Employment Opportunity - Animal Control Administrator (Non-Veterinarian)

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Animal Control Administrator (Non-Veterinarian)

Department/Location: Animal Control   

FLSA Status:  Salaried Exempt

Salary Range:  $35,000 - $42,000 per year, salary commensurate with experience

Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision and Life Insurance; Paid Holidays, Vacation, Paid Leave, Personal Days and Sick Time; IMRF Pension.

Prepared Date: March 4, 2025

Reports to: Iroquois County Board

Please submit resumes to alongfellow@iroquoiscountyil.gov.  Resumes will be received until March 28, 2025.

General Purpose of the Position:  The County Board Chairman, with the consent of the County Board, shall appoint an Administrator (a licensed veterinarian licensed by the State of Illinois and appointed pursuant to this act, or a non-veterinarian may serve as Administrator under the Animal Control Act. In the event the Administrator is not a veterinarian, the Administrator shall defer to a licensed veterinarian regarding all medical decisions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. The Administrator will coordinate with county departments as necessary.
2. Manages and supervises the operation and maintenance of the County Animal Control Program; directs through sterilization, humane education, rabies inoculation, stray control, impoundment, apprehension of and quarantine, and any other means deemed necessary, to control and prevent the spread of rabies and to exercise dog and cat overpopulation control. It shall also be the duty of the Administrator to investigate and substantiate all claims made. Their duty may include return, adoption, transfer to rescues or other animal shelters. Facilitates exams for animals and re-exams of animals by a veterinarian in cases of bites.
3. Supervises subordinates engaged in clerical duties, including processing dog registrations and administrative support; supervises subordinates engaged in the feeding, care, and disposal of animals; directs the maintenance and cleaning of the facility, vehicles, and equipment.
4. The Administrator may issue citations, orders for violations, research and advice on animal control ordinances and laws, ensure proper documentation and work with other county departments as needed.
5. Receive and communicate notice of any person that has been bitten by an animal and shall provide quarantine and education information to the animal owner. The Administrator will work in conjunction with law enforcement and the States’s Attorney to have dogs/cats deemed “vicious or dangerous”, file a complaint in the Circuit Court and determine if the animal shall be confined during the pending case.
6. The Administrator approves enclosures, interviews witnesses, including owners, makes detailed reports of each incident to recommend further actions. Files affidavit of killed or injured livestock, poultry, etc. and substantiates records. May order fines for dangerous dogs/cats, obtain and record exempt dog/cat status and their location.
7. Obtain registrations and information required by the board from anyone selling dogs/cats.
8. Reports all facility issues to the Maintenance Supervisor.
9. The Administrator will create and manage the Animal Control budget and all records. Maintain records of daily call outs, bites, stray turn-ins, adoptions, returns and euthanized, track each incident by case number, obtaining or disposal of animals among municipalities along with all fees collected and charged from municipalities, medical records of animals involved in bites, court records, testimonies, witness records, registration certificates and tags.
10. Order, disperse, collect rabies tags and registration certificates to county veterinarian offices.
11. Keep accurate records of rabies and registration certificate documents. Reports required information to the Department of Agriculture in order to obtain annual license.
12. Rabies vaccination tags for dogs/cats shall be furnished by the County. The administrator shall oversee the recording of the name and address of each person to whom rabies vaccination tags are issued and the serial numbers of the tags issued. Rabies vaccination tags and color are changed annually and shall bear the following inscription: rabies vaccination; serial number; Illinois Department of Agriculture; name of county and year. The person receiving the tags shall be held accountable for each tag and shall return all unused tags upon their expiration. If such person fails to account for each tag or refuses to return unused tags, a County may withhold issuance of additional tags to that person. A person issuing a tag to an owner shall issue a tag from the county in which the dog/cat owner resides. The rabies vaccination tag shall be always worn by the dog/cat for which the certificate and tag have been issued, except when such dog/cat is confined.
13. Maintain contracts with local municipalities and collect money owed on an annual basis to deposit into required accounts through the Treasurer’s Office.
14. Organize and hold at least one microchipping clinic each year.
15. Educate the public on the importance of responsible spay and neutering.
16. Arranges for or provides training to employees on animal control procedures.
17. Issue pet population program vouchers to qualifying individuals.
18. Performs public relations and manages social media in accordance with the county’s social media policy.
19. Facilitates euthanasia for animals deemed unadoptable or dangerous to population.
20. Directly supervises the animal control wardens, officers, kennel workers and volunteers. Responsibilities may include interviewing, hiring, training, assigning duties and the regulation of county personnel policies.

Skills and Abilities Required:

1. Possess the ability to read and interpret documents such as federal and state regulations, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
2. Possess the ability to read and write reports and correspondence.
3. Possess the ability to speak effectively before groups of employees, county board members or the public.
4. Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio and percentage and to draw graphs or simple maps.
5. Process the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in written or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Equipment and Software Requirements:

1. Proficiency in Microsoft Windows, Office, Excel, Word, Outlook, office facsimile and other software as needed.
2. Able to type at a speed necessary for successful job performance.

Education and Experience Required:

1. High-school diploma or GED, with 3-5 years supervisory experience.
2. Possess a valid Illinois Driver’s License and maintain minimum state liability insurance requirements.
3. Must be willing to obtain a Humane Investigator License and receive an ongoing education.

Physical Demands:                                                                                                      

1. Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds, including live animals
2. Occasionally handle large, active, aggressive, and/or vicious animals
3. Use hands to finger, handle or feel
4. Reach, push and pull with one and/or both hands and arms
5. Bend over at the waist and reach with one and/or both hands and arms
6. Stoop, kneel, crouch, and/or crawl
7. Talk and hear in person and via use of telephone
8. Operate county vehicles and safety equipment
9. Specific vision abilities include close and distance vision and depth perception

Work Environment:

The work environment will vary from indoor and outdoor functions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.