Animal Law Enforcement Sergeant

Job Description

Job Description

Looking to make a difference in the lives of pets and people? With an almost year-round beautiful blue sky and a scenic mountain backdrop, HSPPR is a nonprofit animal shelter serving El Paso, Pueblo, and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial. We employ a total of 200+ employees. We are an organization that celebrates and prioritizes diversity and inclusion. Job Summary:Promotes teamwork, collaboration, and integration in Animal Law Enforcement by providing leadership and direction to ALE staff assigned to a specific Division. Sets the standard of performance for ALE services and supports the mission and programs of HSPPR. Ensures quality animal and customer care is provided in accordance with HSPPR's mission, goals and management philosophy. An ALE Sergeant will spend approximately fifty percent of their time in the field responding to calls for service and/or providing support and training to staff. The remaining fifty percent of their time will be expended completing administrative tasks as described herein. Sergeants must come to work daily prepared to best respond to the needs of their assigned Division and recognize that those needs change daily as well as seasonally. HSPPR's Mission Statement: HSPPR offers compassionate care to animals, supports safe communities, and provides socially conscious sheltering. The Animal Law Enforcement Sergeant supports the mission of HSPPR by ensuring high-quality animal care, public safety, and compassionate community service through strong leadership and oversight. This role sets performance standards, supervises and develops ALE staff, and ensures that laws and ordinances are enforced fairly and consistently, promoting humane treatment of animals and positive community relations. By balancing field response with administrative leadership, the Sergeant helps maintain operational excellence, supports team collaboration, and upholds the organization's values in all interactions with the public, partner agencies, and internal staff. Key Duties and Responsibilities:Employee Performance Management and SupervisionLeads by example-expertly complete all aspects of an Animal Law Enforcement Officer.Oversees the coordination, implementation and logistics of ALE Service contractual obligations for optimum efficiency within the assigned Division.Participates as a member of the ALE leadership team in setting direction and strategy for the organization. Performs all other special projects or duties assigned by their immediate supervisor, Director or Assistant Director.Takes control of situations that could be potentially damaging to the public image of HSPPR.Supervises and motivates assigned staff to help ensure effective teamwork, high standards of work quality and organizational performance, continuous learning and encourages innovation in others.Monitor, identifies, documents and addresses pertinent performance of ALE officers. Investigates grievances and performs disciplinary action when necessary.Supervises and provides guidance to staff for situations that require immediate problem solving.Serves as a liaison and promotes HSPPR's goals, animal care and customer service philosophy to law enforcement, veterinarians, vendors, the public, media and other animal care and control agencies within the assigned Division.Tracks state level cases through the court system and ensures victim advocacy. Provides guidance, motivation, coaching, mentoring, and assistance as needed or required by other Animal Law Enforcement members.Monitors radio traffic, the dispatch screen and the daily workload of ALE officers; reroute calls as appropriate.Quality control for daily calls for service to ensure that correct action and/or follow-up action is taken, and to ensure that proper processes have been followed. Ensures proper procedures are used in investigations, reporting and documentation of all cases.Ensures that ALE officers are adequately trained, equipped and certified for duty.Assists with the recruiting, hiring, and training of ALE staff on a Divisional level.Assists with teaching at ALE training academies.AnimalsDirects and monitors all aspects of the humane treatment and handling of animals in the field.Assists with monitoring court hold cases to include Cost of Care checks, notify owner, euthanasia, and release.Monitors and ensures that high quality standards of animal care, handling and sanitation in the field are consistent with protocols at all times.Monitors the maintenance, cleanliness and sanitation of equipment and vehicles.CommunicationAssures that enforcement reflects the mission of HSPPR, ordinances are enforced fairly and consistently, resulting in positive community relations, humane education, and whenever possible, voluntary compliance for animal ordinances.Ensures accurate reporting for all statistics and generates monthly reports as assigned.Complies with all contractual obligations as required by the different contracts within each Division.Provides and prepares recommendations of procedural changes for the department.Communicates with staff in timely and effective manner.Implements technological changes to increase public awareness, track program activities and improve the efficiency of service.BudgetResponsible for overseeing aspects of the Divisional budget as assigned by the Lieutenant, Operations Manager, Assistant Director, or Director.Responsible for submitting and following through on Restitution Requests through the court.Provides input into and administers budget, ensuring that expenditures authorized are controlled and maintained within the approved budget limitations.Responsible for assisting with ordering, maintenance and inventory of ALE Service supplies and equipment.RelationshipsMaintains professional relationships with local law enforcement and local government representatives.Makes recommendations for changes in laws and acts as liaison for HSPPR.Acts as liaison for HSPPR with other humane and animal control groups at the local, state and national level.Works diligently to maintain professional relationships with all members of ALE.Inspires and encourages the men and women on their team to excel in daily tasks and stimulate teamwork to get things done in a consistent manner with the organizational mission, vision, and values.OtherCommitment to the mission, values, goals, and success of HSPPR.Appropriately documents observed animal behaviors utilizing objective language as required in relevant procedures and/or policies.Perform all other duties as assigned.Supervisory Duties:Responsible for direct supervision of ALE staff as assigned.Physical DemandsRegularly sits at computer station, often in a shared office environment.The employee must regularly lift and/or move 25 or more pounds of moving weight and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 or more pounds of moving weight.May be occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time.Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions.Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing toxic or caustic chemicals.Schedule RequirementsRegular schedule consists of four (4) ten-hour shiftsRegular schedule may include mornings, evenings, and weekendsWill be assigned on-call shifts on a regular basisMay work evenings, weekends, and holidays as neededEducation/Experience NecessaryTwo years of animal care and control field experience or equivalent law enforcement experience is preferred; may substitute an associate or higher degree for the minimum experience.Attain Colorado Department of Agriculture Bureau of Animal Protection State Agent status within one year.Pass the Animal Welfare Association of Colorado Animal Control Officer certification test within one year.Successfully complete the Animal Law Enforcement training academy.Meets and maintains the requirements of an Animal Law Enforcement Officer III or must obtain Level III status within one year of hire.Must have and maintain a valid Colorado driver's license and insurable driving record.**Application Deadline: 9/6/2026 , or until position is filled.** The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care, our organization, and our community.Core Values Statements- Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness, respect, and compassion. Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve. Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission, always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community, and by standing united in our decisions. Excellence: We are passionate about our mission, and strive for excellence through continual learning, innovation, and the development of our board, staff and volunteers. Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people. Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do. As a condition of employment with HSPPR, by applying to this position, you acknowledge that HSPPR requires a drug test be performed within 72 hours of the receipt of an offer of employment. You further acknowledge that if you a) refuse to submit to any requested drug test for any reason, b) test positive for the presence of illegal drugs, all forms of marijuana and products containing THC, and improper or illegal use of prescription drugs and over-the-counter drugs or c) fail to take the test within 72 hours, the offer of employment made to you may be rescinded by HSPPR without liability.Also, as a condition of employment with HSPPR, you will be required to authorize HSPPR and ProScreening to conduct a background check before confirming an employment start date. The background check will include a criminal investigation, verification of citizenship/immigration status, and a motor vehicle record. By applying for this position, you acknowledge and agree that any offers of employment will be contingent upon completion of the background check to the satisfaction of HSPPR.  Animal Law Enforcement Officers must also submit to and pass any screening requirements set forth by local police departments and military installations.  The ability to obtain these clearances is a requirement of this position. In consideration of any offers of employment made as a result of your interest in this position, by applying for this position, you hereby waive any and all claims that you may have against HSPPR for invasion of privacy in respect to drug testing and background checks as listed above.