Location: Mckinney,TX, USA
WORKING FOR THE CITY OF MCKINNEY
Working for the City of McKinney is more than just a job; it's a chance to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others. Proudly recognized on the Top Workplaces USA list by USA TODAY in 2024, our team is dedicated to making McKinney one of the best places to work, live, and raise a family. Join us and start making a difference today.
OUR CORE VALUES
City of McKinney employees work hard and at a very fast pace. However, we also look after and support one another. All of us are guided by four employee-inspired values - Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (RISE). We are also supported by servant-based leaders who foster and support a healthy, family-oriented culture. All new employees are expected to embrace and live by our core values and commit to helping us sustain our exceptional work environment as a high performance organization (HPO).
SUMMARY OF POSITION
Under direction from the Director of Code Services, the purpose of the position is to direct, manage, and coordinate the work of Animal Control staff; enforce applicable animal control laws; provide animal control services; and perform a variety of technical tasks relative to assigned areas of responsibility. This position serves as a senior member of the department and may help to influence and inform the strategic direction of the department. This position requires strong leadership, customer service, relationship building, teamwork, and problem solving/innovation skills and abilities.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
* Assists the Director of Code Services with strategic initiatives and influences and informs the strategic direction of the Department including the creation, maintenance and implementation of policies and procedures.
* Serves as a critical member of the departmental leadership team and assumes the associated leadership responsibilities of that position.
* Plans, prioritizes, assigns, manages and reviews the work of Animal Control staff.
* Responsible for establishing training and quality assurance procedures to ensure that Animal Control staff are properly trained and produce work of the highest quality and professionalism.
* After coordination with the Director of Code Services, this position is responsible for deciding the employment status of Code Enforcement staff including, but not limited to hiring, progressive discipline, performance appraisals, coaching and mentoring.
* Uses strong relationship-building and problem-solving skills to resolve customer complaints regarding various animal issues, such as animal bites, potential animal cruelty/abuse, stray/nuisance animals, barking dogs, animals in distress, sick/injured animals, wild/dangerous animals, animal behavior problems, or animal control laws; takes appropriate action on complaints; responds to emergency calls and works with law enforcement personnel when needed.
* Enforces the provisions of all applicable animal control laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations; enforces health/safety codes as they relate to rabies and animal control activities; enforces state cruelty laws; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations; issues warnings or citations for code violations as appropriate.
* Provides information, education, and assistance to the public concerning animal control issues, animal control ordinances, and humane treatment of animals, animal behavior problems, or related issues; explains animal control ordinances and department policies/procedures; mediates/resolves citizen disputes; conducts school and community education programs.
* Periodically prepares and implements the City's trap management program; delivers, sets, and baits traps to capture domestic/wild animals; maintains records of location of traps and of trap activity by location; logs traps in/out; monitors traps and removes trapped animals.
* Periodically patrols City roads to locate and pick up stray animals; assists animals in problem situations; pursues and captures domestic, wild, vicious, or injured animals; loads/unloads animals into/out of cages; transports animals to animal shelters, veterinarian offices, or other locations; determines need to euthanize animals based upon extent of injuries; relocates displaced wildlife; removes livestock and dead animals from roadways.
* Periodically handles, lifts, and carries animals, restraining as appropriate; handles frightened, fractious, and injured animals; identifies animals by species and breed; identifies characteristics of breeds; checks animals for current license tags and for signs of rabies, disease, or other illnesses; euthanizes animals when required; removes heads from rabies suspect animals and prepares heads for shipment to laboratory for testing; disposes of deceased animals.
* Oversees the application of appropriate methods for tranquilizing or euthanizing animals; prepares chemical solutions for use in tranquilization or euthanasia; measures proper dosage of solution for each animal; prepares and utilizes firearms to tranquilize animals.
* Oversees the investigation of cases involving animal complaints, dangerous animals, animal bites, potential animal cruelty/abuse, disturbances to the public, or other problems; evaluates extent of injury to victims to determine appropriate actions to be taken regarding animals; prepares reports and makes photographic records of violations or crime scenes; performs follow-up as needed; ensures proper quarantine of animals due to potential rabies hazards or other factors; determines appropriate quarantine procedures to be implemented for each case; issues charges against citizens in violation of animal control laws; issues citations to animal owners due to persistent animal abuse problems or disturbances.
* Interacts with Court Administration and the City Prosecutors office to ensure timely and proper adjudication of municipal citations; Ensures that Animal Control staff collect necessary evidence of animal cruelty for presentation in court.
* Periodically operates various machinery, equipment, and tools associated with animal control activities, which may include an animal control vehicle, animal restraint equipment, animal traps, catch poles, nets, syringe poles, tranquilizer gun, scalpel, or hand tools.
* Monitors inventory levels of equipment, tools, and supplies to ensure availability of adequate materials to conduct work activities; initiates requests for new/replacement items; replenishes equipment and supplies on vehicles as needed.
