Chief of Animal Services

Kansas City Pet Project

Job Description

Position: Chief of Animal Services
Department: Animal Services Division
Reports to: President/CEO & Chief Lifesaving Officer
Category: Full-time; Exempt
Supervises: Animal Services Division Manager, Cruelty Investigations Manager, Field Supervisors, Dispatch Team, Compliance & Administrative Officers
Schedule: 5 shifts weekly; some nights, weekends, and holidays are required.
Salary: $85,000.00 - $95,000 annually

Commitment: The Chief of Animal Services possesses the ability to be a dynamic, results driven, strong communicator, providing the leadership, vision, and strategy for the Animal Services Division of KC Pet Project, which provides 24/7 services for the City of Kansas City, Missouri.

The Animal Services Division will utilize a supportive (information sharing and help-based) approach in the community. Our philosophy is rooted in community policing practices for an engagement-based animal services program designed to enhance capacity of care in Kansas City, create safer neighborhoods for pets and people, and empower residents around animal-related issues and/or conflicts. We employ a balance of animal law enforcement, community engagement, and targeted outreach.

Duties and Daily Responsibilities:
Responsible for being an exemplary role model in leadership excellence. Represent KC Pet Project in a professional, caring, and solution-oriented manner while embracing our “Solutions, Not Excuses” and “One Mission, One Team” mottos.
Maintain an extensive knowledge of best practices, industry standards, and community resources. Serve as an industry expert in modern, progressive animal services program development and oversight. Represent KC Pet Project in industry meetings, local, regional, and national conferences and speaking opportunities.
Provide leadership for the Animal Service Division in partnership with our community to resolve issues related to animals; and drive overall strategic planning and management for the entire Animal Services Division;
Serve as organizational liaison to in-house counsel, Kansas City Police Department and other law enforcement officials, Lakeside Nature Center, City of Kansas City Municipal Court, domestic violence agency partners, KCMO Office of Emergency Management, and other agencies/organizations as appropriate.
Oversee all animal-related investigation types and serves as a point of contact for all animal seizures. Perform all functions of an Animal Service Officer including responding to calls for service; provide training and mentoring to Animal Service Officers, Investigators, Supervisors, and Managers to enhance their careers and provide quality animal services to City residents.
Develop safe capture plans for large scale seizures and complex animal capture events and provide training and supervision to staff executing the plans.
Facilitate regular division team meetings and participate in management and KCPP Executive Leadership team meetings.
Develop and expand Animal Service’s relationship with the Kansas City Police Department including reviewing agreements, engaging Police Department in criminal cases, coordinating cross trainings, and facilitating the investigation and ultimate prosecution of Animal Service’s criminal cases by the Police Department.
Coordinate with the Police Department on investigations, perform follow up investigation as needed, present cases and warrant applications to the municipal prosecutor or Jackson County Prosecutor, prepare ASO’s for testimony and oversee applicable hearings.
Review all ASO investigative reports; assess the quality of each ASO’s investigation and implement any identified areas for improvement to advance the quality of future inquiries. Track all cases, ensure accuracy in data, report metrics each month in accordance with contract performance requirements, and deliver the monthly division impact report in a timely manner to the President/CEO for distribution.
Work with legal counsel to stay up to date on city, state, and federal animal related laws including revisions/additions to ensure Division compliance. Coordinate revisions of Kansas City ordinances with legal counsel and the City Attorney’s Office and provide input on proposed city and state legislative changes when requested.
Drive collaboration across all KC Pet Project departments and encourage department personnel to routinely share stories of the department’s work in the field/community with KCPP’s Communications Team.
Manage data, ensuring that the appropriate data is collected and is relevant in supporting goals. Create and run reports, analyze data, and utilize data analysis to update current programming or develop new programs.
Review, analyze, and evaluate applicable and appropriate business procedures. Improve staff morale, volunteer engagement, customer service and satisfaction through policy and procedural changes. Keep a pulse on shelter operations in support of the overall organization’s short- and long-term goals, strategic vision, and mission.
Demonstrate progressive leadership that promotes community collaboration and employ policies, tools, and training to create meaningful change, reduce shelter intake, and promote keeping families together through support, information, access to care, and accessible, equitable resources for the community.
Work with legal counsel to create an annual in-house training program to ensure ongoing professional development for the Animal Services Division, including a risk mitigation and safety program that includes personal safety policies, safe driver training, situational awareness, etc. Adhere to and ensure compliance with all KC Pet Project organizational policies and procedures and safety guidelines and procedures.
Perform other duties and special projects, as assigned, or as needed

Performance Factors and Necessary Skills:
Proficiency in Microsoft Office. Ability to learn how to use new software, platforms, and applications to efficiently and effectively manage information.
Must possess exceptional creativity and problem-solving skills to identify problems, evaluate options, and execute solutions.
Must be a strong communicator both verbally and in writing.
Must be able to multitask projects and the varying needs of lifesaving in a fast-paced environment.
Must be willing to challenge the standard thinking with new ideas, new approaches, and new solutions.
Must be self-directed and able to work independently.
Must have, or be willing to obtain, a working knowledge of animal handling and behavior for varying species.

Qualifications:
High school diploma
Minimum 7-10 years’ experience as an Animal Services Officer
Minimum of 3 years of supervisory/management experience
Recent training and certification in animal control operations (e.g. NACA/NACHO modules)
Knowledge of State of MO and Kansas City municipal codes and animal ordinances
Must live in or be willing to relocate to Kansas City, MO as part of KCMO City Ordinance
Current state driver’s license and insurable driving record
Experience testifying as an Animal Service Officer in court
Experience working with community-based organizations
Proven ability to write and update policies and procedures
A proven willingness to assist and help people care for their animals rather than approach all situations with a law enforcement-based approach
Ability to articulate strategic planning ideas for the division with articulatable goals and positive outcomes
A compassionate, non-judgmental, friendly, and team-oriented personality

Preferred Qualifications:
Experience responding in a disaster situation(s)
Conflict mediation certification/experience
Public speaking experience

Mental, Physical and Communications Requirements

A successful candidate must be able to:
Work is typically performed at the KC Campus for Animal Care and throughout the community. Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, high noise levels, hazardous chemicals, and sharp objects.
Able to lift up to 50 lb., long periods of standing, bending, stooping, reaching and animal handling and restraint in an animal shelter-type setting. Willingness to handle all sizes and activity levels of animals and work in all weather conditions.
Maintain a polite, professional, and informative demeanor with staff members, volunteers, veterinarians, police department officials, attorneys, representatives from other agencies, and the general public;
See close up, distance and have the ability to adjust focus and have normal depth and peripheral vision;
Sustain a full 8-10 hour day of driving, walking, bending, and physical activity in the field;
Enter data in a computer database system and maintain accurate records;
Work alone with minimal supervision, identify issues that are a potential liability to the agency and work with Executive Director as necessary;
Resolve conflicts successfully; and
Communicate clearly, including excellent writing skills and an ability to speak in public.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

This is a full time job