Title: Animal Control Officer I

Organization: Health: Animal Control

Department: Animal Control Officers

Location: Health

Rate of Pay: $17.80

Job Summary

The purpose of the Animal Control Officer I is to patrol the city, control the population of domestic or wild animals, and enforce city ordinances. The Animal Control Officer I is responsible for issuing citations, responding to complaints, monitoring city areas, and catching animals. The class works according to some procedures; decides how and when to do things under general supervision.

Competencies

• Effective Communication
• Trust
• Time Management
• Ethical Practice
• Citizen Value

Key Functions/Knowledge/Skills

• Average skills; knowledge of commonly used work routines, rules, procedures, or operations; ability to use specialized equipment.
• Drives and patrols the city for violations of ordinances or animal problems and enforces those ordinances.
• Patrols sections of the city in a vehicle looking for violations of city ordinances and health codes, and deals with the public regarding these violations.
• Handles all calls from the public related to pest control or removal.
• Investigates complaints or problems, and issues citations for violations.
• Catches, detains, treats, or euthanizes animals.
• Writes reports on calls, court cases, and other documentation.
• Answers phone, communicates, and educates the public regarding questions and information about city ordinances.
• Performs related tasks as necessary.

Minimum Education & Experience

High school graduation or GED plus one year of experience.

Special Certifications & Licenses

Valid Texas Driver’s License.
Requires Animal Euthanasia Technician Certification, Animal Control Certification, and Chemical Capture Certification.

Independence & Judgement

Minimal judgment; instructions, once established and defined, normally allow the job to be accomplished without direct and/or constant supervision; mostly routine work requiring that employee recognize obvious problems (e.g., missing information, numbers out of sequence, about to go over cliff in tractor, etc.); situations outside the instructions are referred to the supervisor or lead worker.

Initiative & Ingenuity

General guidelines: occasionally requires interpretation of available options to apply to non-standard situations; day-to-day work drives priorities.

Supervisory & Responsibility

Does not supervise.

Financial Responsibility

Does not deal with money.

Level & Frequency of Outside Contact

Frequent contact with the public or other organizations; interactions may require obtaining cooperation of people; courtesy and tact are required when dealing with moderately difficult or sensitive issues.

Physical Demands

More extensive active physical exertion: may require brief periods of heavy muscular exertion, such as standing, lifting, moving, pulling, pushing, etc. Ability to exert up to 35-50 lbs. of force occasionally to move objects.

Responsibility for Equipment & Property

Responsible for assigned equipment/property used outside of office; responsible for handing out to and retrieving property/equipment from employees and keeping inventory; use of agency vehicle.

Working Conditions

Exposure to disagreeable conditions is brief or otherwise insignificant; frequent travel associated with job; periodic situations that cause stress and tension in the execution of regular duties.

Other Requirements

The City of Brownsville requires all employees to successfully pass a Drug & Alcohol and a physical examination and a Background Check.

ADA Requirements

The City of Brownsville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.

Benefits

The City of Brownsville offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support its employees' well-being and future. Employees participate in a robust retirement plan through the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) City to Employee Matching Ratio 2:1, with eligibility for retirement after 5 years of service at age 60 or 20 years of service at any age.
The City provides exceptional health benefits, including medical, dental, and life insurance plans for employees and their families, along with vision coverage for employees enrolled in health insurance through MetLife. Employees and their dependents can also access care at Frontier Clinic at no cost when covered by the City's health plan. Additionally, pet insurance is available as a voluntary benefit.
Employees have access to deferred compensation plans through Equitable and supplemental insurance options from AFLAC and Colonial Life. Full-time employees accrue 10 sick days and 15 vacation days annually.
The City offers parental leave concurrent with FMLA for eligible employees, longevity pay, and 100% tuition assistance up to $5,000 annually. Furthermore, Brownsville observes 14 holidays per year, plus two floating holidays, giving employees a balanced and rewarding work-life experience.
Starting in fiscal year 2025, employees will have access to flexible scheduling options as part of our commitment to work-life balance.

EEOC Statements

The City of Brownsville does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.