Animal Center Operations Coordinator

The Position

Bargaining Unit: Local 21 - Non-Supervisory Management
Why join the Contra Costa County Animal Services Department? Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of animals and people? The Animal Services Department is committed to protecting the health, safety, and well-being of all people and animals in our community. We prioritize lifesaving as our guiding principle. We shelter homeless, abandoned, and lost animals and work to keep and place animals in safe, caring homes. We also provide education and services to enhance the human-animal bond, creating a stronger, more compassionate community.

We’re currently looking to add one (1) Animal Center Operations Coordinator to our dedicated team! This position will play a key role in one of our impactful programs (Canine Foster). If you’re ready for a challenging, fast-paced, and rewarding career where no two days are the same, we’d love to hear from you!

Future Salary Increases:
July 1, 2025: 5%
*Plus any potential merit increases

Join us and be part of a team that’s making a difference every day!

To see what it is like to work for us, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qPCtCped9Q&list=PLe0z9IiTF1GUGjO5993c68v6SQCxt7lti&index=3

We are looking for someone who is:

• Self-Motivated: Much of the role requires taking initiative and working independently. This individual should seek ways to enhance the program and its impact on the shelter. The candidate shall take ownership of the program and drive it forward without the need for constant oversight. Remain focused, driven, and resilient even when faced with difficulties, such as a lack of foster volunteers and/or families or complex dog behavior issues.
• Strong Communication Skills: This role involves constant interaction with foster families, shelter staff, and volunteers. Clear and empathetic communication, both verbal and written, is necessary to ensure smooth coordination and foster recruitment.
• Collaborative. To accomplish tasks, you will work with a variety of individuals, including employees, volunteers, representatives of other departments and agencies, vendors, and members of the general public.
• Detail Oriented: You will be tasked with accurate record keeping, matching dogs with the right foster home, monitoring the foster home for compliance, managing appointments and schedules, noting behavioral cues or issues, and bringing them to the attention of the Center Operations Management team, tracking supplies and resources.
• Passionate and Knowledgeable of Animal Welfare & Industry Best Practices: A deep commitment to animal welfare is essential. Knowledgeable about dogs’ needs, behaviors, and well-being in a shelter environment. Knowledgeable in animal handling best practices, and an understanding of typical breed characteristics and requirements.
• Organized: Managing multiple foster homes, tracking foster dogs, and coordinating schedules require exceptional organization and the ability to multitask.
• Flexible: Someone willing to learn about the key functions of the other shelter operations coordinator roles and assist these shelter operations coordinators, providing support as needed/when requested by shelter operations management.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Recruiting individuals or families to participate in the foster program. The Coordinator will provide orientation and training to ensure the foster homes are prepared to care for dogs, addressing topics such as basic care, behavior management, and medical needs.
• Selecting suitable foster homes based on a dog’s specific needs (e.g., medical conditions, behavior, size, or age). The coordinator will assess the capabilities and preferences of foster families to ensure “good” matches.
• Regularly checking in with foster families to provide guidance, answer questions, and address issues or concerns that arise. This includes offering support for behavior problems, health issues, and day-to-day care challenges.
• Scheduling and tracking veterinary appointments for foster dogs, ensuring that medical needs are addressed in a timely manner. This includes vaccinations, spay/neuter surgeries, and other treatments, as well as communicating care instructions to foster families.
• Maintaining detailed records on each foster dog, including medical history, behavioral notes, and foster placement details. The coordinator shall attend pathway planning meetings, receive information on animals that may become foster candidates, and provide updates to shelter operations management on animals currently in foster care.
• Organizing events or outreach to attract new foster families or to promote the canine foster program within the community. This may include attending adoption events, foster awareness campaigns, and educational workshops.
• Helping dogs transition the animal from foster care to their adoptive home, o nce a dog is ready for adoption . This may involve coordinating meetings between foster families and potential adopters.
• Handling urgent situations, such as a foster dog needing emergency medical care or needing to be rehomed quickly due to changes in the foster family’s circumstances. The coordinator must resolve issues efficiently to ensure the safety and well-being of the dogs and foster families. This may include involving the Field Services department in situations where the safety of the home or animal must be addressed in a timely manner.

