Animal Services Representative - Coachella Valley

Animal Services Representative - Coachella Valley

Salary

$46,119.16 - $59,465.17 Annually

Location

Thousand Palms

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

26-13851-04

Department

Animal Services

Division

CVAC Field Services

Opening Date

10/29/2026

Closing Date

11/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The County of Riverside's Department of Animal Services, Intake Center, is seeking a qualified Animal Services Representative located in Thousand Palms servicing the Coachella Valley Animal Campus.

The incumbent will perform specialized clerical and customer service duties in the Department of Animal Services; providing excellent customer service, handling animals intake, data entry, fostering animals, and assisting with phone calls. Other duties include assisting with adoptions, rescues, clinic programs and planning, licensing, and other animal programs/services as needed.

Competitive candidates would posses customer service experience specifically within animal service programs.

Work schedule: 5/40 with availability to work weekends, holidays, and special events to meet department needs may be required.

The schedule is subject to change based on operational needs. See Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations under APPLICATION INFORMATION for details.

Meet the Team!

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services believes the character of their organization is best reflected in the strong dedication of each one of their employees who strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people that they serve. The Department of Animal Services operates four shelters located in Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms.

EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Perform clerical work requiring specialized knowledge of Animal Services programs and services; prepare and process materials/forms which require a thorough familiarity with department policies, procedures, terminology and applicable laws.
• Provide excellent customer service to the public or interdepartmental representatives; answer questions regarding a variety of animal services programs or services including questions on adoptions, vaccination clinics, animal service fees, or licensing.
• Review a variety of reports, forms, transactions, and records for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable ordinances; answer questions involving technical data, laws, policies, or procedures; process animal service fees using the Chameleon system.
• Compile a variety of narrative and statistical reports, which requires locating sources of information, devising forms to secure the data, and determining proper format for finished reports.
• Design or revise office forms; maintain complex filing systems for keeping track of animal licensing information, pet adoptions, clinic services, or other animal service transactions.
• Reply to routine questions regarding specialized animal services and programs offered by the department; compose correspondence and other materials requiring the application of specialized subject matter knowledge.
• Maintain animal service documents using the Chameleon system.
• May handle animals by checking for microchips or placing animals into proper handling areas for vet staff; use special equipment as needed such as kennels or microchip readers.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Graduation from high school or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. test.

Experience: Six months of providing customer service with responsibility for receiving, evaluating, and responding to inquiries or complaints. Customer service experience providing a variety of animal-related services including licensing, adoptions, clinic programs, rescues, or other related animal programs/ services is preferred.

Knowledge of: The principles, methods, and equipment used in providing animal services to the public; correct English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, punctuation, format, and style; Department of Animal Services office procedures, including preparing correspondence and reports, filing, and operating standard office equipment.

Ability to: Understand the capabilities and applications of specialized information processing equipment, such as the Chameleon system; use initiative and judgment in setting up formats for a variety of documents; provide guidance to and train staff; store and retrieve a variety of documents and subdocuments; meet departmental production and accuracy standards; establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public and with other county departments.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

This recruitment is open to all applicants.

For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Isaac Vidalez Villegas at 951-955-4091 or IVVillegas@RIVCO.ORG . Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries

____

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Veterans Preference

The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouses death certificate, a letter of spouses disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veterans Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability

Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations

The County of Riverside offers a variety of alternative work schedules, dependent upon department operations and needs. Certain assignments may involve overtime, standby/on-call shifts, and/or travel; however, scheduling, shift assignments, overtime work, standby/on-call duty, and travel obligations are subject to management approval, operational needs, and/or may be modified or discontinued at any time. Applicants should contact the assigned recruiter for additional information regarding the schedule, overtime and standby/on-call expectations, and travel obligations.

Proof of Education

If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.

If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.

Pre-Employment

All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.

Probationary Period

As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.

General Information

Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.

Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.

Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the Apply link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veterans preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.

If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.

BENEFIT PROGRAM: UPE

MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.

Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.

MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).

• Tier I (Classic Member - Formula 3% @ 60): Applicable to current and former County of Riverside local miscellaneous employees hired prior to 08/24/2012 and did not withdraw CalPERS contributions. The employee contribution is eight (8%) percent.
• Tier II (Classic Member - Formula 2% @ 60): Applicable to local miscellaneous employees 1) hired after 08/23/2012 through 12/31/2012; 2) Previously employed with another CalPERS contracting public agency or a reciprocal retirement system, with a break in service of less than six months between the separation date with the previous employer and the appointment date with the County of Riverside. The employee contribution is seven (7%) percent.
• Tier III (PEPRA New Member - Formula 2% @ 62): Applicable to CalPERS local miscellaneous new members hired on or after the implementation of the Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA) which took effect January 1, 2013. Effective July 1, 2023 employee contributions are 7.25% and will increase to 7.75% effective July 1, 2024.

A new member is defined as any of the following:

• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who has no prior membership in any California Public Retirement System.
• A new hire who enters CalPERS membership for the first time on or after January 1, 2013, and who was a member with another California Public Retirement System prior to that date, but who is not subject to reciprocity upon joining CalPERS.
• A member who first established CalPERS membership prior to January 1, 2013, and who is rehired by a different CalPERS agency after a break in service of greater than six (6) months.

CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".

Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.

Note:

This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,

Option 2.

If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If theres any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.

DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.

VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):

0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)

4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)

10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)

Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.

SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.

HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year

BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance)

BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.

DISABILITY:

Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for those unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave benefits. The wage replacement rate, as defined by current law, is between 60-70% of wages earned during the SDI eligibility period. Benefits can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of regular pay.

POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable Memorandum of Understanding.

OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.

01

Are you a current regular, temporary, or per diem employee with the Animal Services Department?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you a current or previous volunteer for the Animal Services department with the County of Riverside?

• Yes
• No

03

I acknowledge that this positions schedule varies and may requires availability on the weekends and holidays.

• Yes
• No

04

I acknowledge that I will be in an environment with exposure to animals which may include animal noise, excrement, smells, and dander.

• Yes
• No

05

Do you possess a high school diploma, G.E.D. equivalency or high school proficiency certificate?

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of experience do you have providing customer service with responsibility for receiving, evaluating, and responding to inquiries or complaints?

• None
• Less than 6 months
• Six months or more, but less than one year.
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more

07

How many years of customer service experience do you have in a fast-paced or high volume environment? (Experience must be reflected on resume and/or application)

• None
• Less than 6 months
• Six months or more, but less than one year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more

08

Please select your level of experience with Chameleon or similar software used in Animal Care Facilities.

• I have not had experience, education, or training in this area.
• Basic, I have a basic understanding.
• Intermediate, I have sufficient understanding and have applied this knowledge on the job.
• Advanced, I have a full understanding and a great deal of applied working experience.

09

How many years of customer service experience do you have in providing a variety of animal-related services including licensing, adoptions, clinic programs, rescues, or other related animal programs/services? (Experience must be reflected on resume and/or application)

• None
• Less than 6 months
• Six months or more, but less than one year
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more, but less than 4
• 4 years or more, but less than 5

10

How many years of on-the-job experience do you have with conflict resolution (ex. managing complaints and resolving disputes)?

• None
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2
• 2 years or more, but less than 3
• 3 years or more

Required Question

Employer County of Riverside

Address County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569

4080 Lemon St., 7th floor

Riverside, California, 92502-1569

Phone Contact Recruiter for Job Information

Website http://www.rc-hr.com