Supervising Animal Control Officer - Division of Animal Services

Organizational Overview:

The Division of Animal Services is responsible for Animal Control and related services for 49 towns in Bergen and Hudson Counties. The mission of Animal Services is to promote the humane treatment of all animals, reunite lost pets with their owners, and encourage adoption, foster care, and wildlife rehabilitation. Additionally, Animal Services works to reduce animal populations through spay/neuter programs (TNR) and public education on animal welfare. The organization also supports the community in responsible pet ownership.

Job Description:           

This employment opportunity is to serve as the Supervising Animal Control Officer. Under direction, supervises personnel engaged in the capturing, caring, and when necessary, the humane destroying of wild and strayed domesticated animals and birds; cares for impounded animals; cleans and maintains the impounding facility; supervises staff and work activities; prepares and signs official performance evaluations for subordinate staff; does other related duties as required.

Job Responsibilities:              

• • May patrol areas and give guidance and instructions in the capturing of domestic and wild animals and birds.
  • Handles complaints that relate to stray animals and licensed and unlicensed domesticated animals.
  • Where authorized to serve as the designated Humane Law Enforcement Officer for the jurisdiction, investigates, signs complaints, arrests violators, and otherwise acts as an officer for the detection, apprehension, and arrest of offenders against animal welfare and animal cruelty laws and ordinances.
  • Ensure animal control officers are patrolling their assigned areas and performing their work according to established procedures.
  • Provides technical advice, assistance, and supervision to animal control officers.
  • Maintains current knowledge and understanding of pending legislation, and federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to animal control and treatment.
  • Supervises and/or is responsible for the chemical bathing of animals and isolation of sources of contagion.
  • Answers inquiries regarding ordinances and regulations pertaining to animal control.
  • Contact appropriate enforcement personnel regarding violations of federal or state animal control laws, rules, and regulations.
  • Promotes and oversees adoption of animals and promotes spaying and neutering.
  • Compiles and analyzes data for reports as may be required and reviews the reports of subordinates.
  • Ensures the establishment of animal control quarantines.

Schedule: Full time (40 hours/week).  

Education Requirements: High School Diploma

Other Requirements:

• • Possess current and valid animal control certificate; issued by the NJ Department of Health.
  • Three (3) years of experience in animal control.
  • Possess a valid New Jersey Driver’s License.
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, excellent computer skills.
  • Ability to work well in a cooperative, team-oriented environment.
  • Effective multi-tasker.
  • On-call, weekend, and holiday work is required.

What we offer:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Enrollment into the state pension system
• Life, Short-term Disability & Long-term Disability coverage
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Competitive hourly wages
• Voluntary Deferred Compensation Plan
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance and Employee Wellness Programs

Please send resume and employment application to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – put in subject line job applying for, thank you.

The County of Bergen is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer.

It has been and will continue to be a fundamental policy of The County of Bergen not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender, gender identity, pregnancy, marital status, partnership status, domestic violence victim status, sexual orientation, age, national origin, alienage or citizenship status, veteran or military status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, caregiver status, unemployment status or any other characteristic prohibited by federal, state and/or local laws.

This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, training, working conditions, transfer, job assignments, benefits, layoff, and termination.