Animal Management Officer

About the role
This position acts as an Authorised Officer for Council, working as part of the Community Safety & Regulation Team.  You will be responsible for assisting with the implementation and administration of Council policies, Domestic Animal Management Plan and state legislation relating to domestic animals and livestock, including the investigation and preparation of legal briefs in relation to breaches of legislation.

Our municipality covers 1256 square km’s, over 250km of beaches, trails and paths and 40,000 registered domestic animals, and you will be part of a team responsible for delivering one of the largest Animal Management Programs in Victoria. The combination of dense residential and significant rural holdings adds a certain level of complexity to the role.

You will be assigned a designated area of the Geelong region and respond to customer service requests on a range of issues related to domestic animals and livestock. You will build relationships with members of the community by providing guidance, support, education and advice regarding responsible pet ownership.

Work type: Permanent full time
Classification: Band 5 ($76,355 - $86,617) + 11% superannuation

Key responsibilities include:

• Promptly attend to and monitor customer requests/complaints providing feedback to complainants in accordance with Council’s Service Commitments.
• Conduct complex investigations related to breaches of legislation, including serious dog attacks, complex nuisance complaints, animals found at large, wandering livestock and others.
• Seize and impound domestic animals and livestock. 
• Work collaboratively with state agencies in emergency response situations; including executing warrants, safely securing scenes for state agencies to proceed with their duties and ensuring animal safety in emergencies.
• Proactively patrol the municipality for breaches of state legislation and local dog control orders. Follow up with enforcement action including preparation of legal directive Notices and the issuance of infringements.
• Participate in the emergency after hours on-call roster providing for a 24hour, 7day service to the community

About you
To be successful in this role, you will be a resilient, customer service focused team player, who is equally able to work autonomously.  You have an understanding of evidence gathering processes, research and the preparation of legal briefs. You have the ability to identify and safely handle domestic animals and livestock and understand their needs and condition.

You must be able to communicate and engage with a diverse range of people, problem solve, and be agile in your decision making.  You have a continuous improvement mindset and enjoy a challenge.

You will require (or willingness to undertake) the Certificate IV Government - Statutory Compliance and/or Certificate IV Animal Control and Regulation or other tertiary qualifications recognised by Council as consistent with the requirements of the position: or relevant experience in a similar role.

Preferred candidates will be required to complete a National Police Check and undergo a Medical and Functional Assessment as part of the recruitment process.

If this sounds like the role for you, then click apply now! 

Create our future together at the City of Greater Geelong
At the City of Greater Geelong, we are committed to working together for a thriving community. We do this by delivering over 130 services to our rapidly growing population and working hard to protect and improve what it is that makes Greater Geelong on Wadawurrung Country such a great place to live, work and study.  

We’re going through an exciting period of change that will help us serve our community better. From digital modernisation to the contemporary, sustainable office we've built in Central Geelong, now more than ever is a great time to join our team at the City of Greater Geelong.

Our Community is made up of diverse people from all walks of life, and it’s important to us that our workforce represents and celebrates this strength.

We encourage great people from all backgrounds to join us. We encourage authenticity, because inclusion makes us stronger. 

If you’re excited about working together to create a Clever and Creative Greater Geelong, and joining a workplace where all people can thrive, then hit apply – we’d love to meet you!

We particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with diverse culture and linguistic backgrounds and people with disability.

A career with us
Central Geelong-based City employees are now based in our new Civic Precinct, Wurriki Nyal. Meaning ‘speak and talk together’ in local Wadawurrung language.  Wurriki Nyal sets the benchmark for what a sustainable, inclusive and culturally safe workplace can be, including industry leading sustainability standards, a flexible and people-focused design, safe and inclusive spaces and public realm.

We’re committed to supporting better accessibility for our customers and our people.  We encourage you to talk to us about any adjustments or additional support you may require during the recruitment process, as well as how this role can be flexible for you. 

We offer:

• salary sacrificing and novated lease options
• cultural and ceremonial leave
• study leave
• paid parental leave (16 weeks primary and six weeks secondary) and superannuation payments on all 52 weeks primary parental leave
• IVF, surrogate and miscarriage bereavement leave
• training and career development opportunities
• a healthy and safe environment
• our employee wellbeing program
• corporate membership rates at Swim Sport and Leisure facilities
• unlimited access to LinkedIn Learning 

Applications and Enquiries
Click the Position Description link to view more information about this position.

Position Description 

Applications close 11:55pm Tuesday 16 April 2024.

Enquiries: David Neighbour | Team Leader Animal Management Services | DNeighbour@geelongcity.vic.gov.au

Click the Apply button to submit your application or find out more about this opportunity. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at careers@geelongcity.vic.gov.au noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

We collect demographic data to help us learn who our advertisements are reaching and how we can reach an even more diverse audience.  We are committed to building a more diverse team. Your responses to our demographic questions are strictly confidential and will not be individually shared.