State Animal Control Officer

Introduction

The Department of Agriculture () invites qualified, dynamic professionals to apply for the role of within the in Hartford. 

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

A competitive starting salary. A Platinum Healthcare Plan, the nation’s best for state employees and dependents, according to a report by Georgetown’s Center on Health Insurance Reform an article by Ellen Andrews, Ph.D., along with . Learn more about what sets us apart as an employer with our . Generous paid time off, including 13 holidays per calendar year. Extensive pension plan and supplemental retirement offerings. Working for a Forbes top company: - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule. State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service. Click for more information.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

Full Time, 40 hours per week. First Shift, 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Monday - Friday. Location: Hartford. This Hybrid role requires a combination of in-office and remote work. Incumbents in this class will be required to carry a firearm and may be required to carry other defensive weapons including chemical weapons and may be required to obtain training and retain proper certification for such weapons. Please note that the Department of Agriculture is willing to train qualified candidates.

THE ROLE

The State Animal Control Officer is responsible for autonomously executing various duties related to enforcing laws and regulations concerning the management and containment of domestic, companion, and exotic animals, as well as animal cruelty statutes. The role operates under the broad oversight of the State Animal Control Supervisor or a superior staff member. Additionally, the individual in this role will provide functional guidance to municipal animal control officers regarding the enforcement of relevant laws and regulations.

ABOUT US

The mission of the Department of Agriculture is to foster a healthy economic, environmental and social climate for agriculture by developing, promoting, and regulating agricultural businesses; protecting agricultural and aquacultural resources; enforcing laws pertaining to domestic animals; and promoting an understanding among the state's citizens of the diversity of Connecticut agriculture, its cultural heritage and its contribution to the state's economy.

The Bureau of Regulatory Services enforces certain food safety laws and regulations relating to milk safety, produce safety, small poultry establishments, and animal feed including pet food/pet treat manufacturing. In the domestic animal realm, the Bureau enforces laws and regulations pertaining to animal control, animal population control, importation, and animal health issues. The Bureau plays a critical role in the prevention and control of rabies and other zoonotic diseases in domestic animals. The Bureau also leads the Department’s emergency planning and response activities relative to animal and poultry diseases and natural disasters.

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Selection Plan

TO APPLY

In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application. The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified. In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.  For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e., Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other. Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with , the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system. Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift. All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to .

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING

Please or our Applicant Tips on How to Apply.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY

This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam. Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process. Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency. Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position. Read through this helpful link to . The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class. CONNECT WITH US Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Brittney Woodley at .

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department of Agriculture this class is accountable for independently performing a full range of tasks in the enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to the control and impoundment of domestic, companion and exotic animals and animal cruelty laws.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

Provides initial and periodic inspections of pet shops, commercial kennels, grooming, training, and animal shelter facilities to ensure compliance with all regulations; Provides technical advice to towns regarding building laws and regulations relating to municipal animal control facilities; Responds to questions from the public, town officials and local animal control officers; Conducts investigations and enforces laws and regulations including preparation and issuance of warnings, infractions, misdemeanor summons, search and seizure warrants, and arrest warrants with reference to domestic animal related statutes and regulations; Conducts follow up investigations related to rabid wildlife contact with companion animals or livestock, to ensure exposed animals are quarantined and notifies state and/or local health department of possible human contact; Prepares detailed reports of all incidents, complaints and damages, preparing cases of trial by providing evidence and/or testifies in court of administrative hearings; May be asked to testify as an expert witness; Provide education at schools, fairs and other public forums with regard to humane treatment of animals as well as safety issues; Assists in training regarding rabies, animal laws and bite prevention to municipal animal control officers and other law enforcement officials; Assists towns in setting up and running low-cost rabies vaccination clinics; Assists municipal animal control officers in performance of their duties when necessary; Investigates reimbursement claims upon the state for damage to livestock by dogs and negotiates fair market value of injured or killed animals;

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

Considerable knowledge of domestic, companion and exotic animal control procedures and operation of animal control facilities; the care and handling of livestock, including horses, cattle, sheep, goats and poultry; Knowledge of relevant agency policies and procedures; relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations; law enforcement procedures; Considerable interpersonal skills; oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Five (5) years of experience in the field of animal control OR commercial management of domestic animals OR law enforcement involving animals.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

College training in agriculture, animal science, law enforcement or a closely related field may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equaling one half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Experience with animal control procedures, including the operation of kennels, pet shops, training, grooming, dog pound and animal shelter facilities. Experience with the care and handling of livestock, domestic and companion animals. Experience conducting law enforcement investigations and procedures. Experience with enforcing animal control laws, statutes and regulations. Experience communicating with internal and external shareholders via oral and written communication.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Incumbents in this class will be required to carry a shotgun and other defense weapons including chemical weapons and will be required to obtain training and retain proper certification for such weapons. Incumbents in this class must be willing to accept assignment or transfer to any district in the state and must establish a permanent residence within the central portion of the area to which they are assigned. Incumbents in this class may be required to travel. Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made before persons are certified for appointment.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Incumbents in this class may be exposed to considerable danger of injury from animal bites, exposure to rabid animals and to disagreeable and potentially dangerous conditions in dealing with animals and animal owners in the course of issuing search and seizure and arrest warrants.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.

Overview

Employee Benefits As a State of Connecticut employee you may be entitled to a host of benefits that are not only attractive, but also may be portable should your career bring you to other avenues of state service. From 13 paid holidays to accruing vacation time, being a State of Connecticut employee not only gives you the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life, but the time to enjoy your own. Listed below are just some of the benefits the State of Connecticut offers depending on the position you hold: Health & Dental Insurance Accrued Vacation, Personal and Sick Leave (Subject to the appropriate bargaining union contract or state statute and regulations.) Retirement Plan Group Life Insurance Supplemental Benefits Voluntary Defined Contribution Plans Flexible Spending Accounts (Dependent Care Program, Medical Flexible Spending, and Qualified Transportation) Supplemental Benefits Programs (Auto and Home Insurance, plus Short and Long Term Disability) Life Insurance State of CT Tuition Reimbursement Program Holidays

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