Animal Protection Officer

It’s a great time to join the City of Boulder! Application Deadline: 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. Job Description: ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 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. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 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. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 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 veterinary technical school. Animal training or behavior consultant certificate. Animal Welfare Association of Colorado certification. MINIMUM REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE High school diploma or a GED certificate. Two (2) years of experience working with the public, preferably in a customer service capacity. Must hold and maintain a valid drivers' license. BACKGROUND INFORMATION Qualified applicants will be required to complete several stages of interviews and testing, pass a job suitability assessment and complete a thorough background investigation. Applicants must be able to demonstrate personal and professional honesty, integrity, sound judgment as shown in applicant’s criminal history, background, motor vehicle record, and use of drugs and alcohol. Preference will be given to applicants who have no history of use, sale or possession of illegal substances. Polygraph or Computer Voice Stress Analyzer will be used for verification of applicant information. Prior to employment, successful applicants are required to pass a drug screen. Some positions will also require medical and/or psychological testing prior to employment. The following will disqualify any applicant from consideration: Any felony conviction Commission of a felony, whether convicted or not within the past 5 years Commission of any non-traffic related misdemeanor, whether convicted or not within the past 3 years Excessive number of traffic violations Any marijuana business ownership or interest within the past 3 years The use, sale, possession, or transfer of any illegal controlled substance within the past 2 years (examples: Cocaine, Heroin, LSD, Methamphetamine, MDMA,). Unlawful sale or fraudulently obtaining any controlled scheduled substance with the past 5 years (Examples: Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Sleep Medication, Codeine, Morphine, etc.) Use of a substance prescribed to another person will be reviewed for substance type, frequency, and length of time. Any false or untrue statements or material omissions in the application and related paperwork or during the selection process. SUPERVISION Supervision received: Animal Protection Supervisor Supervision exercised: None WORKING CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS Physical and Mental Effort: Occasional sitting to perform office tasks and patrol for loose or dangerous animals; frequent standing, walking, and running while chasing animals on all types of terrain in different weather conditions. Frequent crouching, squatting, bending, and twisting to detain animals to place in cages and load in vehicle. Must be able to tolerate awkward movements such as resisted twisting, bending or lifting; frequent reaching below shoulder level and occasionally above shoulder level to load and unload captured animals; occasional jumping, kneeling, climbing, and balancing on fences and stairs. Frequent firm grasping and occasional light grasping, pinching, and fine motor skills. Constant near acuity and depth perception are requirements for vision, as is the ability to consistently hear and communicate via phone and two-way radio systems. Frequent lifting of 50 pounds from ground level to shoulder height and 20 pounds from ground level to overhead; frequent carrying of 50 pounds for 25 feet; occasionally lifting and carrying greater weights. Applicants must be able to Lift a 90-pound weight from the floor to a height of 36 inches and return it to the floor, Drag 150-pound object twenty feet, Lift 30 pounds, carry 20 feet and place object on the floor, push and pull 75 pounds utilizing a five-foot extended pole, run 100 yards. Work Environment: Work is commonly performed outdoors and occasionally indoors with frequent exposure to extreme temperatures. Work is performed year-round with occasional exposure to wet/humid conditions, loud noise, dust, fumes, mist, chemicals, and all types of animals and situations including impoundment, quarantine, carcass removal and euthanasia. Due to the nature of the position, periods of high activity and stress in emergency situations under demanding conditions will exist, along with the handling of dangerous or fractious animals. Machines and Equipment Used: Frequently uses standard office equipment and department vehicle. Mobile and portable radio systems and computer systems are used to communicate with dispatch and animal protection officers. Requires the use of animal handling equipment such as Kevlar gloves, leashes, catch pole, humane trap, snake tongs, nets, cages and a euthanasia pole. Personal protective equipment includes the use of baton, asp, Taser, OC spray, traffic vests, and latex, leather, or Kevlar gloves. Must be able to euthanize animals in emergency situations using a syringe/pole syringe. Driving large van with side mirrors and backup camera only. As part of the City of Boulder’s commitment to a future with equitable access to health, prosperity, and fulfillment that is not limited by a person’s race, ethnicity, age, gender, ability, religion, sexuality, or socioeconomic status, it is the city’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) for all individuals. The city does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law or policy. The City of Boulder is a great place to live, work, grow and play. With over 300 miles of dedicated bikeways and 150 miles of hiking trails, Boulder supports active lifestyles and meaningful access to nature. Nearly 45,000 acres of open space preserve parks create a greenbelt around the city. Combined with world-class restaurants and vibrant art and music venues, Boulder offers a rich and diverse cultural experience. Respect is one of our five City Values, alongside Customer Service, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, and we are committed to diversity, equity, and belonging as an ongoing practice, not a finished state. We strive to approach our policies, decisions and interactions with intention, fairness, and respect. We celebrate and support our differences across all spectrums, including but not limited to ethnicity, gender, age, disability and sexuality. Through our focus on Racial Equity, our employee benefits, and the programs and resources available to our diverse staff, we work to intentionally embed our core values into the fabric of our organization. Add your voice and talents to the City of Boulder and help us grow in service excellence for an inspired future.