About the Position
Join Our Team as an Animal Services Dispatcher – Be the Voice That Saves Lives
Montgomery County Office of Animal Services
Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where your quick thinking, calm under pressure, and compassion can make all the difference? Are you ready to be the first point of contact for people and pets in need? This is your opportunity to turn your communication skills and dedication into a career that truly matters.
Why This Role Matters
As an Animal Services Dispatcher, you are more than a voice on the other end of the line—you are the link between urgent calls and life-saving action. You’ll coordinate emergency responses, guide callers through stressful situations, and ensure that our Animal Services Officers have the information they need to protect both animals and the community. Every call is different, and every call matters.
What We’re Looking For
- Exceptional communication skills—both listening and speaking.
- Ability to remain calm and focused in high-pressure situations.
- Strong multi-tasking and problem-solving abilities.
- Commitment to serving the public with empathy, respect, and professionalism.
- A passion for animal welfare and community safety.
Why You’ll Love Working Here
- Impact – Every shift, you’ll make a tangible difference in the lives of animals and the people who love them.
- Teamwork – Be part of a dedicated, supportive team that shares your commitment to service.
- Growth – We offer training, development, and opportunities for advancement within Animal Services and beyond.
- Purpose – Know that your work matters—not just to the department, but to the entire community.
What You'll Be Doing
What You'll Be Doing:
- Receive and triage emergency and non-emergency calls related to animal safety and welfare.
- Dispatch Animal Services Officers with accuracy, urgency, and professionalism.
- Provide clear, compassionate instructions to the public during critical situations.
- Work closely with animal service officers, veterinary professionals, and shelter staff to coordinate responses.
- Maintain detailed, accurate records to support both enforcement and community outreach efforts.
The position includes working holidays, weekends, and various shifts, including days and evenings, with a possibility of last-minute schedule changes and overtime. The chosen candidate will be designated as an “essential employee” and is expected to report during emergencies or periods of extended leave. Multilingual applicants are highly encouraged. **A candidate must complete a detailed background check following an accepted conditional offer. Processing time is approximately 4-6 weeks**
This is more than a job—it’s a calling. If you’re ready to be the calm in the storm, the voice of reassurance, and the first step toward safety for our community’s animals, we want to hear from you.
Apply today and help us protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Minimum Qualifications
Education: Completion of high school or a High School Certificate of completion recognized in the State of Maryland.
Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.
Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov. Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.
MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference.
All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.
This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
Montgomery County Ethics Law: Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code. Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.