Description

The Department of Animal Services has an opportunity for an Animal Services Manager based in Riverside, CA. The selected candidate will be supporting the department's county-wide animal foster program and travelling to all shelters on a regular basis.

Key responsibilities include supervising staff, collaborating across divisions, supporting foster families and partner groups, managing budgets, ensuring regulatory compliance, and maintaining strong community relations. The Manager also ensures foster caregivers have the necessary supplies and resources, represents the department at community events, and works closely with the volunteer division to coordinate and engage volunteers.

The animal foster division provides animals with temporary homes, helping reduce shelter stress and giving them a better chance to thrive. It allows individuals and families to care for an animal short-term and see how the pet fits into their home environment. The department also offers "Dog Day Out," a short-term outing program that enriches the animals' lives and increases their visibility in the community. In Coachella, the FIDO Program serves as a hybrid model, combining elements of traditional fostering with structured community support to help more animals find safe and nurturing placements.

This position requires working weekends, being on-call, and possible overtime. Driving to shelters is required, with shelters in Blythe, Coachella, San Jacinto, and Jurupa.

Competitive candidates will have administrative and operational experience that includes budget planning, regulatory compliance, staff supervision, and community relations within a public or private organization, with a strong preference for experience in animal care, control, or humane services. Ideal applicants will understand the role of foster programs in reducing shelter stress and supporting life-saving outcomes. They should have experience overseeing diverse operational areas-field services, shelter operations, foster coordination, social media engagement, and veterinary support-while ensuring teams work collaboratively for the wellbeing of animals. Field-based experience is essential, including conducting foster home visits, working with communications teams, and using data systems such as Chameleon to track outcomes.
This class has been designated At-Will by the Board of Supervisors, in accordance with the provisions provided under Article 6, Section 601E (8) of the County Management Resolution and serves at the pleasure of the Animal Services Director.

This class has been deemed eligible for the Performance Recognition Plan as set forth under Article 3, Section 311 of the County Management Resolution. Program eligibility requires employees to be in a leadership position, manage other employees or programs, and have significant influence on the achievement of organizational objectives.

Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Department of Animal Services believes the character of their organization is best reflected in the strong dedication of each one of their employees who strive to meet the highest standards of performance and compassion on behalf of the animals and people that they serve. The Department of Animal Services operates four shelters located in Blythe, Jurupa Valley, San Jacinto and Thousand Palms.

• Program Development & Oversight
  
  • Lead the design, implementation, and management of all foster program policies, procedures, and goals.
  • Identify animals appropriate for foster placement and coordinate with medical and behavior teams.
  • Maintain accurate documentation of foster placements, returns, and outcomes.
• Volunteer Recruitment & Support
  
  • Recruit, screen, and onboard foster caregivers.
  • Provide training, resources, and ongoing support to foster families.
  • Serve as the primary contact for foster-related questions, needs, and emergencies.
• Animal Care & Case Management
  
  • Monitor the health and behavior of animals in foster homes.
  • Coordinate veterinary care, including appointments, vaccinations, and treatments.
  • Support timely return, transfer, or adoption of fostered animals.
• Community Engagement & Outreach
  
  • Promote foster programs through events, social media, and community partnerships.
  • Work with communications teams to share foster success stories and program highlights.
  • Represent the organization at community events and foster recruitment activities.
• Data & Reporting
  
  • Track key program metrics and prepare regular reports on foster activity and outcomes.
  • Use data insights to assess program performance and recommend improvements.

OPTION IEducation: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in business or public administration, healthcare, zoology, biology, veterinarian medicine, or a closely related field to the assignment. (Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units of the required education.)

Experience: One year of coordinating administrative and/or operational duties including at least two of the following: budgetary planning, regulatory compliance, supervision, or community relations in a public or private organization. Experience in an animal care and control or humane organization is desired.

OPTION IIEducation: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree, preferably with a major in business or public administration, healthcare, zoology, biology, veterinarian medicine, or a closely related field to the assignment. (Additional qualifying experience may substitute for the required education on the basis of one year of full-time experience equaling 30 semester or 45 quarter units of the required education.)

Experience: Three years in the care and treatment of small animals under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian at a veterinary clinic or small animal hospital, which must have included at least one year in a lead or supervisory capacity overseeing staff responsible for the care of animals.

ALL OPTIONSKnowledge of: The principles of management and public administration; supervisory principles and practices related to the selection, training, direction, motivation, and evaluation of subordinates and conflict intervention; policies and procedures used in budget preparation, justification, monitoring, and reporting; state and local laws, regulations, codes, and ordinances pertaining to the control and welfare of animals; methods and practices for maintenance of clean and humane conditions for impounded animals; laws, regulations, ordinances, and procedures pertaining to the investigation of cruelty of animals; procedures for the apprehension, custody, quarantine, and transportation of animals; enforcement techniques used in animal control work; symptoms of rabies and other common zoologic diseases; vector habitat and the environmental and habitat needs of wildlife.

Ability to: Manage and direct divisional activities; communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships; work effectively with public and private partners and customers and effectively interact with personnel at all organizational levels; train, supervise and motivate subordinates in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale; make sound recommendations and effective presentations of information, findings and recommendations; prioritize tasks and work well under pressure and impending deadlines; use shelter info rmation systems.

A valid CA Driver's License is required.
Physical: This position requires walking, sitting, and squatting. Exposure to inclement weather, animals, dander, bodily fluids from animals. Duties may include working with animals involved in end-of-life care decisions. Animal handling required.

Desired experience:

• Experience in budgeting, compliance, supervision, and community relations, ideally in animal care.
• Strong understanding of foster programs and their role in reducing shelter stress.
• Ability to oversee multiple divisions and ensure coordinated, animal-focused operations.
• Proven skill in building collaboration across teams and programs.
• Field experience, including home visits and use of data systems like Chameleon.

For specific questions regarding this position, contact Amanda Campos at acampos@rivco.org .
This recruitment is open to all candidates.