Field Services Officer

About the Role

Train and evaluate Animal Services Officer recruits; educate citizens and animal owners on responsible pet ownership; respond to complex issues including difficult citizen inquiries and complaints regarding animals; investigate reports of malicious cruelty; draft affidavits for search/seizure warrants; enforce City ordinances pertaining to the care, treatment, impound, handling, and quarantine of wild and domestic animals; perform euthanasia; and perform a variety of tasks relative to assigned area of responsibility. This is a safety-sensitive position subject to random drug/alcohol testing.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a field training officer; train and evaluate Animal Services Officer recruits.
• Respond to and resolve complex field issues, including difficult citizen inquiries and complaints regarding animals.
• Investigate malicious cruelty reports; prepare affidavits for search/seizure warrants; execute and serve warrants.
• Educate citizens and animal owners on responsible pet ownership.
• Impound animals; determine breed and sex of wild and domestic animals.
• Patrol assigned areas of the City to search for stray, domestic, exotic, wild, deceased, or diseased animals; take appropriate action.
• Investigate and respond to reports of animal bites, nuisance complaints, physical abuse, cruelty, and abandonment; enforce pertinent city ordinances.
• Conduct inspections of premises including pet stores, pet service providers, guard dog sites, and boarding kennels for compliance with city ordinances.
• Issue citations, criminal complaints, or warnings as necessary; receive summons and appear/testify in court.
• Conduct animal rescues utilizing appropriate equipment.
• Operate and maintain animal handling equipment; place animals in quarantine as required by law.
• Maintain animal control logs and files; prepare forms and reports; enter and retrieve information using electronic equipment.
• Perform euthanasia on wild (non-domestic) rabies carriers such as skunks, bats, raccoons, badgers, squirrels, porcupines, rats, mice, possums, rabbits, groundhogs, beavers, and prairie dogs to prevent suffering, disease, and public safety issues.
• May oversee personnel in the absence of the Field Supervisor.
• Conduct lectures or training on animal services issues and behavior at public schools, neighborhood associations, and businesses.
• Conduct media interviews as assigned.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as required.

Requirements

• Associate's degree from an accredited college or university in zoology, biology, animal science, or animal welfare.
• Four (4) years of animal handling work experience in a professional animal services facility, including at least two (2) years of experience enforcing ordinances related to the control, impoundment, and disposition of animals.
• Possession of a valid New Mexico Driver's License, or ability to obtain by date of hire.
• Possession of a City Operator's Permit (COP) within 6 months from date of hire.
• Possession of a valid Euthanasia Technician License issued by the State of New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department within three (3) months from date of hire.
• Possession of the Department's Field Training Certification within one (1) year from date of hire.

Working Conditions

Field and animal shelter environments; exposure to a variety of domestic and wild animals, animal body fluids, waste, other infectious materials, and inclement weather conditions.

• Physical demands include maintaining physical condition necessary for heavy or moderate lifting; bending, stooping, kneeling, crawling, or walking for prolonged periods; and operating motorized vehicles.