Job Description

Posting number: 10337

Department: Growth Management Community Development

Division: Domestic Animal Services

Job classification: Division Director - Domestic Animal Services

Posting type: Open

Categories: Animal Services

Summary

Supports and assists the Domestic Animal Services Division Director in the administration and operation of the County’s animal shelter and animal care services. Responsible for oversight of shelter operations, including intake, housing, care, and disposition of animals. Manages intake of owner surrenders, stray animals, and animals received for safe-keeping due to emergency events, protective custody, or enforcement-related actions. Provides administrative support to veterinary clinic operations and animal-related community programs and events.

Examples of duties

• Interprets and applies Domestic Animal Services policies and procedures; assist the Division Director in development and implementation of operational policies and standards.
• Assist in planning, directing, and managing shelter operations, including animal intake, housing, care, enrichment, and disposition; ensure compliance with applicable Florida Statutes, County Ordinances, and professional standards of care.
• Manage daily shelter operations through subordinate supervisors, including kennel operations, animal care staff, customer service, cleaning and safety standards, adoption programs, and campus security; monitors workload, staffing levels, and operational performance of the entire operation.
• Oversee and manage shelter intake operations, including owner surrenders, stray animals, and animals received for safe keeping related to emergencies, investigations, or enforcement actions; ensure proper documentation, legal hold status, and chain of custody where applicable.
• Implement intake management and capacity for care practices to balance public and staff safety, animal welfare, and operational sustainability and growth; implements intake management and capacity for care practices to balance public safety, animal welfare, and operational sustainability; supports development and implementation of customer service strategies and community engagement initiatives to improve outcomes and public trust.
• Coordinates with Code Enforcement, Animal Control Officers, the Collier County Sheriff's Office, and other agencies regarding intake, transfer, identification, quarantine, evidence holds, and disposition of animals associated with investigations or ordinance enforcement.
• Provides administrative and operational support to the veterinary clinic, including coordination of scheduling, resources, inventory controls, and compliance with applicable regulatory standards; supports veterinary staff while recognizing that licensed veterinarians retain independent medical judgment under Chapter 474, Florida Statutes.
• Supports planning and execution of community outreach, education programs, and animal-related events; ensures alignment with County policies, risk management requirements, and operational capacity.
• Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff, processing employee concerns and problems, directing work, counseling, disciplining, and completing employee performance appraisals.
• Organizes division workflow and assigns special projects; reviews and approves timesheets and leave time; schedules and coordinates training for subordinates; meets regularly with staff to discuss and resolve workload, operational, and technical issues; reviews work in progress to anticipate technical and management problems;
• Recommend operational changes to improve the division’s functions and processes; provide leadership, direction, and coaching to employees; provide assistance and training in technical issues, techniques, statutory requirements and professional responsibilities.
• Develop staff and volunteers through training, coaching, and performance management programing; establish work plans, priorities, and performance measures to achieve maximum operational goals.
• Assist in development and administration of the division budget; monitor expenditures; prepares cost estimates; and support budget adjustments and adheres to all fiscal controls; prepares budget amendments as needed.
• Manage contracts and vendor relationships; ensure compliance with contractual terms; coordinates procurement activities; and supports development of requests for proposals and related recommendations.
• Research operational and program opportunities; prepare reports, business models, and executive summaries for senior leadership and the Board of County Commissioners; support strategic planning, including capital improvement and long-term operational planning.
• Develop and maintain relationships with community organizations, partner agencies, and stakeholders; represent the division in meetings with advisory boards, government entities, and the public.
• May assist with euthanasia activities in accordance with certification and established protocols.
• Serves as point of contact for coordination of any inmate labor programs and other operational support programs, to include volunteers, contract staff, and outside support organizations as assigned.

ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS

• Assist Code Enforcement and Animal Control Officers in policing complaints when others are unavailable; this position does not exercise independent enforcement authority.
• Act on behalf of the Division Director in their absence as designated.
• May be required to be on twenty-four-hour call and/or regularly work on various shifts, weekends, and/or holidays as deemed necessary.
• Performs other related duties as required

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Five (5) years of related experience.
• Previous related supervisory/management experience required.
• Candidates without a degree should possess four (4) additional years of related experience.
• Fingerprinting required.

LICENSES/CERTIFICATES

• Must obtain and maintain State of Florida Euthanasia Injection, State of Florida certifications for Animal Control and Animal Cruelty Investigations within two (2) years from date of hire.
• May be required to attain and maintain other certifications as related to this position.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Driver’s License with any applicable endorsement(s) to drive a County vehicle as provided in CMA 5805.

Supplemental information

• Salary offers above the minimum pay grade may be considered based on qualifications.
• Essential Employees may be required to work during an undeclared or declared emergency. The County’s Administrative Office will determine who will be required to work on an incident-by-incident basis.
• This job posting is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, or working conditions associated with the position.