Animal Services Supervisor - Santa Ana - OCERS

Description

ANIMAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR

Salary Information
Salary may be negotiable within the range listed above, based on position requirements and successful candidate's qualifications, subject to appropriate authorization.

Open to the Public
This recruitment is being held to establish an open eligible list to fill current and future Animal Services Supervisor positions within OC Community Resources/OC Animal Care. The eligible list established may also be used to fill similar and lower-level classifications throughout the County of Orange.

Deadline to Apply
Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. The deadline to apply for this recruitment will be on Monday, February 23, 2026 at 11:59 PM (PT).

OC Animal Care
OC Animal Care's mission is to provide refuge and care for animals, foster the human-animal bond and promote safety in our community to ensure a safe compassionate community for all. OC Animal Care promotes responsible pet ownership; health and safety of people and animals and spay/neuter programs. OC Animal Care provides temporary shelter and medical care for lost, owned, or stray animals and opportunities for adoption for these animals. OC Animal Care (OCAC) was founded in 1941 in the City of Orange in Orange County, California as a rabies control center with only 25 dog kennels. Since then, OCAC has expanded to play an important role in Orange County's animal care community. OCAC serves 14 cities and unincorporated areas of Orange County with its expanded programs and services, and in 2024, the agency accepted over 15,000 animals. OCAC's goal is to deliver prompt, temporary care and refuge to homeless animals, reunite animals with their owners, facilitate adoption, ensure public safety, and enhance the human-animal bond in the community. The shelter is designed to provide positive experience for animals and people alike and is the backdrop for the adaptive animal programming continually developed by OC Animal Care to provide enrichment, engagement and adoption services for the animals in its care.

For more information on OC Community Resources click on the link. For more information on the County of Orange click on the link.

The Opportunity
The Animal Services Supervisor is a lead role that supports shelter management at OC Animal Care to effectively plan, develop, and implement operational practices to achieve performance goals.

Primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Plans, organizes and directs the following activities within animal shelter operations:
• • Shelter services, including the impoundment, care, release and disposal of animals
  • Shelter programs, including foster program, transport rescue, intake diversion, rescue services, and customer service.
• Provides technical assistance to division management in the identification of problems, needs and objectives of Animal Control and the enforcement of related ordinances
• Makes recommendations to the Program Manager on the formulation of policies and procedures
• Plans and develops programs to implement policies and procedures
• Directs the selection, assignment, training and performance evaluation of all staff assigned to Animal Control
• Promotes community education in the operation of a functional area, confers with the public regarding animal care service programs
• Responds to inquiries from the public and County officials by directing and/or conducting special investigations concerning the functional area of responsibility
• Prepares or directs and reviews written material, statistical reports and correspondence
• Oversees the establishment and maintenance of various types of records, files, and computerized information systems
• Assists in the preparation of the annual division budget; advises the team manager of present and future needs for personnel and equipment in the functional area of responsibility; assembles budget recommendations and justifications.
• Transport animals, equipment, or materials to support shelter operations, as needed

OC Animal Care provides service 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. Incumbents should be prepared to work rotating shifts, including days, nights, weekends and holidays. Incumbents may be drafted for mandatory overtime in the event of an emergency, disaster, or during periods of unexpected staffing shortages.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate extensive knowledge and/or related experience in the following core competencies:

Technical Expertise

• Knowledge of computer programs related to animal care such as Chameleon
• Ability to work in an environment involving the care and treatment of animals
• Demonstrating the ability to handle animals safely
• Understanding and applying Federal, State and County ordinances and laws relating to animals

Supervision | Leadership

• Leads and creates a team with a strong customer service focus and excellent organizational skills
• Attracts, leads, and develops employees to benefit their teams and their career goals
• Provides structure to a team with tools and processes to achieve best practices
• Performs supervisory tasks related to performance and talent management, training and staff development, and creates and maintains succession plans

Critical Thinking

• Utilizing creative solutions to solve unusual problems
• Thinking logically and organizing thoughts and work priorities to accomplish work efficiently
• Gathering, analyzing and applying information skillfully
• Conducting research, critically analyzing data, and presenting complex data or ideas to a variety of audiences

Interpersonal Communication | Relationship Building

• Demonstrating skill and ability to work cooperatively with internal and external stakeholders
• Coordinating with others in response to multiple, competing demands to ensure work is completed in a timely manner
• Working as a liaison with organizations and individuals to achieve common goals

Oral & Written Communication

• Preparing and conducting public presentations clearly and effectively
• Demonstrating effective verbal and written communication
• Following written and oral instruction effectively
• Interpreting and applying oral and written instructions
• Listening actively to others for full understanding of what is being communicated
• Establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships
• Providing customer service to the public regarding animal care

Organization & Planning

• Coordinating with others in response to multiple, competing demands to ensure work is completed in a timely manner
• Maintaining a high level of energy and commitment to juggle multiple tasks and priorities, and using available resources
• Setting high standards for quality work and responsiveness in providing administrative services
• Adjusting priorities to respond to pressing and changing demands

License Required
Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver License, Class C or higher, is required before the date of appointment.

Minimum Qualifications
Please click here for the complete classification description, including the physical, mental and environmental conditions, for Animal Services Supervisor.

Recruitment Process
Human Resource Services (HRS) screens all application materials for minimum and/or desirable qualifications. After screening, applicants who meet the minimum and/or desirable qualifications will be referred to the next step in the recruitment process. All applicants will be notified via email of their status in the process.

The Recorded Structured Oral Interview (rSOI) | (Weighted 100%)
The rSOI is a timed oral interview conducted virtually through an online vendor. Applicants will be asked a series of structured questions designed to elicit the applicant's qualifications for the job. All applicant responses will be video recorded so that they can be evaluated against pre-determined criteria by a panel of job knowledge experts. Only the most successful candidates will be placed on the eligible list.

Based on the Department's needs, the recruitment procedures listed above may be modified. Candidates will be notified of any changes in the selection procedures.

Eligible List
Once the assessment has been completed, HRS will establish an eligible list of candidates. Candidates placed on the eligible list may be referred to a selection interview to be considered for present and future vacancies.

Veterans Employment Preference
The County is committed to providing a mechanism to give preferential consideration in the employment process to veterans and their eligible spouses and will provide eligible participants the opportunity to receive interviews in the selection process for employment and paid internship openings. Please click here to review the policy.

Email Notification
Email is the primary form of notification during the recruitment process. Please ensure your correct email address is included in our application and use only one email account.

Note: User accounts are established for one person only and should not be shared with another person. Multiple applications with multiple users may jeopardize your status in the recruitment process for any positions for which you apply.

Candidates will be notified regarding their status as the recruitment proceeds via email through the site. Please check your email folders, including spam/junk folders, and/or accept emails ending with and If your email address should change, please update your profile at

Frequently Asked Questions
Click here for additional Frequently Asked Questions.

For specific information pertaining to this recruitment, contact Jenny Kim at or by email at Orange County, as an equal employment opportunity employer, encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.