals; disposing of animal carcasses; patrolling City parks and streets for animal related violations; and monitoring the City's dog exercise areas. Gaithersburg does not operate its own shelter, but partners with the Montgomery County Animal Shelter. The position will work an assigned daily schedule during the Animal Services Office's daily operating hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The assigned shift will be subject to overtime, on call coverage, and the hours may change upon short notice.

We are looking for someone with a positive attitude, flexibility, and a strong work ethic who can follow standard operating procedures but also has the ability to use problem solving skills, sound judgment, and common sense in working through unusual and sometimes highly emotional situations. You must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, be able to work independently and as part of the team, and have the physical ability and skills to operate animal control tools and equipment and restrain or carry animals of various sizes. You must also have a high degree of patience, tact, and courtesy in dealing with a wide variety of pet and wild animal issues and in interacting with pet or property owners who may be angry, upset, confused, and/or abusive. Multilingual skills are highly desirable. As an Animal Services Officer, you may sometimes be exposed to unpleasant situations involving cruelty to animals, animal remains, injured or dangerous animals, and unsanitary conditions; but the job can be extremely rewarding as well.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

In addition to completing the online job application (including the Questions portion of the application) for this position, you are required to complete the Gaithersburg Police Department's Civilian Applicant Questionnaire (PDF) and attach it to your online job application for this position prior to submitting your application through the online process. You must also attach your current resume when submitting the online application. Only applicants who submit a completed online employment application, resume, and the Civilian Applicant Questionnaire will be moved to the next step in the review and selection process.

• The 26-page Civilian Applicant Questionnaire requires a significant amount of information. Complete this document before you begin the online application process, as you MUST attach your completed Questionnaire to your application when you submit it.

• To complete the Questionnaire, you must save the file to a computer, open it with Adobe Reader, fill it out, save it, then attach the completed and saved document to your application before submitting the application through the online process.

• Read all instructions carefully and complete all sections of the Questionnaire as accurately and thoroughly as possible.

• If you are unable to sign (e-sign) your Questionnaire on the pages where a digital signature is required, submit the Questionnaire without signatures. You will have an opportunity to provide signatures if you are selected to move forward in the process.

• Your resume and/or any other materials may not be submitted in lieu of your completed application and Civilian Applicant Questionnaire. The application and Questionnaire must be filled out completely; incomplete applications and/or questionnaires will be rejected.

• Online applications and attached materials are stored on a secure site. Only authorized employees and hiring authorities have access to the information submitted.

Download and complete the Police Department's Civilian Applicant Questionnaire by clicking on the words "Civilian GPD Applicant Questionnaire" below (this is the link to the questionnaire):

CIVILIAN GPD APPLICANT QUESTIONNAIRE (PDF)

Click on the link above to open the Applicant Questionnaire

• Save the Civilian GPD Applicant Questionnaire file to a computer

• Open it with Adobe Reader

• Fill it out completely and Save the completed document

• Attach the saved completed document to your online application

• Submit your complete online application and attached Questionnaire and current resume

WARNING:

Intentionally lying or intentionally withholding information

will result in a permanent disqualification

Job Functions

What you will do with us:

• Enforce local and state laws and ordinances pertaining to the keeping, regulation, and protection of animals.

• Receive, investigate, and answer complaints concerning stray, wild, nuisance, injured, or owned animals and other wildlife.

• Patrol City streets and parks and monitor dog exercise areas.

• Make investigations, issue warning notices and citations, and make court appearances.

• Rescue trapped, lost, or injured animals and capture wild, vicious, diseased, and other animals.

• Pick up and dispose of animal carcasses.

• Provide outstanding service, pursue continuous improvement, and exceed expectations.

Key responsibilities are highlighted above; please click here to view the complete classification description for the Animal Services Officer I position (Grade 105 in the City's FY 2024 Schedule of Salary Ranges). The classification description indicates the full salary range established for a position in this grade.

Qualifications

What you will need to be considered:

• High school diploma or equivalent.

• Previous experience in animal care and/or control or regulatory compliance and enforcement, law enforcement, military, or related field preferred.

• Valid driver's license and safe driving record.

• National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) Certification (preferred).

• Successful completion of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources test for a Wildlife Damage Control Permit after hire and prior to the completion of training (required).

• Ability to deal with the public in a positive, reassuring, courteous, and professional manner, especially under stressful or dangerous situations.

• Solid computer skills (Microsoft Office).

• Excellent interpersonal and oral/written communication skills.

• Ability to quickly develop a working knowledge of the City's geography and park areas, as well as the laws, ordinances, and regulations governing animal control in the City.

• Ability to lift/carry objects or materials weighing up to 50 pounds.

• Fluent (speaking, reading, and writing) in English and another language desirable; eligible for a $2,080 annual multilingual stipend if approved.

• Or any acceptable equivalent combination of education, experience, and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job.

Additional Information

Interested applicants must submit the following to be considered:

• A complete online application
• A complete Civilian GPD Applicant Questionnaire (attached to the application)
• Current resume (attached to the application)

Review of applications will begin immediately, so prompt application is highly encouraged. The position will remain open until filled; recruitment will close without notice when a sufficient number of qualified applications are received or all hiring decisions have been made.

