Description

 The Department of Animal Services is now accepting applications for the position of 
Supervising Animal Care Attendant.

To be a part of this superior team, apply by June 28, 2026. 

Interviews will be held the week of July 27, 2026. Job offers will be made the following week

This position is eligible for appointment at step 1, $59,696.00 annually. 
County employees are subject to the County Promotion Rule for Step Placement in Accordance with Compensation Ordinance 1.3.5.

Future Salary Increases:

** June 2026 – 5.3% increase to base pay (3.5% Across-the-Board + 1.8% Market Adjustment)

** June 2027 – 4.8% increase to base pay (3% Across-the-Board + 1.8% Market Adjustment)

In addition to the base salary, employees receive:

• $850 annual uniform allowance
• $300 boot reimbursement
• Overtime pay for working County-observed holidays
• 37 paid days off annually
• Enjoy full medical, dental, and vision, with other benefit options with generous cost offset; for more information please visit: Benefits

The Supervising Animal Care Attendant is a first-line supervisor responsible for dealing with complex/sensitive technical and personnel issues and is the highest class in the Animal Care Attendant series.  They provide supervision and training to Animal Care Attendants; manage the day-to-day operations of kennels, catteries, and other animal holding facilities, and network with multiple rescue groups to transfer animals into their respective adoption programs. They inform the public of the laws, rules and regulations regarding animals, information regarding best practices for general animal care, and the various services provided by the department. They resolve the more complex animal sheltering issues that may arise. The candidate in this position would provide supervision and training to Animal Care Attendants in performing animal shelter cleaning and sanitizing protocols, recognizing common animal diseases and injuries, the Department's database management system, animal receipt, custody, care, inventory and euthanasia. 

Animal Services has two shelters located in Bonita and Carlsbad and provides animal sheltering and adoption services for the unincorporated areas of San Diego County.

UPCOMING for Fall 2026: A new state-of-the-art animal shelter in Santee serving the East and South Counties. It will provide a safe environment for animals and the public. Landscape enhancements will be made along the Riverview Parkway front, including a secured and open courtyard, an outdoor livestock area, activity yards, a secured staff parking lot, and a public parking lot. 

The County of San Diego desires a candidate that communicates effectively, leverages resources, has a sincere affinity to animals and is supportive of change.  Our environment is built on team building and effectiveness, leadership, and demonstration of ethical behavior.  The ideal candidate is someone that considers animal welfare a top priority and treats all animals with compassion and respect at all times. They must be courteous, work well with coworkers, volunteers, the public, and rescue groups towards the goal of placing homeless animals into new, permanent homes.

For more information on the County of San Diego Department of Animal Services, please visit County of San Diego Department of Animal Services. 

Requirements

Education and Experience

• One (1) year of experience as an Animal Care Attendant with the County of San Diego's Department of Animal Services; OR,
• Eighteen (18) months of experience in animal care working for an animal control agency, Humane Society agency; OR,
• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Veterinary Technician in California, AND, six (6) months of experience in animal care working for an animal sheltering or animal control agency, OR,
• Possession of a valid license as a Registered Veterinary Technician in California, AND, twelve (12) months of experience in animal care working for a veterinary hospital.

Note: The following are not qualifying: Volunteer experience, experience on a ranch, a farm, a veterinary hospital, service/companion pets or lab animals or experience performing animal care and maintenance work outside of the option #2 stated above.

Additional information, please visit Supervising Animal Care Attendant job classification.