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will make an impact on animal populations.
• You will build relationships with fosters and volunteers.
• You will witness transformations in dogs: See the firsthand positive changes in dogs who come from stressful shelter environments.
• You will get an opportunity to problem-solve and come up with creative solutions that can be both intellectually stimulating and satisfying.
• You will be creating a positive change in the community.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You may need to manage your work with limited resources.
• You will be working on multiple projects and have multiple responsibilities.
• You will be working with vulnerable animal populations that may cause emotional stress.
• You may face difficulties in your efforts to retain foster families.

Competencies Required:

• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Delivering Results: Meeting organizational goals and customer expectations and making decisions that produce high-quality results by applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks
• Environmental Exposure Tolerance: Performing under physically demanding conditions
• General Physical Ability: Using strength, endurance, flexibility, balance, and coordination
• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Using Technology: Working with electronic hardware and software applications
• Action and Results-Focused: Initiating tasks and focusing on accomplishments
• Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products
• Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability
• Self-Management: Showing personal Organization, self-discipline, and dependability
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Writing: Communicating effectively in writing
• Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals

To read the complete job description, please click here .

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future openings for up to six (6) months.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Possession of an Associate of Arts Degree or the successful completion of at least 60 semester or 90 quarter units from an accredited college or university.

Experience: Two (2) years full-time or its equivalent experience in animal sheltering, one (1) year of which must have included training, teaching or providing animal services education in a public animal control and services setting.

Substitution for Education: Additional qualifying experience or experience of any of the types listed below may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis up to maximum of two (2) years. Experience working in a public animal control and services setting

• Experience working with animals in a humane, zoological, shelter, conservancy, veterinary or other non-laboratory setting
• Experience training animals in a non-laboratory setting
• Training or teaching experience in a public or private organization
• Experience as a volunteer in a City or County Animal Services agency

Selection Process

Application Filing and Evaluation: Applications will be evaluated to determine which candidates will move forward in the next phase of the recruitment process. Online Oral Interview: The oral interview will measure candidates' competencies as they relate to the job. In the oral interview, candidates must achieve an average passing score of 70% or higher on each of the oral interview competencies, as well as an overall passing score of 70% or higher. These may include, but are not limited to: Decision Making, Delivering Results, Handling Stress, Action and Results-Focused, and Oral Communication. Tentative dates: 12/12/24 - 12/17/24 Departmental Hiring Interview: To be scheduled once the eligible list is established
Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to participate in the selection process.

The Human Resources Department may change the examination steps noted above in accordance with the Personnel Management Regulations and accepted selection practices.

For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Sanyukta Singh at sanyukta.singh@hrd.cccounty.us. For any technical issues, please contact the GovernmentJobs’ applicant support team for assistance at +1 855-524-5627.

CONVICTION HISTORY

After you receive a conditional job offer, you will be fingerprinted, and your fingerprints will be sent to the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The resulting report of your conviction history (if any) will be used to determine whether the nature of your conviction conflicts with the specific duties and responsibilities of the job for which you have received a conditional job offer. If a conflict exists, you will be asked to present any evidence of rehabilitation that may mitigate the conflict, except when federal or state regulations bar employment in specific circumstances. Having a conviction history does not automatically preclude you from a job with Contra Costa County. If you accept a conditional job offer, the Human Resources department will contact you to schedule a fingerprinting appointment.

DISASTER SERVICE WORKER

All Contra Costa County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is the policy of Contra Costa County to consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

To find more information on Benefits offered by Contra Costa County, please go to https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/1343/Employee-Benefits

Closing Date/Time: 12/4/2024 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• Contra Costa County Human Resources Department

• 925-655-2100

Show more