Animal Protection Officer

JOB LOCATION 15750 E 32nd Ave Aurora, Colorado 80011-1518 Cit y  of Aurora ,  Colorado It is an exciting time to work for the City of Aurora, we're growing and looking for dedicated and collaborative individuals to join our team of talented and valued employees. Excellent organizations have a set of principles, or core values, that are used to implement their mission and vision. Those values represent the touchstone for the organization, guiding the decisions of the individuals and the organization. At the City of Aurora, we demonstrate our excellence by modeling the CORE 4 Values of:   Integrity ,   Respect, Professionalism , and   Customer Service , and we welcome all who share these values to apply. Why Work for Aurora? Make a difference in the lives of real people every day Diverse community Competitive total compensation package Well-Funded General Employees Retirement Plan Light rail station minutes away On-site fitness center and overall employee well-being programs Internal educational programs to assist with career advancement Access to innovation workspaces PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES Salary to be commensurate with experience The hiring range for this position is $24.55 - $30.69/hourly The deadline to submit applications is August 10, 2026. Please note, The City of Aurora will conduct ongoing screenings of applications on a first come, first-serve basis; as soon as we determine to have a qualified pool of applicants, this position may close quickly and without notice. OVERVIEW OF POSITION   / DEPARTMENT   Housing and Community Development Services consists of four divisions: Neighborhood Support, Animal Services, Housing and Community Development, and Community Engagement. The mission of the Housing and Community Development Department is to maintain community appearance and enhance the quality of life in Aurora’s neighborhoods. This is accomplished through a combination of community outreach, education, code enforcement, and numerous neighborhood improvement programs and services. The staff is dedicated to forming partnerships with   neighborhoods , residents, and community groups to strengthen and enhance both the social fabric and physical aspects of Aurora neighborhoods   Aurora Animal Protection Officers provide protection for animals throughout the city, ensuring safe enclosures, food, water, vaccinations, and homes free from abuse by enforcing the ordinances the City of Aurora has set forth   and educates the public about responsible pet ownership.   PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES    Animal Handling   Impounds, confiscates or quarantines stray, injured or aggressive domestic or wild animals   Performs euthanasia as required   Education   Promotes responsible pet ownership to city residents through presentations in classrooms, at booths, fairs, neighborhood/ward meetings, etc., as needed   Investigation   Investigates citizen complaints pertaining to animal related calls, such as barking, running at large, cruelty, mistreatment/neglect and prohibited animals     Conducts   inspections and investigations by gathering evidence, issuing warnings/summonses, writing formal reports and testifying in court   Relays facts of the case and makes recommendations to the City Attorney while attending court proceedings   Driving    Operates a variety of City vehicles for daily response to dispatched calls   Adheres to vehicle maintenance schedule and performs daily vehicle and standard equipment safety checks   Other Duties   Performs   duties as the dispatcher for the Animal Protection Officers in the field, as needed   Performs basic computer operations for Inputting, updating and maintaining information about field cases, kennel updates and animal activities   Provides assistance to   other animal welfare ,   law enforcement agencies , and the fire department   May perform additional duties as assigned   Performs other related duties as assigned   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & WORKING CONDITIONS An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that   demonstrates   required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.   Education:     High School diploma or equivalent    Experience:     Previous   animal   handling   experience   Previous   ordinance/law   enforcement experience   Preferred Qualifications:    Experience:   Associates Degree   in Sociology, Psychology, Animal Sciences,   Criminology   or related field   At least two (2) years progressively responsible experience in animal care/control, code enforcement, and/or related work   Knowledge:   Animal behavior   Animal first aid   Court procedures   Human psychology   General s helter operations   Officer   Saftey   Skills:     Strong interpersonal   skills     Strong customer service skills   Skill in customer relations, crisis communications management , public   speaking    Skill in checking information for accuracy and completeness and correcting errors   De-escalation skills    Strong defensive driving skills   Map reading skills   Abilities:     Active Learning: Willingness to be trained and ability learn new processes   Animal Handling: Ability to work with a wide variety of animals including domestic animals,   livestock   and wildlife   Communication: Attention to detail and ability to communicate effectively; both verbally and in writing for report writing, data entry, investigations   Judgment: Ability to make competent decisions and remain calm and professional during high stress/tense situations   Navigation: Capability to navigate through the city to respond to any address within the   jurisdiction   in the timeliest manner   Perceptiveness: Must have situational awareness and critical thinking capabilities to make reasonable judgements and work under limited supervision   Problem Solving: Exceptional interper