* Maintains log/records of work activities; maintains impoundment records; maintains records of problem locations, people, and animals.
* Compiles or monitors administrative and/or statistical data pertaining to department operations and activities: analyzes data and identifies trends; summarizes data and prepares reports.
* Performs administrative tasks; completes various activity reports and animal reports; prepares necessary reports for submission to Texas Department of Health or other agencies; completes weekly/annual summaries of calls, cases, or other data; makes purchasing recommendations; develops work schedules to ensure adequate coverage; reviews and approves time sheets.
* Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, activity reports, worksheets, statistical reports, bite reports, impoundment records, cruelty reports, drug usage reports, DEA reports, euthanasia reports, case documentation, or other documents.
* Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, time sheets, complaint forms, worksheets, bite reports, impoundment records, trap requests, laboratory reports, photographs, maps, laws, codes, ordinances, policies, procedures, manuals, directories, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
* Operates a personal computer, general office equipment, two-way radio, or other equipment as necessary to complete essential functions, to include the use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, e mail, Internet, or other computer programs.
* Communicates with supervisors, employees, animal shelter staff, other departments, health department personnel, law enforcement personnel, court personnel, other animal control agencies, veterinarians, complainants, violators, the public, outside agencies, and other individuals as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, or resolve problems.
* Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable laws/regulations; maintains an awareness of new equipment, methods, trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends workshops and training sessions as appropriate.
* Responsible for applying for and obtaining a DEA license for the euthanasia drug Sodium Pentobarbital.
* Serves as the local Rabies Control Authority.
* Serves as a member of Animal Services Advisory Committee.
* Oversees the Animal Shelter contract.
* Collaborates with animal support groups on issues related to supporting humane treatment of animals.
* Performs general/clerical tasks, which may include answering telephone calls, reviewing Hotline messages, making copies, sending/receiving faxes, or filing documentation.
* Provides assistance or backup coverage for other employees or departments as needed.
* Performs other functions as required.
* Comply with all written City policies and procedures.
* Adhere to assigned work schedule as outlined in City and department attendance policies and procedures.
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:
* Perform other duties as assigned or directed.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND BEHAVIORS
* Ability to embrace and embody the City's core values of Respect, Integrity, Service, and Excellence (R.I.S.E.).
* Ability to adopt and support a shared, consultative leadership philosophy.
* Ability to communicate effectively with peers, supervisors, subordinates, and people to whom service is provided.
* Ability to produce desired work outcomes, including quality, quantity, and timeliness.
* Ability to plan and organize work, time, and resources, and if applicable, that of subordinates.
* Requires the ability to review, classify, categorize, prioritize, and/or analyze data. Includes exercising discretion in determining data classification, and in referencing such analysis to established standards for the purpose of recognizing actual or probable interactive effects and relationships.
* Requires the ability to provide guidance, assistance, and/or interpretation to others regarding the application of procedures and standards to specific situations.
* Requires the ability to operate and control the actions of equipment, machinery, tools and/or materials requiring complex and rapid adjustments.
* Requires the ability to utilize a wide variety of reference and descriptive data and information.
* Requires the ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. May include counting, recording of counts, and basic measuring.
* Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems; to interpret instructions furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form; and to exercise independent judgment to adopt or modify methods and standards to meet variations in assigned objectives.
* Requires the ability to exercise judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of generally pre-defined duties which are often characterized by frequent change.
* Requires the ability to perform semi-skilled coordinated movements, such as those required to manipulate animal control traps/devices, utilize syringes and tranquilizer guns, and operate motor vehicles.
* The ability to work in a team environment; contribute as a team member and treat co-workers, subordinates and customers with respect.
* Build professional relationships with internal staff and customers.
* Offer flexibility and adaptability, especially during times of change.
* Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Any work related experience resulting in acceptable proficiency levels in the below Minimum Qualifications is an acceptable substitute for the below specified education and experience requirements.
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required in a relevant field of study, such as public administration, public health, business management, or other closely related field, and vocational/technical training in animal control, animal handling, and animal control code enforcement; supplemented by four (4) years previous experience and/or training involving animal control, animal handling, and/or law enforcement. Must possess and maintain valid Texas Advanced Animal Control Certification.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
* Must pass a drug screen and background check.
* Must have Class C Texas Driver's License
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
Tasks require the ability to exert heavy physical effort in heavy work, with greater emphasis on climbing and balancing, but typically also involving some combination of stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling, and the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20-50 pounds); may occasionally involve heavier objects and materials (up to 100 pounds).
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, odors, wetness, humidity, rain, temperature and noise extremes, fumes, hazardous materials, traffic hazards, bright/dim light, toxic agents, disease, pathogenic substances, violence, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/insect bites, firearms, explosives, or rude/irate citizens.
The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed as of the date of preparation and approval. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of the position. Employees holding this position will be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by management. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee, and all requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.
The City of McKinney is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) committed to an alcohol / drug free workplace and to providing equal opportunities regardless of age, race, color, gender, religion, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.