THE COUNTY:
The County of Orange is a regional service provider and planning agency whose core businesses include public safety, public health, environmental protection, regional planning, public infrastructure, public assistance, social services and aviation. A five-member Board of Supervisors elected by district for four-year overlapping terms governs the County. Click here for information about the County.

OC COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
On March 18, 2008, the Board of Supervisors approved the creation of OC Community Resources, which consists of OC Animal Care, OC Community Services, OC Parks, and OC Public Libraries. For additional information about OC Community Resources, click here.

OC ANIMAL CARE:
As part of OC Community Resources, OC Animal Care provides pet licensing and patrol services to 22 contract cities and the unincorporated areas of the County. OC Animal Care, the largest facility of its kind on one site in the State, houses and provides medical care for impounded, abandoned, unwanted and mistreated dogs, cats and exotic animals. OC Animal Care found homes for 11,507 dogs, cats and other animals in 2007.

THE POSITION:
The Position of Director of OC Animal Care requires a highly motivated leader capable of guiding a strong team committed to high quality, reliable, trustworthy animal services with emphasis in best business practices and customer service. The most qualified candidate will possess excellent communication skills to effectively interact with key stakeholders, State and Federal representatives, elected officials, government officials, citizens, and the Board of Supervisors.

FUTURE ISSUES & PRIORITIES:

• Providing quality animal care services using best practices
  
• Supporting outreach and public education activities
  
• Placing an increased effort on administering programs, budgets and contracts in a fiscally responsible and cost effective manner
  
• Encouraging team building activities that support cooperation, collaboration and accountability
  
• Increasing levels of effort for public/private partnerships, utilization of volunteers and customer service training
  
• Developing plans for the construction and operation of a new animal shelter
  

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:
The ideal candidate will be an experienced animal care or public manager with a broad vision for the future of animal control/care services. This person will be an experienced administrator and a strong leader with outstanding interpersonal and communication skills; have proven success in making sound business decisions; and have demonstrated partnering with multiple government entities, community businesses, groups and citizens dedicated to quality animal control and care.

Proven ability and experience in the following professional competencies are critical to the success of this position:

LEADERSHIP

• Leads confidently by taking personal responsibility for decisions and actions
  
• Aligns organizational vision with County strategic goals and department business objectives
  
• Initiates and displays an openness to change to obtain and sustain key business initiatives
• Actively promotes teamwork by creating a culture and environment that supports individual and team empowerment
  
• Confronts conflict directly and objectively with a goal of resolution for all parties

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

• Promotes open, candid information sharing across organizational boundaries
  
• Builds consensus among diverse groups for the purpose of meeting business objectives
  
• Presents ideas and complex material clearly, concisely, logically and persuasively both orally and in writing
  
• Ensures timely, appropriate communication with stakeholders
  
• Applies contemporary technical concepts and best practices to assignment

ANALYSIS/PROBLEM RESOLUTION

• Finds and acts on new opportunities, eliminates barriers to change and unneeded bureaucracy
  
• Makes sound business decisions based on limited, complex or contradicting information and relevant public service ethical principles
  
• Integrates new ideas and contemporary approaches into problem solving
  
• Works effectively in group problem solving situations

RESULTS ORIENTATION

• Sets challenging, measureable project goals that are aligned with broad County strategies and departmental business objectives
  
• As opportunities arise, reengineers business processes and improves organizational effectiveness by proposing and implementing change initiatives required to improve efficiency, streamline operations and meet current and future business needs
  
• Measures performance against key operational and financial targets/goals
  
• Investigates and adopts best practices where possible

Qualifications
Experience: Proven significant and progressively more responsible management-level experience in an animal care, veterinary or public capacity at a Director or Assistant Director level within an organization similar in size and/or scope to OC Animal Care; or over five years of progressively more responsible management level leadership and program management experience in public or private service organizations. The successful candidate must have significant management level experience and demonstrated an ability to work with government agencies and elected officials.

Education
Possession of a Bachelors degree in public administration, business management, animal care or related field is preferred.

COMPENSATION PACKAGE:
Depending on experience, the salary range for this position is $117,624 to $135,000 annually, plus a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• 12 paid holidays per year
  
• Annual Leave Program
  
• Variety of four health plans
  
• Dental
  
• Paid Life Insurance: $125,000 life insurance policy
  
• Paid AD&D Insurance: $125,000 insurance policy
  
• $4,500 annually – Optional Benefit Plan
  
• Transportation Allowance of $765 Monthly
  
• County Retirement is under the 1937 County Employee Retirement Law with an enhanced benefit of 2.7% at age 55 years
  
• 401(a) Deferred Compensation Program

HOW TO APPLY:
This recruitment will be open until the needs of the County are met. Please apply immediately as the recruitment may close at any time. Resumes and responses to supplemental questions will be screened as they are received in relation to the criteria described. Top candidates will be invited for an interview. Offer of appointment is subject to a background and reference check.

Resumes may be submitted via e-mail to Michael.Horibe@ocgov.com. Please include "Director of OC Animal Care" in the subject line and attach your resume and responses to the supplemental questions. Resumes submitted without answers to the supplemental questions will be considered incomplete.

If you have recruitment questions, please contact Michael Horibe at (714) 834-2046 or via e-mail at Michael.Horibe@ocgov.com.