CLASS TITLE:  Animal Shelter Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO:  Commander/Code Enforcement Supervisor

FLSA STATUS:          Non-Exempt

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF POSITION:  This position provides management of the Shelter and care for the companion animals impounded there.  Under general supervision, the Manager will be required to coordinate and manage all aspects of the City’s Animal Shelter and create a new vision and new standards for the care of animals in this community.  Develop the programs to recruit and retain a dedicated staff of volunteers who are dedicated to the Shelter mission, whose behavior reflects the Shelter’s values and who are committed to delivering superior customer service to the community.  The Manager is responsible for building trust and strong relationships with partners inside and outside of the community and to build and support a culture of care by setting the example. Must be able to communicate, both orally and written, the Shelter’s mission, progress and challenges to the community to generate voluntary donations and grants for the Shelter’s programs. The Manager has the knowledge and confidence to make decisions, solve problems, and be a resource for the community.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: -- Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following representative duties, knowledge, and skills. This is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by incumbents of this class; employees may be assigned duties which are not listed below; reasonable accommodations will be made as required.  The job description does not constitute an employment agreement and is subject to change at any time by the employer. Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:

MAJOR AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND PERFORMANCE:

• Manage the Shelter in accordance with Lamar Municipal Codes and County and State regulations.
• Gathers information and evidence on animal abuse.
• Provides proper care of contained dogs, exercises impounded dogs, show dogs to potential adoptees.
• Makes judgement on dangerous, injured or abandoned dogs.
• Keeps accurate records, including entering data into E-Force on every dog.
• Ability to vaccinate dogs, and document every vaccination, injury or sickness by the dogs that require veterinary medications, and those that are malnourished that require a special diet.  Maintain excellent records in order to know if and when a dog will require a booster vaccination.
• Occasionally works with court orders on dogs and owners.
• Operates personal computer with various software applications, monthly reports on number of canines, number of spay/neuters, number of micro-chips.
• Electronic and manual files to locate and identify dog owners
• Provides public information and education on city codes and procedures pertaining to dogs.
• Works with information restricted to specific persons; oversees supplies, equipment and the proper use of hazard materials (hydro-foamer).
• Oversees a cash drawer with a small amount of cash, makes daily deposits to the City Clerks.
• Ability to remain calm in stressful situations; ability to cope and work with irate citizens, works independently at the shelter; effectively communicates codes and ordinances; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from various groups; ex: 4-H, Boy Scout and Girl Scout clubs.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with volunteer and rescue groups, news media, Colorado Humane Society, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Colorado Department of Agriculture (PACFA-Pet Animal Care Facilities Act), Prowers County Sheriff’s Department, Colorado State Patrol, other city staff and general public.
• Create a positive, caring, cheerful, healthy and friendly environment for people and animals at the shelter.
• Recruit and retain caring, engaged and committed volunteers for the shelter.
• Deliver the highest standards of customer service to the community in every interaction.
• Work jointly with all City Departments to deliver leading edge services.
• Work cooperatively with Lamar animal control officers to ensure shelter animals are cared for appropriately on a daily basis and all shelter services are complete.
• Provide the highest level of animal welfare including but not limited to veterinary care, shelter care and enrichment.
• Manage the shelter animal adoptions process and the intake of stray and relinquished animals from the community.
• Seek out and build strong relationships with regional partners to access resources and ensure the best possible outcomes for animals in our community.
• Build community outreach programs to educate and empower citizens to provide better care for pets.
• Manage a complex budget consisting of City resources, donations, gifts and grants.
• Communicate the mission, values and goals of the shelter to a variety of audiences including City Council, other government agencies, donors, and grant funding organizations in person and in writing.
• Create and maintain a website for the shelter.
• Ability to step into a challenging environment and lead the fundamental change that is necessary.
• Shows animals to potential adoptees; feeds animals; cleans the shelter; exercises impounded animals.
• Completes daily, monthly and yearly reports and intake forms.
• Documents and files code enforcement orders that have been issued.
• Supports the relationship between the City of Lamar and the general public by demonstrating courteous and cooperative behavior when interacting with citizens, visitors, and City staff; maintains absolute confidentiality of work-related issues and City information; performs other duties as assigned.
• Exercises discretion and issues citations as necessary or as directed by the code enforcement supervisor.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:  May be required to perform a full range of motion with lifting and/or carrying items weighing up to 70 pounds.  Work is performed both indoors and out and is subject to exposure to extreme weather conditions, hostile animals, hazardous chemicals and infectious diseases.  Work involves exposure to noise and dust.  Proper safety equipment should be used where undesirable physical conditions and hazards exists to prevent injury.  Must be able to handle dogs that are vicious in order to clean kennels, and feed them on an occasional basis. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to see in low or bright lights and distinguish between colors.
• Must be able to hear clearly, speak clearly and write clearly.
• Ability to write and prepare reports, and provide information for grants to prepared.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret written material and reports, and closely follow rules of PACFA.
• Ability to perform math skills, such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
• Constant usage of fingers and both hands.
• Work involves walking or standing 60% of the time and sitting and standing while performing various tasks 20% of the time.
• Occasionally stoops, kneels, crouches, bends, crawls, climbs, including reaching overhead.

SUPERVISION – RESPONSIBILITY FOR WORK OF OTHERS:  Volunteers

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:  Any combination of education and experience equivalent to High School graduation; working knowledge of safe and efficient working practices as they relate to shelter manager, code enforcement and animal control; working knowledge of computers and related software and programs.

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:  Possession of a valid Colorado Driver’s License, National Animal Care & Control-NACA Animal Control Officer I

NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Must be able to pass shelter manager course to obtain PACFA license.
• City policies and procedures.
• City, County and State Animal Ordinances, and regulations.
• Industry best practices for animal care, volunteer recruitment and retention, and safety procedures.
• Skill in:
• Assessing, analyzing, identifying and implementing solutions to complex problems.
• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with volunteer and rescue groups, news media, Colorado Humane Society, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Colorado Department of Agriculture, Prowers County Sheriff’s Department, Colorado State Patrol, and other City staff and the general public.
• Performing basic mathematical calculations.
• Operating a personal computer and various software applications, which includes monitoring security cameras.
• Communicating effectively, both verbally and in writing.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:  Because the possession and use of marijuana whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City of Lamar is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting the use of marijuana.  The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change the policy.

THE CITY OF LAMAR PROVIDES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO ALL EMPLOYEES AND APPLICANTS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND PROHIBITS DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT OF ANY TYPE WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, AGE, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY STATUS, GENETICS, PROTECTED VETERAN STATUS, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, OR ANY OTHER CHARACTERISTIC PROTECTED BY FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAWS.

THIS POLICY APPLIES TO ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING RECRUITING, HIRING, PLACEMENT, PROMOTION, TERMINATION, LAYOFF, RECALL, TRANSFER, LEAVES OF ABSENCE, COMPENSATION AND TRAINING.