Animal Specialty Investigator

Full Job Description

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!

Animal Care and Protective Services is actively seeking a Animal Specialty Investigator.

Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well?

In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available.

City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments

This is advanced technical work at the lead worker level in enforcing animal care and control laws which involves the investigation of criminal and civil animal cruelty complaints, working crime scenes and collecting evidence, writing professional reports for submission to the State Attorney’s Office for prosecution, and educating the public. Work requires the knowledge of applicable laws, methods, practices, techniques, and procedures used in animal code enforcement, animal capture, restraint, and care which involve the use of specialized skills and equipment which is learned on the job and through additional specialized training/certification. Schedules, distributes, oversees and guides the work of others. Contacts require skills in understanding, influencing and communicating with others in order to successfully interact with other employees and the public. The work is standardized in that tasks are covered by substantially diversified procedures and specialized standards, and because of the changing priorities, or different situations, incumbents have the latitude to consider which of the many procedures or standards should be followed and in what sequence. Work is performed primarily in the field and office environments, where there are some risks and hazards due to the handling of vicious, ill, infectious, and rabid animals. Operates standard office equipment such as personal computer, two-way radio, digital camera, animal capture and microchip scanning equipment. Operates a motor vehicle. The physical demands consist of sitting, walking, standing, running, climbing, bending, reaching, and sometimes lifting objects weighing more than 50 pounds.Schedule will involve working flex hours, weekends, nights andholidays. Work is performed under limited supervision where the work assignments are subject to established procedures, practices, precedents, methods, techniques, standards or well-defined policies, and the worker plans or organizes the work, determines their own priorities, and the work is reviewed, usually after the fact, in terms of quality, volume, timeliness, and for adherence to established methods, standards and policies.

Requirements

• Investigates allegations of animal cruelty, neglect, abuse, bites, breeders, pet shops, and abandonment in potentially hostile environments.
• Investigates and enforces Florida statutes related to animals and Jacksonville Municipal Ordinance section 462.
• Conducts interviews of witnesses, suspects (after providing Miranda Rights Notice), and law enforcement personnel related to the case.
• Takes sworn testimony in the form of an affidavit and notarizes the same.
• Prepares search warrants and submits for judiciary approval.
• Assists law enforcement with inspection/search, seizure and arrest warrants related to animal cruelty, including the filing for petition of custody requests.
• Conducts legally authorized searches and seizures in conjunction with law enforcement personnel.
• Prepares detailed reports and maintains case files of investigations to ensure availability for civil or criminal prosecution.
• Develops crime scene diagrams, collects evidence, photographs, and performs tests as necessary in the field using the current best practices of law enforcement. 
• Utilizes computer programs to record, retrieve and verify animal impoundment and case activity information.
• Provides testimony in civil and criminal cases involving animal abuse or neglect.
• Performs all related duties of an animal Code Enforcement Officer as directed by the Animal Code Enforcement Officer Supervisor. 
• Performs euthanasia as taught by the FACA (Florida Animal Control Association) approved class and in compliance with the ACPS euthanasia protocol. 
• Work on-call as needed.
• Operates standard office equipment such as personal computer using word, spreadsheet, database and other related software, two-way radio, digital camera, animal capture, euthanasia equipment and microchip scanning equipment.
• Operates a motor vehicle. 
• Acts as Animal Services Assistant Supervisor in absence, if designated by the Division Chief
• Maintains, assigns and coordinates fleet for division.
• Reports to work location during emergency circumstances such as actual and anticipated natural and man-made disasters.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the City of Jacksonville’s competencies.
• Performs related work as required.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Constitutional provisions and their application to animal control.
• Strong working knowledge of animal control ordinances and Florida laws pertaining to animals, animal cruelty and abuse/neglect.
• Knowledge of humane treatment of animals.
• Knowledge of animal behavior, breeds, characteristics, and identification.
• Knowledge of animal diseases and health requirements.
• Knowledge of the accepted practices in treatment, restraining and handling of animals.
• Ability to treat, restrain and handle animals.
• Ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, including the ability to perform verbal judo techniques in extremely high-stress circumstances.
• Ability to safely operate animal control and chemical immobilization equipment.
• Ability to perform euthanasia as taught by the FACA (Florida Animal Control Association) approved class and in compliance with the ACPS euthanasia protocol. 
• Ability to assess, address and schedule the animal control work of others.
• Ability to operate standard office equipment such as personal computer using word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other related software, two-way radio, digital camera, animal capture, euthanasia equipment and microchip scanning equipment. 
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle.

Additional Information

• Three (3) years of education and/or experience as an Animal Control Officer or Law Enforcement Officer.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION:

• Florida Animal Control Officer Certification must be obtained within twelve months and must be maintained during employment in this class.

• Euthanasia Technician Certification must be obtained prior to completion of probation and must be maintained.

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license during employment in this class.

• Must qualify for, obtain, and maintain a City of Jacksonville public driver certification for employment in this class.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

• The probationary period for this class is twelve months.

• This classification performs safety-sensitive functions and is subject to pre-employment, random and other drug/alcohol testing programs as set forth in the City of Jacksonville’s Drug Free Workplace Policy (0401).

ACPS is part of the City of Jacksonville’s emergency response operations.

When pet friendly emergency shelters are open, all full-time employees are required to report and carry out duties as assigned for the duration of the emergency.

Depending on the nature of the emergency, this may require working around the clock for several days on short notice.

A FULLY COMPLETED ONLINE APPLICATION IS REQUIRED. Apply atwww.jacksonville.gov. Work history is required for all employment/volunteer work in which qualifications are being based.

When meeting/basing qualifications on education, a copy of your college transcript, with your social blacked out, is required with your application. U.S.

transcripts do not need to be official, but must state your name, the school’s name, classes taken, grades received, type of degree, and date degree was conferred. Transcripts outside the U.S.

must be converted to U.S. standards.

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Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and the family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge.

You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here:http://www.coj.net/departments/employee-services/veterans-preference.

If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded veteran’s preference, he or she may file a written complaint, within sixty (60) calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to:

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs

Attention: Veterans’ Preference Coordinator

11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K

Largo, FL 33778-1630

Email:VeteransPreference@fdva.state.fl.us