Animal Protection Officer

Final date to receive applications:
July 14, 2026

Compensation Details:
Hiring Range 28.52 - 41.36

This is a full-time hourly position.

Scheduled Weekly

Hours:

40

Benefit Eligibility Group: BMEA (20+ Hours)

Locate the Benefit Eligibility Group value on the Employee Benefit Eligibility document to identify the benefits offered for this job.

Job Description

Summary:

Under limited supervision, provides high quality animal protection and human safety services through compassion, education and enforcement of laws and regulations governing the licensing, quarantine, impoundment and treatment/protection of animals required.

• Responds to calls/complaints for service regarding stray, vicious, injured, sick, nuisance and dead animals.
• Resolves complaints through enforcement, investigation, and mediation.
• Investigates violations of animal laws, animal bite cases, cruelty/neglect cases, and neighborhood disputes related to nuisance animals.
• Gathers evidence and enforces quarantine orders, issues summonses and warning notices, impounds animals, and manages wildlife conflicts.
• Prepares cases and testifies in court, includes being a credible witness.
• Knows and enforces laws and regulations governing the licensing, quarantine, impoundment and protection/treatment of animals.
• Maintains awareness of new laws and legislation pertaining to animal protection.
• Interprets laws and regulations applicable to animal protection and informs staff of changes in such regulations.
• Assists and advises the public of laws and ordinances pertaining to care and treatment of animals.
• Provides on-going patrol and initiates activity when violations are observed.
• Prepares a variety of reports, including numbers of animals impounded, animal bites, complaint reports, animals euthanized, and investigation reports.
• Makes oral presentations before business, civic, school and/or other groups as appropriate on topics pertaining to animal protection, animal welfare, and public safety.
• Performs related duties as required to meet the needs of the city.
• Takes proper safety precautions to prevent accidents.
• Ensures the safety of self, others, materials, and equipment. Uses all required safety equipment and follows all safety regulations, policies and procedures. Reports all accidents and damage to city property.
• Knows and complies with all city and department policies, participating in professional trainings and development, and adhering to attendance and workplace attire policies.

• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends.
• Ability to be flexible and open to change.
• Ability to demonstrate interpersonal, problem solving and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to deal tactfully with the public.
• Ability to demonstrate attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to demonstrate effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information in a secure, professional and discretionary manner.
• Ability that can be demonstrated to handle multiple demands simultaneously, deal with interruptions, and handle difficult situations under time pressure.
• Knowledge at a working level of computerized databases including Word and Excel.
• Skills and competency in basic arithmetic.
• Must successfully pass a background check before first day of work and maintain acceptable screening.

• Ability to analyze and interpret laws and regulations and to formulate, develop, and present recommendations for such regulations.
• Ability to exercise tact and courtesy in explaining and enforcing state laws and local ordinances pertaining to animal protection and to diffuse hostile situations and calm irate residents.
• Knowledge of the Boulder area and community, and familiarity with the geographic layout of the City of Boulder.
• Skills at a bilingual level in English/Spanish.
• Previous animal protection officer or welfare investigator experience or equivalent.
• Demonstrated experience in leadership, team building, problem‑solving, and strong people skills.
• Associates and/or Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
• Training and/or certification from an accredited…