What We Offer
The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. Aside from our base salary of $165,344.03 to $220,423.57 per year, an employee in this position may also be eligible for the following:
- Educational Incentive: Completion of a graduate degree not required for the position may qualify for an incentive of up to 5% of the base salary.
- General Salary Increases: 3.5% effective December 22, 2024.
- New Hire Incentive: May be eligible for a one-time New Hire Incentive up to 10% of the current annual base wage. [Subject to the applicable section of the Management Resolution (Sec. 625-627)]
- Executive Administrative Leave: The candidate selected for this position will earn 248 hours per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service, to 328 hours after 10 years of service, and to 368 hours after 15 years of service or credit granted for prior public service (Management Resolution Sec. 616A).
- Annual Leave Redemption: The ability to "cash in" or redeem up to 100 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours.
- Automobile Allowance: $575 per month or may be authorized assignment of a County vehicle.
- Deferred Compensation: Eligible to participate in the County's 401(k) Shared Savings Plan and/or the Section 457 Plan. This position is eligible for up to a 3% match on your 401(k) contributions. Effective February 9, 2024, the County will make a non-elective annual contribution equal to 2% upon achieving five (5) years of continuous County service (Sec. 1907).
- Health Plans: Medical, Dental and Vision plans for you and your dependents. You are afforded a flexible credit allowance of up to $23,530 annually.
- Holidays: 12 paid days per year which includes an annual scheduled floating holiday.
- Miscellaneous Benefits: Other benefits include Flexible Spending Account Plans, Disability Plans, Employee Assistance Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Benefit Reimbursement Program, and a Wellness Program. Incumbents are also entitled to County-paid membership in professional organizations related to their position.
- Pension Plan: Both the County and you contribute to the County’s Retirement Plan and to Social Security. Your retirement plan contributions vest immediately in your Ventura County Employees Retirement Association (VCERA) account and the County’s Defined Retirement benefits vest after five (5) years of service. If you are eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems such as CalPERS. For specific pension plan details, please contact VCERA at [email protected] or call them at (805) 339-2509.
Animal Services Department
Each year, Ventura County Animal Services (VCAS) cares for approximately 7,500 stray and surrendered animals. VCAS operates two amazing life-saving shelters within the county: the large main shelter in Camarillo, which houses over 300 pets, the administrative offices and field services, and a smaller facility in Simi Valley, which houses nearly 40 pets. In 2014, VCAS became the largest Open Admission Municipal Animal Shelter in California with a Save Rate of over 90%. Over 500 volunteers support VCAS in almost every aspect of the agency from daily animal care and medical support to marketing and fundraising. For additional information regarding the department, including monthly and annual statistics, please visit the VCAS website at: http://www.vcas.us
About the Position
The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader with experience in Animal Services program management, community development and outreach, and will be a continuous student of best practices in the animal sheltering industry. This candidate must also have a vision for future sustainability, while being firmly committed to a philosophy of saving lives through positive outcomes: open adoption, fostering, behavior management, enrichment, transfer, return to owner, TNR services, public pet retention, community education and support programs (i.e., vaccination and rabies clinics). VCAS is deeply committed to ensuring that no animal is euthanized for the reasons of time or space. The ideal candidate will have extensive management experience demonstrating the ability to plan, organize, and direct the overall operations, services, and activities of the department. Further, the ideal candidate will have comprehensive knowledge of animal control, sheltering, and animal care services (or other similarly complex programs/operations), and will have experience managing multiple department managers, as this individual will supervise approximately 79 full-time employees and a volunteer program. Ideally the candidate will also possess at least a Bachelor's Degree and will have the political and business acumen to foster and navigate relations with elected and appointed officials at all levels of government, other public entities, interest groups, and the community at large. This candidate will also be able to collaboratively develop and employ a department-wide strategic plan that exemplifies a commitment to service excellence, staff development, community support, and continuous quality improvement. This is an At-Will position exempt from the Civil Service Ordinance.
Typical Duties
Duties may include but are not limited to:
- Plans and directs countywide animal control and services programs, including state-mandated rabies suppression programs, enforcement of county ordinances, investigation of cruelty/neglect/abuse and prosecution of violators, issuance of administrative and criminal citations and open admission municipal shelter operations.
- Implements strategies to responsibly reduce intakes, increase adoptions, improve animal care, provide behavior and medical rehabilitation, encourage spaying/neutering, help pets stay with their responsible caretakers, and increase community rates of lifesaving.
- Manages and maintains sound financial practices.
- Represents the County on matters concerning state and local animal laws, services, and animal shelter operations.
- Represents the County in dealings with representatives of cities, other county agencies; manages the contracts with eight local cities for sheltering, licensing and field services; and oversees all programs, reports and other matters relating to animal control and program services.
- Reviews state legislation, prepares and revises County ordinances pertaining to animal law/regulation and recommends approval to the Board of Supervisors.
- Directs cooperative education and service programs in conjunction with interested community groups.
- Promotes teamwork, cooperation, and synergy across a multi-disciplinary team.
- Develops, cultivates, and manages relationships and partnerships with and among a diverse group of stakeholders.
Qualifications
Considerable experience in either senior management of a municipal animal shelter or animal control facility; or three years experience in a senior position with relevant transferable skills such as business, law, veterinary medicine, communications, public administration, or other related field.
How To Apply
- Submit an online application at www.ventura.org/jobs and attach your cover letter and current resume.
- Email your cover letter and current resume to [email protected].
Applications will be reviewed weekly beginning Febrruary 20, 2024 to determine whether the stated requirements are met. All relevant work experience needs to be included in order to determine eligibility. Selected candidates will be invited to a panel interview. The top candidates, as determined by the panel, will then be invited to a second interview with the County Executive Office management team. Interviews may be consolidated into one process or expanded into multiple interviews contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool.
For further information about this recruitment, please contact Judy Larson at [email protected] or by phone at (805) 654-3611