Animal Services Director

The Animal Services Director oversees the City’s shelter and animal service operations, including intake, care, and disposition of animals. Designs and implements community programs to strengthen the human–animal bond, reduce shelter intake, and keep animals with their families. Works directly with the public to build positive nurturing relationships between animals and people. Builds partnerships with residents, nonprofits, and other agencies to support pet care and adoption.

Position is deemed essential personnel and safety sensitive.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each of the following Essential Duties satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties of the position:

• Plans, organizes, schedules, and manages departmental services and operations.
• Reviews and approves leave time, timesheets, and submittal of required documentation for payroll.
• Supervises departmental employees, work schedules/work activities and training.
• Ensures mandated compliance with Federal/State, Municipal statutes, rules, and regulations; implements required action(s) to remain in compliance. Ensures adherence to state and federal animal welfare laws and maintain certifications such as Animal Service Officer Level II (Arkansas State Animal Control Association) and specialized law enforcement training in animal cruelty investigations.
• Work to reduce animal-related public safety issues while promoting humane treatment of animals.
• Design and implement community programs to strengthen the human–animal bond, reduce shelter intake, and keep animals with their families.
• Work directly with the public to build positive nurturing relationships between animals and people.
• Build partnerships with residents, nonprofits, and other agencies to support pet care and adoption.
• Use intake and outcome data to guide program improvements and resource allocation.
• Receives and responds to citizen concerns/complaints.
• Oversees required records of supplies used in euthanasia. (i.e., safekeeping and strict utilization accounting)
• Apprises Mayor, either verbally or in writing, regarding incident reports as necessary.
• Oversees distribution of City animal licenses/tags with area veterinarians for animal identification purposes.
• Ensures rabies specimens are transported to the Arkansas Department of Health in a timely manner as required; maintains reports on test results for dog bites.
• Prepares and submits annual Animal Services budget; monitors budget expenses.
• Must respond to the 911 call center within 1 hour of receiving a call.
• Assists departmental employees in the field as necessary.
• Oversees collection of fees and issuance of receipts.
• Operates a City vehicle.
• May perform any duties of the department in the absence of personnel.
• Issues citations and warnings to violators; testifies in court as required.
• Performs other duties as necessary or assigned.

This job description and the enumerated Essential Duties are intended to provide general guidelines for job expectations and the employees’ ability to perform the position described. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned or assumed by the incumbent as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the position.

The position of Animal Services Director is responsible for the supervision of all department employees and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the Company’s policies and applicable laws, ensuring adherence to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) guidelines. The position performs personnel actions, including performance appraisals and disciplinary actions, including discharges; interviews and selects candidates for employment; supervises the daily activities of the department, including, but not limited to, effectively delegating assignments, developing work schedules, and providing necessary training.

The position demonstrates knowledge of and adherence to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) policy; shows respect…