Animal Management Officer

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

Animal Management Officer in Geelong is a full-time, on-site role within the Community Safety and Regulation Team. You will enforce domestic animal and livestock legislation, prepare legal briefs, conduct investigations, seize animals, and work with state agencies in emergencies, while patrolling a designated area to resolve complaints and educate the community on responsible ownership. You will contribute to Victoria’s largest Animal Management Programs, balancing urban and rural duties. Success hinges on resilience, strong customer service, evidence gathering, and autonomous decision making, plus a Certificate IV in Government Statutory Compliance or Animal Control, or relevant experience. A Working with Children Check is preferred. Apply via the Position Description link or contact David Neighbour with any enquiries.

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 $83,436 pa plus super

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 require a Working with Children's Check.

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

Child Safety Responsibilities 
We are committed to being a child-safe organisation and have zero-tolerance for child abuse. We have specific policies, procedures, and mandatory training in place to support employees, volunteers, and contractors to achieve and adhere to these commitments. Please read our Child Safe Standards Management Policy.  

Diversity and Inclusion 
At the City we want a workforce that reflects the community we live in. We welcome and embrace everyone, all people with their own unique experiences, and support and encourage all our employees to do their best work, have equal access to opportunities and a just working environment. For this reason, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from First Nations people, people with diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, from the LGBTQIA+ community, people with disability and people of all genders, ages and diverse experience.

We are the City
From parks to offices, childcare centres to works depots, leisure facilities to the Wool Museum and waterfront, our team plays a vital role in shaping our vibrant and growing community. Our community counts on us to get the essentials right while looking for ways to go beyond. By listening, collaborating, and focusing on sustainability, we strive to do the basics brilliantly and create a lasting impact. If you’re ready to be part of something bigger, join us in shaping the future of Geelong.

We support accessibility and encourage discussions about any adjustments or support you may need during the recruitment process.

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

Enquiries: David Neighbour – Team Leader Animal Management Services | 0427 222633 | [email protected]

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 [email protected]  noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

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