Description

Department: City Administrator
Job class: 3371-Animal Care Supervisor
Salary range: $79,872.00 - $97,162.00
Role type: Permanent Civil Service What does this mean?
Hours: Full-time
Exam type: Position Based Test
Rule: Rule of 10
List type: Combined Promotive and Entrance

 
About:
 
This is a Position-Based Test conducted in accordance with CSC Rule 111A.

Specific information regarding this recruitment process is listed below:

Application Opening: Monday, February 9, 2026
Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (11:59 PM, PST) 
About the Office of the City Administrator
The Office of the City Administrator and its 25+ divisions and departments operate core internal and public-facing services in San Francisco. 

The Office of the City Administrator’s Mission and Vision

Our vision is to lead the nation in public administration and to enable City departments to effectively deliver critical public services. We aim to help the city run better, to connect San Francisco residents and constituents to the vital public services they seek, and to create a meaningful and diverse work culture that is the place of choice for people who are invested in a career in public service.

We are committed to ensuring that the City's services are inclusive, efficient, equitable, and culturally competent for San Franciscans of all races, ethnic backgrounds, religions, and sexual orientations. This commitment requires comprehensive review and thorough analysis of existing practices and policies to remove barriers to real inclusion. 

We are also committed to ensuring that the Department is a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace for individuals of all races. This includes creating opportunities for hiring, promotion, retention, training, and development, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC).

To learn more about our departments, divisions, and programs, visit:  https://sf.gov/departments/city-administrator.

About the San Francisco Animal Care and Control
The San Francisco Department of Animal Care & Control (SFACC) is a taxpayer-funded, open-admission animal shelter. Since 1989, SFACC has provided housing, care, and medical treatment to wild, exotic and domestic stray, lost, abandoned, sick, injured, and surrendered animals. SFACC’s doors are open to all animals in need regardless of species, medical, or behavioral condition. 

The shelter also enforces all state and local Animal Control and Welfare laws and is the first responder for animals in natural disasters and citizen emergencies. 

SFACC shelters homeless, neglected, and abused animals and provide humane education and many other services to the community. 
SFACC is the local agency that investigates animal cruelty, enforces animal welfare laws, rescues injured and orphaned wildlife and birds, and aids domestic animals in distress. 
SFACC aims to adopt, re-home, or reunite domestic animals with their guardians and to release wildlife to their native habitat. 
Role description
Under the general direction of the Operations Manager of Animal Care and Control, the Animal Care Supervisor is responsible for planning, directing and overseeing the kennel operation of the Animal Shelter. This includes supervising Animal Care Attendants and ensuring the humane handling and proper husbandry of shelter animals while maintaining safe, sanitary and secure facilities for shelter animals and the public.

Examples of Important and Essential Duties:

Plans, directs and oversees the operation of the Animal Care Division: ensures the safe and humane handling, kenneling and identification of all animals; ensures provision of food, water and proper husbandry for all shelter animals; ensures that all kennels, wards, cages, equipment, runs and other areas of the facility are cleaned and disinfected in order to maintain a healthy, clean, safe and sanitary facility for shelter animals and the public.
Assesses productivity, sets goals and establishes work-related priorities for Animal Care Division; identifies and implements solutions to problems which develop in kennel facilities including biosecurity measures; assists in the development of policies and procedures for the Division; coordinates work with other divisions.
Schedules, assigns, and oversees the work of assigned staff and volunteers; trains, evaluates, counsels and disciplines staff; promotes a humane and compassionate attitude toward animals; completes and presents performance appraisals; facilitates bi-weekly Animal Care Division meetings; monitors staff interaction with volunteer programs.
Establishes and maintains contacts with other City departments, SPCA and other outside groups and agencies in relation to the functions of the Animal Care Division including animal pathway management; oversees the transport of selected animals to wildlife rehabilitation, adoption partner organizations, and foster homes.
Assists Shelter Veterinarian in developing and implementing a comprehensive disease prevention program; oversees basic health screening of all animals, including those that are isolated or quarantined, for signs of illness or unusual behavior; takes appropriate action and reports significant problems to Veterinary Medical services staff.
Supervises and oversees training of Animal Care staff performing treatment procedures, vaccination, and microchipping, and performing euthanasia with shelter animals; ensures the safe and humane handling of all animals, which includes direct handling and care for potentially vicious, dangerous, and fractious animals.
Evaluates animals, performs behavioral assessments, and participates in selection of animals for availability, rescue, adoption, transfer or euthanasia in accordance with established laws, departmental policy and procedures; schedules and performs euthanasia of selected shelter animals; coordinates and schedules spay/neuter surgeries or other specialty procedures as needed.
Ensures availability of animal care supplies, food, office supplies and equipment, including ordering supplies, food and equipment, and maintaining contacts with outside vendors.
Ensures maintenance of accurate and legible case files and records for each animal in the shelter; uses a computer to input, update and access information regarding shelter animals and to produce written documents.
Provides information and assists members of the public who are relinquishing animals or in search of lost or adoptable pets; discusses and educates public on adoptions of domestic animals; interprets and explains laws, procedures and policies for subordinate staff and the public; answers questions and resolves problems as they arise.
Participates in management functions, including bi-weekly management & supervisor team meetings, special events and representing the department in the media if necessary.
Performs related duties as required.
Working conditions: Exposure to strong and/or unpleasant odors, including those from animal excrement, cleaning agents and chemical compounds, and frequent exposure to noise; lifting of equipment and objects up to 50 lbs.

