Animal Shelter Operations Manager

The Position

The City of Oakland is an equal-opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city’s historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees.

Why join the City of Oakland, Oakland Animal Services Department (OAS)?
The City of Oakland has an exciting opportunity for one (1) Animal Shelter Operations Manager to work within Oakland Animal Services (OAS). If you love working with animals and playing a crucial role in caring for animals, come and be a member of a caring and progressive team at OAS!

OAS is Oakland’s only “open admissions” shelter. This means we take animals regardless of age, breed, temperament, or medical condition. In 2023, we took in over 7,200 animals. We are a City agency that proudly provides public safety and animal welfare services as well as human health and social services. We are here to serve our community's residents.

Our staff provides critical services to our community, sheltering thousands of stray animals each year and responding to animal-related calls for service in Oakland. We enforce animal-related welfare laws, rescue lost and abandoned animals from the streets, protect animals from abusive owners, assist in prosecutions for abuse and neglect, investigate animal bites, and promote responsible pet ownership and humane care.

The Animal Services Shelter Operations Manager plays a key role in the day-to-day running of the animal shelter, overseeing the Animal Control and Animal Care Divisions, supporting the Veterinary Team and external emergency veterinary services, as well as being the point of contact for equipment and facility maintenance. The incumbent receives general supervision from the Animal Services Director.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Knowledgeable about best practices: You will have the opportunity to apply best practices in animal control and shelter management programs and policies
• Scrappy: You will be asked to find creative solutions to challenges faced by municipal animal service organizations, including field service and shelter operations.
• An inspiring manager: You will play a significant role in hiring, developing, and managing staff.
• A relationship builder: You will develop partnerships with staff, volunteers, the larger public, and other organizations to raise awareness about the services we provide.
• Flexible: You will need to work some weekends and evenings to support shelter operations.

What you will typically be responsible for:

• Managing the day-to-day operations of the shelter, including oversight of Animal Control, Intake, and Animal Care staff.
• Ensuring staff are trained on and comply with State laws, the Oakland Municipal Code, and other relevant laws and regulations.
• Developing and providing necessary staff training, keeping current policies and standard operating procedures, and overseeing staff performance appraisals.
• Coordinating and monitoring veterinary care provided by outside vendors, including emergency care.
• Ensuring all equipment is operating properly, coordinating any necessary facility repairs, and managing inventory and ordering of supplies.
• Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with other City departments, regional shelter partners, and other jurisdictions and agencies.

Read the complete job description by clicking this ** Animal Shelter Operations Manager **

*Click on the link below to see a video on what it's like to work for the City of Oakland!
Working for the City of Oakland

A few reasons you might love this job:

• You will be supporting a very dedicated team of people who are passionate about supporting the people and animals in Oakland.
• OAS is equity-driven, focusing primarily on supporting low-income families and people who are experiencing homelessness in having and keeping their pets.
• OAS has a very supportive partnership with Friends of Oakland Animal Services who funds foster programs, dog playgroups, the adoption program, and community access to veterinary care.

A few challenges you might face in this job:

• You will be working in an under-resourced municipal shelter with a high intake, driven by the affordable housing crisis and limited access to spay/neuter.
• You may be overwhelmed because the shelter is often at full capacity.
• The facility has some deferred maintenance and space constraints.

Competencies Required:

• Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner
• Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations
• Safety Focus: Showing vigilance and care in identifying and addressing health risks and safety hazards
• Establishing Credibility: Doing what one commits to doing and respecting the confidentiality of information and concerns shared by others
• Handling Stress: Maintaining emotional stability and self-control under pressure, challenge, or adversity
• Oral Communication: Engaging effectively in dialogue
• Interpersonal Savvy: Considering and responding appropriately to the needs and feelings of others in different situations
• Managing Performance: Ensuring superior and group performance
• Leading Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrating cooperation and teamwork while working within and across divisions, functions, or teams

Minimum Requirements for Application

This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process.

Education:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in a related field.

