Supervising Animal Services Counselor

Supervising Animal Services Counselor

Salary

$62,794.02 - $84,901.17 Annually

Location

San Jacinto

Job Type

Regular

Job Number

26-73520-04

Department

Animal Services

Division

SJ Ops - Shelter Svcs

Opening Date

10/26/2026

Closing Date

11/2/2026 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 Riverside County Department of Animal Services is seeking a Supervising Animal Services Counselor for the Intake Team for the San Jacinto location. This recruitment may be used to fill additional future vacancies throughout Riverside County.

The Supervising Animal Services Counselor will be responsible for overseeing all daily intake operations to ensure animals entering the shelter are processed accurately and in alignment with established procedures. Key functions include supervising staff in the collection of detailed intake information, completion of required documentation, and proper use of Chameleon across intake, kennel, tag, treatment, receipt, and contact screens. The incumbent will also manage all Healthy Pet Zone (HPZ) inquiries and scheduling, serving as the primary point of contact for community members seeking services, coordinating appointments, maintaining inventory, and tracking HPZ supply distribution for reporting and audit purposes. Additional responsibilities include overseeing front counter operations, managing cash handling and adoption transactions, resolving complex constituent situations, and providing education and resources to support pet retention. This position will require occasional driving throughout Riverside County to assist with animal transports and offsite events.

The most competitive candidates will have previous animal services experience, especially in a lead or supervisory role, in-depth experience with Chameleon, strong data entry skills, and experience with providing excellent customer service and handling complex customer situations. Spanish bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

This role may require carrying/lifting community event items such as standing banners, boxes of marketing materials, tables and chairs, as well as animal transport equipment such as kennels, cages, and crates, and handling large animals (assistance available if needed).

The Supervising Animal Services Counselor is the full supervisory level classification in the Animal Services Counselor series and reports to an appropriate supervisory or manager level position. Incumbents in this classification are responsible for directing the day-to-day operations and training of Animal Services Counselor staff throughout the County of Riverside.

Meet the Team!

The Riverside County Department of Animal Services has a vision for promoting an environment of responsible pet ownership through progressive animal welfare initiatives, community outreach, and humane education in a culture of compassion, creativity, and integrity. The 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

• Plan, schedule, assign, train, and supervise the activities of the Animal Services staff including assisting customers seeking to adopt animals from the Department of Animal Services; oversee animal intakes and outcomes; coordinate the spay/neutering of animals for outreach adoptions; transport animals to outreach events; evaluate animals for adoptability and perform adoption follow-up.
• Plan, organize, schedule, and operate community outreach and adoption events.
• Direct the operations of animal intakes and outcomes, pet support for clients, general handling of animals, marketing efforts to encourage redemptions and adoptions of animals, computer update, and accounting activities for monies received.
• Interview and select new employees; prepare and review employee performance evaluations; counsel employees, attempt to resolve grievances and when necessary, recommend disciplinary action.
• Plan and participate in departmental training programs for assigned staff; conduct courses and evaluate employee achievements and course effectiveness.
• Assist the Animal Services Chief with the planning and development of the Animal Services Programs, identifying objectives of animal regulations, preparing policies and standard procedures, and developing overall goals.
• Suggest changes and improvements in existing programs and procedures; assist with the preparation of the annual budget, recommending and justifying additional personnel and equipment.
• Serve as Animal Services Chief in the temporary absence of the latter.
• Interpret ordinances, statutes, regulations, and policies to the staff, and the general public providing technical assistance in the resolution of problems related to adoptions.
• Work cooperatively with other animal services personnel when joint action is required.
• Promote animal services through community relations with civic, governmental and private groups; coordinate educational programs with the community, schools, law enforcement agencies, the media, and other groups.
• Maintain program statistics; prepare reports and correspondence concerning the Animal Services Program.
• Review reports and other written materials composed by the staff; conduct and attend various supervisory meetings and conferences with management; inspect and supervise maintenance of equipment and vehicles.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

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

Experience: Two years in a public or non-profit animal services program, which included responsibility of serving in a customer service capacity, for caring for, licensing and pet support for clients, intake and outcome programs in a public animal services program. One year of the required experience must be in an Animal Services Counselor position or equivalent.

