Assistant Program Coordinator - Animal Care and Control

General Description

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The Animal Care and Control (AC\&C) Assistant Program Coordinator supervises the overall management and daily operations of the AC\&C Program. This position oversees and trains Animal Control Warden staff, supervises additional AC\&C personnel, and assumes leadership responsibilities in the absence of the Program Coordinator. This role also assists in maintaining compliance with all applicable regulations and standards, manages municipal service contracts, and supports the enforcement of animal control laws, ordinances, and policies. The Assistant Program Coordinator also serves as the primary contact for the Illinois Animal Control Association and helps develop and update program policies and ordinances. Additional responsibilities include responding to field service calls, addressing public concerns related to animals and pet ownership, providing information on rabies certificates and tags, and protects public health through education and enforcement or other applications in support of state and local ordinances governing proper animal control practices for Lake County.

Scheduled Hours: 40 hours per week

Essential Functions

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• Responsible for supervision, management, administration, and training of the Warden staff.
• Supervises all activities and staff of the Animal Control Program in the absence of, or at the direction of the Animal Care and Control Coordinator.
• Assists the AC\&C Program Coordinator in the overall planning, development, maintenance and evaluation of program in accordance with local and state laws, regulations and good animal care and control and rabies prevention principles.
• Provides guidance to Animal Care and Control Program staff on a regular basis in applying and interpreting policies and ordinance requirements.
• Retrieves and responds to client messages regarding stray and biting animals, neighbor disputes, cruelty and neglect, West Nile suspect animals, dangerous, vicious, injured, sick and wild animals and those suspected of rabies.
• Maintains high customer service skills to deal effectively with pet owners and citizens calling for assistance.
• Works closely and effectively with all Animal Care and Control staff to maintain good working relationships.
• Responsible for submission of building/kennel repairs to the LCHD maintenance department and coordinates vehicle maintenance with County DOT.
• Tracks all appropriate activities and transactions using the correct forms and utilizing the Chameleon software.
• Assures quality data entry of violation tickets for tracking and administrative adjudication purposes.
• Prepares documentation for court cases and provides court testimony when required.
• Communicates with animal rescue groups and other agencies for the placement of animals.
• Processes, packages, ships and completes reports of animals suspected of the West Nile Virus and rabies to the appropriate lab(s), as needed.
• Assists as radio dispatcher, dispatching wardens to appropriate locations based upon complaints or requests from municipalities, the Sheriff or private citizens.
• Coordinates and assists with animal bite investigations, rabies registration and spay/neuter program.
• Coordinates and assists at vaccination and microchip clinics.
• Responsible for maintaining and tracking documentation required by the United States Department of Justice Drug licensure.
• Conducts daily inspections of animal containment areas.
• Logs public service hours for Lake County Court Services.
• Provides government billing and other contractual agreement statistics to the Principal Accountant Specialist as required.
• Serves as the program liaison with the public in matters of complaints and requests for service.
• Participates in making recommendations that formulate service area policies and procedures.
• Offers solutions and follow up on corrections of ordinance and state violations.
• Assists with investigating complaints involving violations, offers advice on solutions.
• Assists in training, mentoring, and staff standardization.
• Responds to after hour facility alarm system as needed.
• Performs or schedules wardens for daily activities including emergency calls.
• Provides training in the use of Animal Control equipment and is responsible for Warden utilization and care of equipment and medication.
• Interfaces with other departments and agencies in matters relating to Animal Control and Animal Welfare.
• Maintains up to date knowledge of relevant law and regulations.
• Performs humane euthanasia when needed.
• May assist the public, community service officers, police departments, Lake County Sheriff, Lake County Forest Preserve Rangers, and co\-workers with impoundment and release of animals.
• Maintains accurate records of these transactions.
• Performs other office and kennel duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities and Education Required

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• Requires a high school diploma or G.E.D. certificate, though an Associate's or a Bachelor’s degree is preferred.
• Requires five years of experience working in the Animal Control field.
• Requires a minimum of 1 year of management/supervisory experience .
• Requires the ability to become registered as a licensed euthanasia technician through the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation, within 1 year of hire.
• Requires a valid driver’s license, supplemented with a satisfactory driving record.

Supplemental Information

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As the largest human service provider in Lake County, we believe that services must be available without barriers. No residents are turned away due to the inability to pay. We believe in providing services in an environment of mutual respect, free of discrimination or bias. Whether assuring accessible and effective care, impacting policy, or assessing and monitoring risks, the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center has been an essential part of the public health system in Lake County for 60 years. We are looking for passionate, qualified team members who can help make a difference in our agency and, most importantly, in our community.

Additional information about the Lake County Health Department, our culture, and why you should join our team can be found at https://lakecountyil.attract.neogov.com/health\-department.

At this time, you must live in Illinois or Wisconsin to be eligible to work at Lake County Health Department. You can find our salary grades at https://www.lakecountyil.gov/4515/Salary\-Grades. For unionized positions, a list of our collective bargaining agreements can be found here: https://www.lakecountyil.gov/2686/Collective\-Bargaining\-Agreements.

Any offer of employment is conditioned on the successful completion of a background screening, drug and alcohol testing and may include a pre\-employment medical exam.

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other protected characteristics.