Requirements

How to qualify
Minimum Qualifications
Experience:
Two (2) years of hands-on experience as an animal care attendant or kennel attendant in an animal shelter, including one year training and supervising the work of staff.

License and Certification:
Possession of a valid California Driver’s License.

Successful completion of state-mandated euthanasia training and certification within one (1) year of hire.

Substitution:
Three (3) years of hands-on experience in the care, feeding and/or handling of animals in a facility that cares for and houses animals (e.g. veterinary hospital, boarding or pet day care facility, or pet store), working principally with dogs and cats, including two (2) years training and supervising the work of staff may substitute for the required experience.

Thirty (30) semester/forty-five (45) quarter units of coursework in an animal husbandry, veterinary science or a related program at an accredited college or university may substitute for one (1) year of the required non-supervisory experience.

Note(s):

One-year full-time employment is considered equivalent to 2000 hours (2000 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40 hour work week). Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.
A valid out-of-state driver’s license is acceptable during the application process. A valid California driver's license must be obtained prior to appointment and maintained throughout employment.
Applicants must meet minimum qualification requirements by the final filing date unless otherwise noted.
Desirable Qualifications:
The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify job finalists at the end of the selection process when candidates are referred for hiring.

Effective interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
Experience in customer service including in-person interactions with customers and/or the general public.
Experience working with individuals from a variety of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, including individuals who may be distraught, angry, hostile and/or in violation of the law.
Possession of an Associate’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Suite (e.g. Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word).
Strong organizational and prioritization skills, with ability to take initiative.
Verification:
Please make sure it is clear in your application exactly how you meet the minimum qualifications. Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum Qualifications and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Note: Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores. Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.
What else should I know?
Selection Procedure/Examination Requirements
After application submission, candidates must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which includes the following:

Supplemental Questionnaire (Weight 100%):
Candidates deemed to meet the minimum qualifications will be invited to participate in in a supplemental questionnaire examination designed to measure their relative knowledge, skills and abilities in job-related areas, which may include, but not be limited to: knowledge of principles and practices of supervising, training and evaluating staff; physical and behavioral characteristics of different species of animals as related to husbandry, proper housing, and common illnesses; symptoms of diseases common to domestic animals and wildlife and zoonotic biosecurity measures; and ability to [plan, direct, schedule and oversee the operation of the Animal Care Division; Human Relations Ability; and oral and written communication ability. A passing score must be achieved on the written examination in order to be ranked on the eligible list.

Eligible List/Score Report:
A confidential eligible list of applicant names that have passed the civil service examination process will be created and used for certification purposes only. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection, upon request, once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible list/score report resulting from this civil service examination process is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission.

The duration of the eligible list resulting from this examination process will be 6 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

To find Departments which use this classification, please see: https://sfdhr.org/sites/default/files/documents/Forms-Documents/Position-Counts-by-Job-Codes-and-Department-FY-2022-23.pdf.

Terms of Announcement and Appeal Rights:
Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. Clerical errors may be corrected by the posting the correction on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov.

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 111A.35.1. The standard for the review of such appeals is ‘abuse of discretion’ or ‘no rational basis’ for establishing the position description, the minimum qualifications and/or the certification rule. Appeals must include a written statement of the item(s) being contested and the specific reason(s) why the cited item(s) constitute(s) abuse of discretion by the Human Resources Director. Appeals must be submitted directly to the Executive Officer of the Civil Service Commission within five business days of the announcement issuance date.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

Information About the Hiring Process
Conviction History
Employee Benefits Overview  
Equal Employment Opportunity 
Disaster Service Worker
ADA Accommodation
Veterans Preference
Seniority Credit in Promotional Exams
Right to Work
Copies of Application Documents
Diversity Statement
Applicants will receive a confirmation email from notification@careers.sf.gov that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst at rosalie.platzer@sfgov.org.

 
The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.