Experience:
Five (5) or more years of experience in animal welfare, behavior, and care and/or shelter operations, with at least two (2) years in a supervisory capacity.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Completion of the Humane Law Enforcement Academy in California
• Training in safe animal handling and behavior
• Experience in human services that focus on mental health and/or supporting low-income individuals

Supplemental Information

The Recruitment Process:

The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the “minimum qualifications” listed for each position.

Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas.

Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications.

In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final.

For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to the structured interview (sometimes referred to as an Oral Exam). The tentative date of the structured interview is late November.

For some recruitments, more than one type of assessment may be used. Depending on the number of candidates who pass the first assessment (multiple-choice test, structured interview, writing exercise, performance exam) you may be asked to complete a secondary assessment before the recruitment is finalized. If a secondary assessment is scheduled, you will be notified by email with specific details. If a secondary assessment is not scheduled, department hiring interviews will occur during this time frame.

Candidates who pass each stage in the process will be placed on an eligible list. Some candidates may receive extra points, for example, if you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge, or if you are a current City of Oakland resident. If you’re applying to a “restricted” posting and you are eligible as a current City employee, you may also receive additional points for your City service. Extra points are only applied to passing scores, so if you do not pass every element of the testing process, you cannot use extra points to pass.

The City of Oakland reserves the right to modify the selection process and date of examination as necessary to conform to administrative or business necessity. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

What’s in it for you?

• 15 paid holidays
• Vacation - 2 weeks per year minimum with the ability to accrue more depending on public sector years of service
• Retirement - CalPERS (California Public Employees’ Retirement System) with a pension formula of 2.5% @ 55 (for Classic CalPERS members) and 2% @ 62 for new CalPERS members. Classic Employees contribute 8% of pre-tax wages. The City of Oakland does not participate in Social Security
• Health - The City of Oakland pays for the cost of employee and eligible dependent coverage at the Kaiser rate. Other plans include Anthem, Blue Shield, United Health Care, and other HMO and PPO plans
• Dental - The City of Oakland pays for Delta Dental full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Vision - The City of Oakland pays for VSP full premium for employees and eligible dependents
• Sick leave - Employees accrue 12 days per year
• Deferred Compensation - 457(b) pre-tax plan and an after-tax ROTH 401(k)plan
• Other benefits include a Flexible Spending Account, Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, and Employee Training.

Applicants are required to submit criminal history information upon request after receiving a conditional offer of employment. If the requested information is not furnished in a timely manner , applicants will not qualify for further consideration and will be removed from the eligible list.

Disaster Service Workers
All employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. 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.

How to Apply

Apply prior to the closing time of the job announcement and allow at least two to three hours to submit your application if you are a new user of the system. APPLICATIONS ARE ACCEPTED ONLINE ONLY. You may apply and view current openings by visiting our employment opportunities webpage at:

http://agency.governmentjobs.com/oaklandca/default.cfm.

If you do not have access to a computer, there are computer stations available at any City of Oakland Public Library. There are also workstations at the Human Resources Management Department, 150 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, 2nd Floor, Oakland, CA 94612. Workstations are available during regular business hours (normally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) .

Our online application system is provided by GovernmentJobs . If you have problems while applying online, please contact GovernmentJobs Live Applicant Support at (855) 524-5627 between 6:00 AM and 5:00 PM Pacific Time, Monday - Friday . You may also call the City of Oakland Human Resources Management Department during regular business hours at (510) 238-3112 for information; however, we are unable to provide technical support for the online application system. For recruitment-specific questions, please contact Briana Wong at bwong@oaklandca.gov.

The City of Oakland is committed to the wellbeing of its employees and offers comprehensive health and wellness services along with an array of other benefits for most positions. Benefits may include*:

• CalPERS Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Medical Waiver Plan - Cash-In-Lieu
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Commuter Benefits
• Group & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH)
• Pension Benefits
• Deferred Compensation

* Specific benefits may vary depending on the assignedspecific bargaining unit. Information regarding most benefits can be reviewed here: Employee Benefits Information Current MOUs may be reviewed here: City of Oakland Labor Agreements

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

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• City of Oakland

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