Animal Care Specialist - Front Desk

Animal Care Specialist

Ensures the health and safety of Montgomery County through extensive use of investigative, problem-solving, prevention, and mitigation strategies to keep pets and people together. Full performance level in clerical occupation under direction requiring independent analysis, exercise of judgment, and considerable detailed knowledge of assigned area's policies and procedures and varied and advanced functions of software specific to assigned area in order to perform specialized clerical duties (i.e., performs mathematical computations using software applications, cross references data and information and a variety of other procedures requiring absolute accuracy), requiring a high degree of skill in applying software functions to produce a wide range of documents that often require complex formats, edit and reformat electronic drafts, and update or revise existing databases or spreadsheets. Requires considerable knowledge of animal control regulations and dispatching operations; and correlating information concerning emergencies or unusual circumstances for the purpose of enforcing Ohio law regarding the control and licensing of dogs.

Performs job duties assigned: (1) assists with lost and found pets, fosters, and adoption, assists and/or completes paperwork, remains empathetic and non-judgmental in all interactions and uses de-escalation techniques and persuasive communication to assist finders and owners of dogs; (2) engages with our community, partners and stakeholders by gathering information, assessing the situation, and providing appropriate service(s), requires advanced familiarity with pet retention, rehoming, behavioral training, veterinary care and other resources to connect pets in need; (3) involves extensive use of judgement to make sound and safe decisions, requires advanced understanding and interpretation of animal body language and safe animal handling expertise; (4) in absence of Administrative Operations Supervisor: balances receipts daily using (calculator and/or computer type of software such as Microsoft Word); transfers and separates into appropriate revenue codes on pay-in sheet. Performs general clerical tasks, types routine (reports, memos, and letters to pet owners) and non-routine correspondence, schedules appointments and conference rooms, and prepares vouchers and invoices.

Assists clients by obtaining key information regarding canine behavior, health, location a loose dog was found, dog identifiers, etc. and ensures the same is documented in the appropriate animal management software; performs system searches and cross references information to assist investigations and/or connect pets home; computes daily, monthly, and annual statistics for Shelter activities using calculator or computer; retrieves sheltered animal reports from Animal Records Management System; sorts receipts daily numerically; sorts mail and distributes to various team members; assists and/or trains volunteers as needed.

Answers multi-line phones and operates multiple-key phone system. Answers routine telephone inquiries from the public and/or forwards calls to appropriate staff. Files documents (daily receipts, adoption records, cage counts, board of health records, euthanasia lists, etc.); requires functional knowledge of Ohio law and county-wide animal control ordinances governing the control, licensing, and humane treatment of animals; demonstrates working knowledge of animal restraint and animal care techniques and prepares for and attends court hearings as needed to give testimony in the prosecution of cases involving animal control.

Duties for Functional Area Assignment:

Dispatcher:

Coordinates daily requests, inquiries, and complaint calls with Animal Care & Control Officers (ACCO's); Effectively prioritizes calls for service and assigns to ACCO's based upon a totality of circumstances (e.g., number of ACCO's, proximity, safety protocols, urgency, etc.); Operates computer terminal for record searches, telephone, and radio equipment to respond to incoming calls from citizens, personnel, and affiliated agency/business representatives concerning emergencies, routine service calls, requests for information, complaints, legal requirements, etc., and places calls and alerts staff of emergency situations.

Completes forms and prepares reports of actions taken for purposes of documentation, legal requirements, statistical records, or as dictated by policy.

Prepares/Releases citations and required licenses to persons found in violation of relevant laws concerning control and registration of dogs. Maintains various logs, records, reports, and other pertinent information. Processes outbound and incoming court forms and orders and initiates next steps as appropriate.

Front Desk:

Greets visitors and coordinates daily requests, inquiries, and complaint calls; Effectively prioritizes requests based upon a totality of circumstances (e.g., number of team members on shift, safety protocols, urgency, etc.); Operates computer terminal for record searches, telephone, and radio equipment to coordinate with various team members and assist visitors and callers with adoptions, lost and found pet searches, clinic appointments, dog license and microchip services, pet resources, etc.

Completes forms and prepares reports of actions taken for purposes of documentation, legal requirements, statistical records, or as dictated by policy.

Maintains various logs, records, reports, and other pertinent information.

Handles special projects as needed. Duties may cross functional areas.

(Performs other duties as required)

Equivalent to high school diploma, two (2) years clerical experience utilizing PC and advanced function software for spreadsheets and database management; or alternative, equivalent evidence of the Minimum Class Requirements.

Must obtain and maintain a Notary Public license, and ASP Baton Certification within six (6) months of employment.