Job Abstract

Are you passionate about animal welfare and ready to lead the charge in ensuring the safety and well-being of our community's animals? Fairfax County Government’s Department of Animal Sheltering (DAS) is expanding to include a Field Services Division and we are searching for an experienced Chief Field Services Officer to oversee and enhance our animal control operations, making a profound impact on the lives of both animals and people.

This position oversees the Field Services Division and upholds a commitment to public health and safety, animal welfare, and promotion of pet retention and unification programs and services.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter is the only open-access municipal shelter with two state-of-the-art campuses located in Fairfax and Lorton, Virginia. Our shelter has a live release rate of over 90% and we’re very proud of our excellent volunteer and foster programs, highly skilled staff, and progressive sheltering policies and practices. Please visit our website at: https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/animalshelter/.

The ideal candidate will possess: knowledge of current best practices in animal control and shelter management programs and policies; knowledge and experience with current challenges in municipal animal service organizations including field services and shelter operations; knowledge and experience managing complex programs and budgets; experience in hiring, developing, and managing staff; and experience in establishing new programs and policies.

Responsibilities:

• Ensures investigation of all complaints of cruelty/neglect; prepares and/or reviews search and seizure orders and court documents.
• Serves as the primary liaison with Fairfax County Police Department to coordinate investigations and law enforcement activities.
• Oversees and coordinates enforcement activities related to animal control and animal welfare issues. Ensures the proper investigation and management procedures of all animal bites / exposure / complaints.
• Collaborates with wildlife agencies and individuals to resolve potential, existing, and perceived conflicts with wildlife including encouraging and promoting public understanding, appreciation, and tolerance of wildlife, and partnering with area licensed wildlife rehabilitators.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel; trains field services staff on best practices for animal handling, care, and transport and ensures proper equipment and Fear Free handling techniques are being utilized by staff. Ensures adequate coverage of operations.
• Oversees the Pet Resource Center and works to expand service delivery to increase pet retention and access to pet resources.
• Establishes, implements, and reviews goals and objectives for field services staff; identifies resource needs; develops animal control policies and procedures required to meet the mission and vision of the division.
• Works to build and strengthen community relationships and improve the impact of community programming and outreach.
• Coordinates DAS operations and services with other county departments and outside agencies.
• Maintains in-depth knowledge of county, state, and federal animal welfare laws and regulations and issues concerning animal control, wildlife, and the sheltering of animals.
• Maintains accurate records and statistics of department and activities. Ensures compliance with VDACS annual training and reporting requirements.
• May serve as Acting Department Director in absence of DAS Director.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Assists in the formulation and development of programmatical policies, goals, objectives, standards, and procedures;
• Performs the full range of supervisory duties and responsibilities over subordinate professional, para-professional, uniformed employees, technical, and administrative positions in assigned division(s) or facilities;
• Provides professional management-level assistance to the department director in developing organizational goals and objectives, as well as developing general and specific methods and programs necessary for the achievement of those goals;
• Assists in tracking and analyzing organization performance metrics to determine strategic policy or operational changes and assists in the development and implementation of change strategies;
• Responds to requests from elected officials, municipal authorities, regulatory boards, and other county agencies to clarify and resolve actual/potential problems;
• Responds to inquiries, inspections, and requirements from regulatory bodies such as the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy, DEA, USDA, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality;
• Prepares for and presents to Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (or Committee) regarding areas of expertise and responsibility;
• Interfaces with central county staff agencies, such as Department of Management and Budget, Department of Finance, Department of Human Resources, Police Department, Health Department, Internal Audit Office, Risk Management, Department of Procurement and Material Management, Office of Human Rights and Equity Programs, Office of County Attorney, Facilities Management Department, Department of Emergency Management and Security, Department of Public Safety Communications, and the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services for seamless collaboration;
• Ensures that county programs reach the intended populations and targeted benefactors.

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of managing an animal facility or managing a business in the private sector or governmental agency;
• Extensive knowledge of the mission, goals, objectives, funding sources, organizational structure, workload and workload capacity, and staffing needs of the organization;
• Extensive knowledge of statutory and regulatory requirements governing the operations of a public animal shelter;
• Advanced knowledge of proactive animal welfare programs, national and regional animal welfare trends and programs, local animal welfare organizations, and animal control best practices;
• Knowledge of county and state animal welfare laws and regulations, investigations, inspections, and case management;
• Knowledge of legislative and executive decision-making processes;
• Ability to plan, organize, coordinate and direct work of subordinates;
• Ability to identify organizational problems, evaluate possible solutions, and select and implement the most advantageous course of action;
• Ability to make oral presentations to department management, other departments, or the public;
• Ability to manage professional and paraprofessional employees including coaching, counseling, training, and evaluation;
• Ability to work collaboratively with related outside organizations such as other animal welfare groups, Police, the Animal Services Advisory Commission, and Friends of the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in animal or behavioral sciences, business administration, public administration, or a related field; plus, four years of supervisory experience managing an animal facility or relevant management experience in the private industry or government sector.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Driver's license
• Virginia Humane Euthanasia Certification (required within six months)
• Fear Free Shelter Certification (required within three months)
• Completion of Animal Control Officer (ACO) Basic Training approved by the Virginia State Veterinarian's Office (required within six months of appointment. Certification must be maintained as required by the Virginia State Veterinarian's Office.)

• Must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and driving record check.
• Must have current pre-exposure rabies vaccination or obtain within three months of hire.
• This position is considered “emergency service personnel” and must have the ability to report to work in emergency conditions and on holidays.
• Work hours are generally, Monday-Friday, 9am-5:30pm, some evenings and weekends may be required. May work a varied schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays. The work schedule is subject to change.
• Subject to random drug testing.

• Five years or more of professional work experience in the field of animal control, law enforcement, animal services field operations, care of wild and domestic animals, animal behavior, animal handling and ability to recognize signs of animal neglect and abuse, including experience in investigating misdemeanor / felony-level animal related crime.
• Five years or more of experience supervising and training enforcement staff.
• Experience working for or in collaboration with an animal sheltering organization.
• Experience working with and safely handling, moving, and restraining animals of various species, sizes, conditions, and temperament including fractious animals; to include both companion animals and native wildlife.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to communicate effectively regarding animal care and treatment and shelter policies and programs.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Proficiency with PetPoint or other shelter management software system.
• Current Virginia Humane Euthanasia Certification.
• Current Fear Free Shelter Certification.