Animal Care Team Supervisor (Animal Specialist III)

Job Announcement

Are you a seasoned animal care professional with supervisory experience looking for a position where you can grow professionally and lead a team, all while making a difference in the lives of animals and the community? At the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to the animals in our Shelter, while also working to tackle the root causes of animal homelessness in our community. We are hiring an Animal Care Team Supervisor!

This position will provide you with the opportunity to lead a team that cares for more than 4,000 animals each year. Under direction of the Animal Care Manager, this position supervises the Animal Care Team; coordinating daily kennel operations; participating in daily animal care activities; monitoring and assisting with animal needs; and liaising with other shelter divisions, the contract Veterinary Team, and Animal Protection Police and/or Animal Services Officers on animal care issues from intake to outcome. Fairfax County Animal Shelter is the only open-access municipal shelter located in Fairfax and Lorton, Virginia.

FCAS has a live release rate of over 90% and we’re very proud of our excellent volunteer and foster programs, compassionate staff, progressive sheltering policies and practices, and our wonderful animal-loving community. Please visit our website here.

Duties include:

• Ensures animal care staff is properly trained in safe, humane, and efficient care of animals (wild, domestic, and livestock).
• Provides oversight and assistance for all animal care staff duties, including performing humane euthanasia when necessary.
• May prepare rabies test specimens for the Health Department in the absence of a veterinary staff to complete the process.
• Works with the Volunteer Program staff to integrate trained volunteers into the animal care, socialization, cleaning, and public visitation routines at the shelter.
• Performs all aspects of personnel management including coaching, evaluating, and discipline as needed.
• Provides oversight and tracking of medical care for shelter animals and those animals temporarily placed in foster homes. Refers animals for both emergency and routine veterinary care.
• Supervises and assists with animal intakes and care, including all necessary vaccinations, tests, other medical care, and behavior evaluations.
• Participates in creating and carrying out behavior modification plans when necessary.
• Monitors individual animal progress and makes disposition recommendations.
• Provides customer service to the public as it relates to animal care, shelter policies, and county policies regarding animals.
• Assists the Animal Care Manager with facility management duties, including vehicle and crematory maintenance and repairs, as needed.
• Oversees daily operations as needed.

This job announcement may be used to fill future full-time Animal Care Team Supervisor (Animal Specialist III) vacancies in Fairfax and Lorton, VA. All FCAS positions may be required to work shifts and/or be transferred to any FCAS facility.

Schedule: Hours of work may vary depending on staffing levels and animal shelter needs. Animal care staff are classified as emergency service personnel and are required to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays, and in all weather conditions.

Salary: The salary offer will be in the minimum to midpoint ($53,265.06 to $71,019.73) of the advertised compensation range based on relevant factors, such as an applicant’s relevant experience, training, and education. Promotional rules apply for current Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools employees. 

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position description.)

Performs a range of advanced level work in multiple animal functions within the agency which may include animal care, animal behavior, animal training, enrichment, exercise, assessments, observations, evaluations, medical treatment and supplies, inoculation, medical and veterinary care referral, transport, specialized care, cleaning, disinfecting, animal disposition, adoption, intervention recommendations, humane euthanasia, documentation, record management and maintenance, safety, inventory maintenance, technical maintenance, and/or facility maintenance;

Provides supervision, counseling, training, support, assistance, and works with agency staff and programs, volunteers, fosters, veterinary staff, community members, customers, rescue programs and partners, and/or community service assignees; 

May supervise and evaluate lower-level agency staff, volunteers, community members, and customers;

May ensure the required trainings and certifications of others have been obtained;

May be responsible for one or more function, service, team, or unit involving analysis of problems and needs that requires experienced knowledge of principles and practices of the specific field;

May act as team or program supervisor with or without absence of management;

May supervise work of lower-level employees in absence of management;

May facilitate animal care and placement;

May assist with planning and content;

May provide and deliver technical assistance;

May assist and/or collaborate with other non-agency programs and partners;

May collaborate with the development, management, assistance, delivery, and/or implementation of plans, trainings, programs, procedures, and/or teams for internal and external use;

May provide information on the policies and procedures of the agency.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

Demonstrated interest in and compassion for animals;

Demonstrated interest in learning state of art procedures for animal sheltering;

Advanced knowledge of characteristics of different types of animals; 

Advanced knowledge of animal behavior indicators; 

Advanced knowledge of safe animal handling techniques; 

Advanced knowledge of work planning techniques; 

Advanced knowledge of the focused animal specialty area and/or program as required per the position;

Knowledge of current industry best practices;

Knowledge of customer service techniques;