This position is non-exempt, which means an individual in this position is eligible for overtime compensation under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and the City's personnel regulations. Direct deposit of paychecks is a condition of employment for all City of Gaithersburg employees.

The successful candidate will be subject to a comprehensive background investigation required for civilian employees of the Gaithersburg Police Department and a pre-employment medical examination including drug/alcohol screening. The candidate must also undergo the pre-exposure rabies series before animal handling occurs.

The City has established an alcohol-free, drug-free, and smoke-free workplace which applies to any person employed by, conducting business with, or applying for a position with the City. Each employee, as a condition of their employment, may be required to participate in pre-employment and reasonable suspicion testing. Employees classified as safety sensitive are also subject to immediate post accident and random testing.

For more information about the position, contact Police Administrative Bureau Commander Lt. John Leache at John.Leache@gaithersburgmd.gov or 240-805-1792. Questions regarding the online application process may be directed to the Department of Human Resources at hr@gaithersburgmd.gov or 301.258.6327.

This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which will be used to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other openings in this classification which occur in the next 12 months.

The City of Gaithersburg offers its full-time employees a broad range of benefits to enhance their personal and professional lives. Employees are eligible on their first day of employment (unless otherwise specified). We provide employees with competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits, and an environment that supports a healthy work/life balance.

HEALTH BENEFITS

• Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage - employer pays 85% of premium in each tier

• Multi-tiered coverage options (single, single + spouse, single + child, single + children, family)

• Retirement Health Savings contribution (for non-participants in medical or dental plans)

Medical Insurance

• CIGNA HealthCare Open Access Plan

• Prescription Drug Plan

• Wellness Initiatives

Dental Insurance

• Sun Life Indemnity Plan

• Use a dentist of choice or participating dentist for increased savings

• Basic or Enhanced Plans offered

Vision Insurance

• National Vision Administrators

• Use a provider of choice or participating provider for increased savings

RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLANS

• Eligible for immediate enrollment in all plans upon hire
• 401A - Employer contribution equivalent to 8% of employee's annual base salary; fully vested after 5 years
• 401K - Employer 3% matching contribution on the first 5% of employee's annual base salary contributed by the employee; fully vested after 5 years
• 401A Supplemental - Additional 5% employer contribution to eligible employees in the Public Works and Police Departments who have physically demanding jobs on a consistent basis; fully vested after 10 years
• 457-deferred compensation plan and Roth IRA (employee contributions only)

PAID LEAVE

• Vacation (12 - 24 days accrued annually; accrual rate based on years of service)
• Sick Leave (13 days accrued annually; unlimited accrual)
• Personal Leave (28 hours granted annually)
• Holidays (11 holidays observed each year)

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

• Long-Term Care Insurance (employer paid for base plan coverage); buy-up and spouse coverage available (employee paid)

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Tools to assist with paying down student loan debt and managing student loans

• Employer paid Basic Life and AD&D Insurance

• Long-Term Disability & Workers' Compensation Insurance

• Multilingual Stipend ($2,080 per year for eligible employees, paid biweekly)

• Housing Stipend (Up to $3,600 per year for eligible employees)

• Tuition Assistance (Up to $5,250 per year eligible after 1 year of service)

• Healthy Lifestyle Incentives

• Employee Assistance Program

• First-Time Homebuyer Assistance

• Ongoing Training/Personal Development Programs

• Credit Union

• Recreation & Leisure Opportunities & Discounts

• Direct Deposit (required)

Click on the link below to view general information about the benefits available.

Summary of Employee Benefits (pdf)

01

Each applicant must complete this supplemental questionnaire as part of the application screening and selection process. The information you provide will be reviewed and may be used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. Incomplete responses, false statements, omissions, or partial information ("see resume" is not acceptable) may result in disqualification from the selection process. Do you agree to answer each supplemental question truthfully and certify that your responses can be verified from information included within your application?

• Yes

• No

02

Do you have previous experience in animal care and/or control (e.g., animal services officer, veterinarian assistant, attendant at an approved kennel) or regulatory compliance and enforcement, law enforcement, military, or related field?

• Yes

• No

03

Do you have current National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) Certification?

• Yes

• No

04

This position will work an assigned daily schedule during the Animal Services Office's daily operating hours of 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; the assigned shift will be subject to overtime, on call coverage, and the hours may change upon short notice. Do you agree that you will be able to meet these expectations if you are hired for this position?

• Yes

• No

05

Are you able to communicate fluently in English (speak, read, write)?

• Yes

• No

06

Please list the languages (other than English) in which you are fluent (speak, read, and write). If None, please state "None."

07

How did you first learn about this employment opportunity?

• City of Gaithersburg Website

• Job Interest Card Notification

• Indeed

• GovernmentJobs.com

• Other Website

• Social Media

• Friend or Relative

• I am a current City employee

• Other

Required Question

Agency City of Gaithersburg

Address 31 South Summit Avenue

Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20877

Phone 301-258-6327

Website http://www.gaithersburgmd.gov/government/job-opportunities