Animal Welfare Assistant

JOB SUMMARY – Animal Welfare Assistant provides administrative, clerical, and operational support to the Animal Welfare Division of the Sheriff’s Office. Responsibilities include maintaining records, coordinating communications, assisting officers, interacting with the public, and supporting animal control operations to promote public safety, regulatory compliance, and the humane treatment of animals.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS - Essential functions are the fundamental and primary duties of a classified position that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation, in order to fulfill the purpose of the position.
Carry out the Sheriff’s Mission and Vision and adhere to the Office’s Core Values; Trust, Service, Community;
Cultivates high morale and a Team culture within the Sheriff’s Office;
Performs a variety of clerical and administrative duties, including classifying, consolidating, summarizing, sorting, filing, and distributing documents and information; prepares and generates routine and specialized reports;
Maintains accurate records related to caging, permitting, and compliance requirements for wild, dangerous, and exotic animals;
Maintains cleanliness and organization of assigned office and work areas;
Calculates applicable fees and issues receipts to animal owners reclaiming impounded animals;
Promotes public safety by coordinating with local and state agencies to enforce applicable state and county laws and regulations regarding rabies control, animal impoundment, and the humane treatment of animals;
Receives and documents reports via telephone regarding loose, aggressive, or injured animals and maintains accurate complaint records;
Provides administrative and operational support to officers as needed in civil and related cases;
Performs receptionist duties, including answering incoming calls, responding to public inquiries, providing information within the scope of responsibility, and routing calls to appropriate personnel;
Serves as a radio dispatcher for Animal Welfare Officers by assigning calls for service and accurately recording information provided by officers;
Works directly with members of the public to provide guidance and general information related to animal care, ownership responsibilities, and problem resolution;
Impounds, photographs, and assists in identifying owners of stray or loose animals or livestock brought to the office by Animal Control Officers, other agencies, or the general public;
Coordinates with external animal rescue and pet adoption organizations to facilitate the placement and rescue of abandoned or surrendered animals;
Performs additional duties as assigned to ensure the efficient and effective operation of the Sheriff’s Office.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS – To perform this position successfully, an individual(s) shall possess the following knowledge and skills in order to perform the essential functions proficiently.
 Knowledge of the principles, practices, and procedures of the local and state criminal justice system.
 Intermediate proficiency with modern office equipment and procedures.
 Ability to become proficient in all County and Department policies and procedures.
 Effective oral and written communication skills.
 Ability to multitask and perform effectively in a constantly changing work environment.
 Ability to exercise sound judgment and make well-reasoned decisions under high-stress conditions.
 Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
 Ability to foster productive, cooperative working relationships with employees, supervisors, external partners, public officials, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS – The duties of this position may involve certain physical requirements that are necessary to perform the essential functions to include, but not limited to:
Perform physical activities including walking, running, crawling, standing, sitting, jumping, kneeling, bending, and lying down for extended periods;
Perform physical tasks involving carrying, pushing, pulling, dragging, and holding medium objects;
Operate vehicles, exercising sound judgment and strict adherence to safety procedures;
Engage in high-stress and physically demanding duties and training scenarios;
Speak and hear in order to communicate effectively in person, through telephone, and through emergency radios.
EDUCATION, TRAINING & EXPERIENCE – The preferred way to obtain the minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position are listed below. The County reserves the right to consider higher levels of education in lieu of training and experience and vice-versa.
 One (1) Related Experience

OTHER MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS – Applicants must be able to meet all of the following minimum requirements in order to be considered for employment.
18 Years of age or older
High school diploma or G.E.D.
Possess a valid Texas Driver’s License
Be a United States Citizen (Born or Naturalized)
Have a working cell phone
No more than 20/200 vision that is correctable to 20/20;
No convictions or court-ordered community supervision or probation for any criminal offense above Class B misdemeanor within the last ten years from the date of the court order;
Honorable Discharge from Military Service (If applicable)ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS – This position may involve exposure to hazardous, dangerous, or adverse environmental conditions to include, but not limited to:
Duties and training are regularly performed both indoors and outdoors.
Work may occur during natural and man-made disaster situations.
Exposure to adverse weather conditions, including extreme heat, extreme cold, rain, sleet, snow, ice, and high winds.
Exposure to biohazardous and toxic materials.
Work in both bright and low-light environments.
Exposure to high noise levels that may result in potential hearing damage.
Work in and around high-voltage areas.
Work in areas with operating heavy machinery.
Work in spaces that may not be compliant with local, state, and federal safety codes or ADA regulations.

DISCLAIMER - This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by individuals assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications, or working conditions associated with the position. The employer reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other related work as required to meet operational needs. Nothing in this job description shall be construed as creating a contract of employment or limiting management rights. All duties must be performed in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and procedures. Essential functions of the position must be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, consistent with state and federal law.

Salary : $23 - $25