Knowledge of supervisory techniques;

Knowledge of performance evaluations; coaching, and counseling techniques;

Knowledge of medical administration and/or euthanasia techniques as required by the position;

Knowledge of animal training techniques using a positive reinforcement approach;

Knowledge of safe driving principles and practices;

Ability to assist, coach, counsel, supervise, train, and evaluate others to include safety, policies, procedures, and practices;

Ability to make assessments and recommendations based on observations;

Ability to follow and provide written and oral instructions; 

Ability to prioritize tasks and provide guidance;

Ability to be flexible and adjust work plans to meet immediate needs when necessary; 

Ability to learn procedures, occupational hazards, and safe work practices; 

Ability to follow precise instructions for dispensing medication;

Ability to handle animals in a humane manner and without personal injury; 

Ability to handle, restrain, and move heavy, immobilized, or resistant animals; 

Ability to move quickly to respond to conditions and situations involving animals;

Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds; 

Ability to maintain a high level of ethical standards; 

Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and to be truthful at all times;

Ability to read animal behavior and maintain a safe environment;

Ability to document animal behavior in clear language based on observable behavior;

Ability to learn and teach animal training techniques using a positive reinforcement approach;

Ability to work collaboratively with others, avoid negative interpersonal altercations, and maintain good working relationships;

Ability to learn job related information;

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing to others, including presentations;

Ability to contribute to a stress-free environment for both animals and people;

Ability to safely operate equipment and software necessary to perform position requirements;

Ability to work outdoors as well as indoors and be subject to variable weather conditions and exposure to potentially infectious diseases or allergies, as well as wetness and moisture; 

Ability to bend, stand, stoop, kneel, reach, crawl, walk, and sit;

Ability to hear, speak, touch, feel, and smell;

Ability to see with close vision, depth perception, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus;

Ability to be frequently exposed to loud noises above 95 decibels such as barking of dogs and other animal noises;

Ability to firmly grasp and have wrist extension and rotation on a frequent basis.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:  (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited college or university with an associate degree in Animal Behavior, Animal Science, Veterinary Science, Zoology, or related field; plus two years of experience supervising staff in an animal shelter, kennel, vet clinic, boarding facility, animal training capacity, or other animal related organization with animal care and handling responsibility; experience with multiple species of animals including handling difficult dogs and cats, giving medication, and restraint (Graduation from an accredited Veterinary Technician Program may be substituted for one year of the required experience).
 
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
 

• Valid driver's license (Required at the time of application)
• Euthanasia Certification (Required within 6 months)
• Fear Free Shelter Certification (Required within 3 months)
• Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA) credential from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT) (Required within 6 months)

 
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

• This position is considered "essential personnel" and will be required to report to work during times designated countywide as approved for unscheduled leave regardless of the emergency situation (i.e., weather, transportation, other disaster).
• The appointee to the position will be required to complete the following to the satisfaction of the employer:
  • Criminal Background Investigation
  • Driving Record Check

 
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
 

• Five or more years of experience working in an animal shelter, kennel, vet clinic, boarding facility, or other animal related organization with animal care and handling responsibility.
• Five or more years of experience with multiple species of animals including handling difficult dogs and cats, giving medication, and restraint techniques for multiple species.
• Five or more years of experience supervising animal care staff.
   Five or more years of experience coordinating daily kennel operations.
• Experience coordinating with veterinary staff and serving as a liaison with Animal Protection Police and/or Animal Services Officers
   Computer literate and have experience using the shelter database software system, PetPoint.
• Must have a high level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information and professionalism in dealing with visitors, residents, and colleagues.
• Position requires the candidate to work independently and in a team environment, be efficient and prompt, exercise good judgment, work well under pressure, be highly organized and proactive, and have excellent communication skills.
   
   

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
 

• Ability to converse with volunteers, visitors, staff, and others.
• Ability to operate equipment necessary to complete work tasks.
• Ability to work a varied schedule, including early mornings, evenings, holidays, and weekends.
• Must be able to bend, stand, stoop, crawl, walk, sit, talk, see, and hear.
• Must be able to maneuver safely in kennels, dog play yards, cat rooms, small animal room, off-site events, etc.
• Must have the ability to move heavy, immobilized, or resistant animals. Must have the ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds. Uses hands to grasp, handle, or feel.
• Must not have allergies to animals or animal supplies (ex: hay, peanut butter, etc.) that will impede working in an animal environment.
• Pre-exposure rabies vaccination required.
• Visual acuity is required to read standard text and data on a computer monitor. Ability to operate keyboard-driven equipment.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

 
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.
 
The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

 Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.  
 
 Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.