Salary: $58,947.20 – $76,668.80 Annually
Location : Reno, NV
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 60019278 (06/2023)
Department: Animal Services
Opening Date: 06/28/2023
Closing Date: 7/11/2023 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Information
Under general supervision, provides lead direction and work coordination for Animal Control Officers; enforces applicable County ordinances and state laws governing the care, control, licensing, impoundment, and euthanasia of animals; and performs related work as required.
This is an Open Competitive/Countywide Promotional recruitment being conducted to fill a current full-time vacancy in the Regional Animal Services Department. The list established from this recruitment may be used to fill future vacancies as they occur.
For more information on this position, please see the Job Specification at
Minimum Qualifications
Two years of full-time experience as an Animal Control Officer; OR three years of progressively responsible experience in the care and handling of animals in a professional work environment including interviewing the public, assessing information, and making determinations; OR three years of experience in the enforcement of local, state, or federal codes/laws; OR an equivalent combination of training and experience. Four years of full-time active duty in the military may be substituted for required law enforcement experience.
License Or Certificate
- A valid driver’s license is required at the time of appointment.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid certification as a euthanasia technician is required within one year of appointment.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Training Instructor certification for Oleoresin Capsicum Spray is required within one year of appointment.
- Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid pharmacy certificate/controlled substance license is required within one year of appointment.
The Ideal Candidate Will
- Knowledge of a variety of animal species, breeds, and related behaviors
- Knowledge of animal handling, care, and treatment from experience in a professional work environment
- Demonstrated commitment to public services, and value exceptional customer service
- Ability to assimilate quickly into the organizational climate
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills
- Outstanding multi-tasking and organizational skills
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and ability to be collaborative, hard-working and detail oriented while still able to see the big picture
- Demonstrated the ability to take ownership of problems to find solutions; share resources, information and knowledge; and will encourage commitment to the County’s mission and organizational goals
- Effective interpersonal skills with internal and external customers to include County staff and general public
- Ability to be self-motivated and responsive
- Ability to effectively train/teach new staff members
- Proven ability to maintain confidentiality
Conditions of Employment
The Washoe County Employees Association (WCEA) Supervisory covers the Animal Control Officer Lead position.
Background checks will be conducted on selected applicants through the State of Nevada and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Per the Washoe County Background and Reference Checks Policy, new and rehired employees are required to submit to a fingerprint based background investigation. Effective July 1, 2019, the $40.25 fee associated with this background investigation will be paid by the employee (if applicable) and deducted automatically from the first paycheck. Employment is contingent upon the results of the background check, although a record of conviction will not necessarily bar an applicant from employment.
Washoe County requires its employees to reside in the state of Nevada or neighboring California communities such as Truckee, South Lake Tahoe or Susanville as of their first day of work.
What Happens Next
1. After your application is screened, you will be notified via the email you provided whether you have met the minimum requirements for the position. Those applicants who do not meet the qualifications have one (1) business day to file an appeal and request a review of their qualifications.
2. If you have met the minimum requirements, you will receive an additional email inviting you to schedule your Animal Control Officer Lead exam. If you do not receive an invitation to schedule your exam within (5) days of the scheduled exam date, please contact careers@washoecounty.gov You will receive an initial confirmation email once you have selected an exam date and time. In addition, you will receive a follow up email before the exam date with further details related to the examination process.
This exam is tentatively scheduled to be held on Tuesday, July 25, 2023. **You will be notified if you are eligible to transfer an exam score prior to the exam date.
This exam will be administered and proctored in Reno, NV on the above scheduled date and you must be present to test.
The exam will be 100% written multiple choice and will evaluate your expertise, knowledge, skills and abilities in the following areas:
- Management and Supervision
- Animal Care, Safety and Security
- Interpersonal/Communications Skills (oral and written)
Pursuant to the Washoe County Personnel Handbook, the Department of Human Resources does not administer an exam when there are less than 20 qualified candidates. Once the recruitment has closed, if there are less than 20 qualified candidates, the exam will be waived and all qualifying candidates will be placed on an unranked eligible list which will be referred to the hiring department. If the exam is scheduled to move forward and less than 20 candidates attend the scheduled exam, the exam will be waived. Only those candidates in attendance will be placed on an unranked eligible list which will be referred to the hiring department.
3. After the exam is completed, you will receive an additional email notifying you of the results. If you pass the examination, you will receive your score and rank. This rank will be used to determine which candidates will be interviewed by departments trying to fill a vacancy.
4. Hiring departments schedule interviews from a list of top scoring candidates. If your name is not sent to the hiring department, it will remain on the list for future opportunities as they become available.
5. Please be advised you can log in to your NeoGov account and click on “Applications” to view a list of the recruitments which you have applied for, your submitted application for each recruitment, a copy of the job listing, and your applicant history for each recruitment. In addition, you can also click on “Inbox” to view the notices which have been sent to you for each recruitment.
If you have any questions regarding the Online Application Process you can find additional information at the following link:
Questions: Alma Parel
775-328-2090
Veteran Point
Eligible veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces shall receive one (1) bonus point upon passing Open Competitive examinations only. In order to be given a bonus point, applicants must attach proof of Honorable Discharge (DD-214 with Classification of Discharge) to the Online Application at time of submission.
Washoe County is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce that creates a sense of belonging for all employees and citizens, thereby encouraging persons from all backgrounds and experiences to apply for employment.
Washoe County will recruit, hire, train and promote into all job levels without regard to race, religion or belief, gender, marital status or domestic partnership, familial status, national origin, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, genetic information (GINA), veteran status, political affiliation, membership in an employee association or union or any other protected class under applicable federal or state law.
- Nevada PERS Retirement – Washoe County pays 100% of the PERS contribution for each benefit eligible employee.
- Health, Dental, Life and Vision Insurance – Washoe County contributes 100% of the premium for each employee. Washoe County also contributes 50% of the premium for dependent coverage. Note: New employees are automatically enrolled in the High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account. Employees become eligible for health benefits after 90 days of employment. Washoe County contributes up to $2,500 annually (based on benefit effective date and coverage tier) into the employee’s Health Savings Account (HSA). Benefits Link – Click Here
- Deferred Compensation plans available
- 11 Paid Holidays
- Vacation Accrual (96 hours per year, increasing with continued employment)
- Sick Leave (120 hours per year, increasing with continued employment)
- Longevity Pay
- Merit Increases – Full-time employees eligible to receive an annual merit increase of 5% until the position classification’s maximum salary is reached.
- Cost-of living adjustments – historical annual COLA increases for 2017-2022 have ranged from 2.5% – 5.0%
- There are no Social Security deductions (although a 1.45% deduction for Medicare is required)
- Nevada does not have state or local income tax*