Animal Care Specialist I - City

This posting will be used to fill a current vacancy in the Animal Welfare Division of the Development Services Department within the City of Oklahoma City. An eligibility list will be established or supplemented for filling future vacancies per provisions of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Collective Bargaining Agreement. The Animal Care Specialist I is primarily responsible for the general care, maintenance, and oversight of animals housed in the City's Animal Welfare facilities.

The normal starting pay for this position is the minimum of the pay range listed above. A higher rate of pay may be considered, dependent on the qualifications and experience of the selected applicant and/or the City's step placement policy.

This position is an overage. Funding for this position will be re-evaluated on a fiscal year basis.

Full-time City employees will receive preference in the following order: major division first, then department, then all other full-time City employees. Part-time/year-round City employees will receive preference next. If there are no qualified full-time City employees or part-time/year-round City employees, external applicants will then be considered (when the vacancy is open to external applicants).

This job classification has been designated as a safety sensitive job classification in accordance with the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana and Patient Protection Act, 63 O.S., § 427.1 et seq., (OSCN 2019), effective August 29, 2019. This means employees in this job classification can be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination if they test positive for marijuana components or metabolites, even if they possess a medical marijuana license.

Honorably discharged veterans of the United States Active Duty Armed Forces, National Guard, and Reserve Forces who are not currently employed full-time by the City of Oklahoma City and who meet the qualifications for the position shall be given preference. To receive preference, veterans must submit verification of honorable discharge from the United States military service (Department of Defense Form DD214 or NGB Form 22) prior to the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Possession of a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Possession of valid Driver License (Operator).

Knowledge of various breeds of dogs, cats, and other domestic and wild animals.

Knowledge of basic methods of animal welfare and care.

Knowledge of small animals and livestock behavior and proper care.

Skill in communicating with tact and diplomacy.

Ability to handle animals safely and humanely.

Ability to work with animals of various sizes and temperaments.

Ability to follow instructions.

Ability to work with others.

Ability to interact effectively with the public.

Ability to handle and care for sick, injured, and/or aggressive animals.

Ability and willingness to assist in the euthanasia process and the proper disposal of animals.

Ability to work around noxious odors.

Ability and willingness to follow safety rules and regulations.

Outside occasionally, exposed to heat, cold, humidity, rain, etc.

Constant contact with slick surfaces floors and uneven surfaces.

Capable of working in cramped, confined areas such as animal cages, which may be close to the ground or at elevated levels.

Frequent exposure to steady and loud noises.

Frequent exposure to toxins such as chemicals used in the euthanasia process.

Frequent exposure to large concentrations of noxious odors.

Frequent exposure to the possibility of animal bites.

Frequent exposure to chemical irritants such as disinfectant, bleach and flea dip.

Possibility of infections or illness caused by disease-carrying animals.

Frequent exposure to allergy-causing agents such as dust, insect stings (e.g., bees or wasps), and vegetation such as poison oak, ivy, and sumac.

Local travel on a daily basis.

Required to work weekends, holidays, irregular hours, and occasional overtime.

Strength enough to lift, push, and pull objects such as animals weighing up to 75 pounds.

Stamina to exert oneself physically throughout the workday.

Flexibility enough to bend, twist, and reach frequently and for extended periods of time to perform duties such as loading and unloading animals on and off a truck and in and out of carriers, cages and kennels and cleaning at or just above the floor surface level.

Significant body coordination and balance enough to remain upright while capturing large animals such as cattle, horses, etc.

Mobility enough to continually move oneself from place to place.

Manual dexterity enough to perform duties such as placing identification collars on animals and completing forms.

Near vision enough to read items such as forms, tags, or animal identification numbers, etc.

Far enough vision to be able to perform duties such as identifying species of animal from a distance (e.g., skunk vs. cat).

Visual color discrimination enough to perform tasks such as distinguishing color of animals for identification purposes.

Hearing enough to identify and locate sounds in a noisy environment.

Speech and hearing enough to communicate clearly and distinctly in person and by telephone.

An eligibility list will be established from this posting consisting of applicants who receive a score of 70 percent or better. Multiple selection procedures may be utilized; a minimum of 70 percent or better will be required on each; and the results of multiple selection procedures will be equally weighted. The eligibility list will be in effect for 90 days from the date of the final selection procedure and will be used to fill future vacancies.

City employees are required to receive pay electronically, either via direct deposit or pay card.

If this position is open to external applicants and you are a former employee, you must be eligible for rehire to participate in any selection process. If you are unsure of your rehire status, please contact the Human Resources Department at (405) 297-2530. If your rehire status has been coded "Not Eligible," "Eligible 3," or "Conditional," you will need to request a review of your rehire status through the Human Resources Department's Employee and Labor Relations Division.

Upon a conditional offer of employment/acceptance of position, the City of Oklahoma City will conduct a criminal history background check for external applicants. Applicants will be provided contact information for any third-party reporting agencies used to collect background information in connection with conditional offers of employment.

If the position accepted includes a driver license (commercial or non-commercial) Job Requirement, the City of Oklahoma City will obtain a Motor Vehicle Report for internal and external applicants.

If the position accepted is safety sensitive and/or a driving position, internal and external applicants will be provided a copy of the City of Oklahoma City's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy prior to being directed for a drug test. A copy is also available at the link below:

AFSCME CBA Addendum C: Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy

If the position accepted is cyber security sensitive, internal and external applicants will be subject to a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Interstate Identification Index (III) Fingerprint Background check. Additionally, employees in this job classification must complete Level 4 Security Awareness Training and pass an online certification test.

If the position accepted includes a lift/push/pull/carry Physical Requirement of 25 pounds and greater, internal and external applicants will be directed for a physical examination.

The City of Oklahoma City will not discriminate against any applicant or employee because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, actual or perceived sexual orientation, and gender identity and/or expression), national origin, age, disability (mental or physical) and genetic information (including family medical history).