The Director of Animal Services plans, organizes, and directs the operations and programs of the Animal Services Department including development, coordination, and implementation of policies and procedures affecting Animal Control and Shelter activities, programs, and services. The Animal Services Director is appointed by, and reports to, the County Executive Officer, and has primary responsibility for leading the department to ensure that the Animal Services policies and procedures are implemented in the three operating divisions: Animal Control Field and Shelter Services, Administrative Services, and Veterinarian Services.
The Director of Animal Services oversees four shelters across the county including Riverside, Coachella Valley, San Jacinto, and Blythe. The County brings in approximately 32,000 animals per year. This position will oversee five direct reports with an overall staff of 193.
Required Skills and Experience
Accomplished in leading an organization that provides animal services.
Skilled in managing animal shelter operations as well as animal control operations.
Knowledge of the laws relating to State/County Animal Control/Rabies Enforcement, and Fish and Game programs.
Past experience working with organized volunteer groups, spay/neuter and adoption programs.
Regulations regarding the humane treatment of animals as promulgated by the American Humane Association and/or other organizations, as well as criminal justice processes as they relate to Animal Control law enforcement.
Direct responsibility for budgetary planning, regulatory compliance, coordination of animal care, integration of animal services activities, and community and public relations.
Essential Duties include may not be limited to:
Plan, organize, and direct operations of the Department of Animal Services, providing management direction and control for staff activities, programs, services, and line operations in animal services facilities Countywide; select, assign and direct subordinate supervisors and other key staff and evaluate their performance.
Enforce federal, State, and local laws and ordinances relating to animal control services; maintain contact with State, local, and other agencies relative to Animal Services concerns; interface with City Council and County Board of Supervisors as necessary to monitor compliance with Joint City/County Animal Control Shelter Services.
Communicate, interface, and coordinate with the community and community groups to develop programs that enhance or support the department; speak at community, civic, and business groups to assure communications with the veterinarian medical community, animal rights’ advocates and others; negotiate with private organizations and veterinarians when necessary to provide contractual animal control services; through subordinate staff, assures adequate outreach for volunteer assistance.
Identify problem areas and develop resolutions and enhancement to operations; monitor, evaluate and recommend methods for improving the efficiency of services provided; determine long-range information systems equipment and personnel needs; work with Information System staff to implement improvements.
Coordinate programs for developing, implementing and maintaining consistent policies and procedures; review policies and procedures for effectiveness and consistency with service goals, standards, and current needs.
Prepare and submit program budget; supervise the review of expenditures and maintenance of budgetary controls including needs for personnel and equipment.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an articulate, inclusive, and dynamic leader that thrives on challenge and creating safe and positive outcomes for animals and community members. Excellent interpersonal skills are necessary to promote a team-oriented working environment and a culture of accountability, responsiveness, and trust. The successful candidate will be a self-motivated, hands-on contributor who is goal and solutions-oriented, and is capable of program implementation through collaboration, building strong partnerships with businesses, associations, and other key stakeholders.
The ideal candidate will have a proven background successfully leading animal services and animal control, possesses a positive presence and demonstrates initiative, is action-oriented, exercises good judgment, treats others with respect, and is open and approachable. An active problem solver who anticipates and responds to problems in a timely manner, develops alternative solutions, and is able to bring resolution to issues quickly, involving others as needed. The selected candidate will have strong customer and community relations skills along with political acumen and a thorough knowledge of the legislative process. Solid financial abilities are necessary to build and maintain fiscal sustainability.
Key Attributes and Characteristics
Strong project and people manager who inspires new ideas and creativity; leads and demonstrates diplomacy, inclusivity, and a positive attitude.
An excellent communicator projecting high integrity and ethical conduct, who cultivates productive relationships with elected officials, partnering agencies and community groups, County and department staff, and the general public.
An experienced strategist: able to make and stand by difficult decisions and articulate those to audiences of all levels.
An outstanding manager of people who provides guidance and professional support to staff, offers regular feedback to employees, and serves as a mentor in providing training, development opportunities, and succession planning.
A compassionate and humble individual with an understanding and awareness of the emotionally challenging environment that animal services can be, and motivates and inspires collaboration, is willing to listen, and makes decisions based on feedback, the needs of the community, and is willing to articulate those in a respectful and professional manner.
A leader who can stay focused on the goals and mission of the organization, has high emotional intelligence, thick skin, and a sense of humor.
The County of Riverside
Whether it is a stroll through the quaint boutiques of historic downtown Riverside, an afternoon in Temecula’s wine country, or a round of golf on a world-class course in Palm Springs, Riverside County has something for everyone. Even the weather is wonderful, with rainy days few and far between. Riverside County is a great place to live, work, and play. With more than 2.43 million residents, Riverside is the tenth most populous county in the U.S. and the fourth most populous county in California. The County stretches nearly 200 miles across, comprising over 7,300 square miles of fertile river valleys, low deserts, mountains, foothills, and rolling plains. Riverside County covers an expansive, varied geography that encompasses many diverse and rapidly growing communities with a wide range of public service needs.
For more information about the County of Riverside Animal Services, go to: https://rcdas.org/
To be considered, please electronically submit your resume, cover letter and a list of five professional references (references will not be contacted in the early stages of the recruitment) to: https://koffassociates.com/riverside-dir-of-animal-svcs/. Resumes should reflect years and months of positions held, as well as size of staff and budgets you have managed.
With rivers, mountain peaks, deserts and fertile valleys, Riverside County offers diversity that few locations can match. More than two million people live in Riverside County, taking advantage of a high quality of life, affordable housing, and a multi-faceted environment of rolling hills, lakes, rivers, deserts, and forests. It has been one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties for several decades. California’s fourth largest county by population is expanding its economy, working to make Riverside County as business friendly as possible and using health and recreation strategies to make the County a healthier place for residents.