Knowledge of: Principles and techniques of supervision related to the selection, training, direction, motivation, and evaluation of subordinates; state and county laws, codes and regulations governing animal control; legal liabilities and responsibilities of those concerned with the intake and outcome processes of shelter animals, causes, symptoms, and safe handling of rabid animals; animal handling safety rules, procedures and proper handling techniques; specific knowledge of various breeds of animals and their care and feeding.

Ability to: Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relations with the public, adoption partners and other employees; plan, schedule and direct the work of others engaged in intake and outcome processes; counsel employees regarding denial of adoptions; write comprehensive and detailed reports; exercise tact and good judgment; develop and maintain working relationships with the public, adoption partners and other governmental agencies; work effectively under stressful situations; organize and meet deadlines; read, comprehend and interpret laws and regulations pertaining to animal intake, outcome processes, adoptions, and safety; care for and safely handle animals so as to avoid injury to persons and animals; operate a variety of basic Information Technology office desktop appliances, programs, systems, and applications (e.g., PCs, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, etc.).

License: Possession of a valid California Drivers License.

Schedule: May be expected to work irregular work schedules such as weekends, evenings, and holidays. The schedule is subject to change based on operational needs. See Schedule, Overtime, Standby/On-Call, and Travel Obligations under APPLICATION INFORMATION for details.

Physical: exposure to inclement weather, animal dander, smells, insects. Animal handling performed as needed.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

For questions regarding this recruitment

Please contact Lital Slobodsky at lslobodsky@rivco.org or 951-955-5005. Please allow 1-3 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: SEI

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 SEIU 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 individuals who are unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave Benefits. The wage replacement rate is determined by current law, offering 60-70% of the wages earned during the SDI eligibility period.

Additionally, employees receive employer-paid Long-Term Disability Benefits, which cover 66.67% of pre-disability earnings, up to a maximum of $10,000 per month. There is a 365-day waiting period before these benefits become active. Employees may coordinate these benefits with other available leave balances to receive up to 100% of their 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 SEIU 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 County of Riverside Department of Animal Service?

• Yes
• No

02

Select the answer that best describes your current drivers license status:

• I have a valid California drivers license.
• I am able to obtain a valid California drivers license.
• I currently have a valid out-of-state drivers license, and I am able to obtain a valid California drivers license.
• I do not have and/or I am not able to obtain a California drivers license.

03

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

• Yes
• No

04

How many years of experience do you have in a public or non-profit animal services program, which included responsibility of serving in a customer service capacity, for caring for, licensing and pet support for clients, intake and outcome programs in a public animal services program? (Include details on your resume/application)

• No experience
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

05

Do you have at least one year of experience in an Animal Services Counselor position or equivalent? (Include details on your resume/application)

• Yes
• No

06

How many years of lead or supervisory experience do you have in a public or non-profit animal services program? (Include details on your resume/application)

• No experience
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

07

What is your level of experience using the Chameleon shelter management system? (Include details on your resume/application)

• No experience
• Basic - Can perform simple entries such as basic intake or kennel updates
• Intermediate - Able to work independently across the intake, kennel, tag, treatment, receipt, and contact screens for routine tasks
• Advanced - Skilled in using and troubleshooting all listed screens and supporting others in their use

08

How many years of work experience do you have where data entry (entering and modifying data into a computer and verifying accuracy) was a large part of your regular duties? (Include details on your resume/application)

• No experience
• Less than 12 months
• 1 year or more, but less than 2 years
• 2 years or more, but less than 3 years
• 3 years or more, but less than 4 years
• 4 years or more

09

What is your level of experience handling difficult customers or resolving customer escalations? (Include details on your resume/application)

• No experience
• Basic - I have handled a few challenging customer interactions with guidance or supervision
• Intermediate - I regularly manage difficult customer situations and can resolve most escalations independently
• Advanced - I have extensive experience navigating complex or high-stakes escalations and often coach others on handling difficult customers

10

What is your proficiency level in Spanish?

• I am not bilingual in Spanish
• I speak Spanish, but cannot read or write
• I can speak, read, and write in Spanish

11

I understand that this position may include irregular work schedules such as weekends, evenings, and holidays. The schedule is subject to change based on operational needs.

• Yes
• No

12

I understand the physical requirements of this position as stated in the job posting, and I am willing and able to perform these duties with or without a reasonable accommodation.

• Yes
• No

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