Off-Leash Recreation Specialist

Full Job Description

Job Description

Performs responsibilities necessary to monitor and enforce the City’s Off-Leash program.  Serves as a positive presence in the City parks. Helps to educate and familiarize area users, park visitors and abutters with the Off-Leash program.  Demonstrates an interest in, and concern for, both dogs and their owners.

• Ensures that the owners of dogs that are off-leash on City property have permits for the animal to be off-leash.  Is understanding of the need of the community, dog owners and their dogs.
• If the owner does not have a permit, issue a citation.  Explains to the owner the importance and process for obtaining a permit.  Handles owners concerns in a non-confrontational, professional manner.
• Issues, as necessary, citations for dog related violations. 
• Communicates with the Newton Animal Control Officer (ACO) who will keep the employee informed of any off-leash violations that have been reported by citizens to the police department. Keeps the ACO informed of citations that he/she has issued.   
• Participates in community activities and explains the purpose and benefits of the program to the public.  Acts as the department’s spokesperson for the program. 
• Takes the initiative to educate the public on the off-leash program.
• Completes all paperwork, reports and citations accurately and promptly.  Writes clear, concise and timely reports. Ensures data is entered into computer and statistics are processed and maintained. Is well organized.
• Works in all weather conditions.  Works a non-fixed, flexible schedule.
• Maintains liaison with citizen groups and other City agencies.
• Follows and adheres to department, City and other government rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
• Attends and participates in staff, department or other meetings as requested.
• In case of emergencies is available to work on nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Performs other duties as required.

Schedule: This is a part time, 15 - 20 hour per week, unbenefitted position. The hours are scheduled at the discretion of the department and based on departmental needs.

QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: High School degree and certification as an Animal Control Officer of Massachusetts (ACOM).  Must have a strong desire to work with animals. Relevant educational background or work experience is preferred. Ability to operate equipment such as personal computers and varied software applications.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to read and interpret documents such as reports and procedures manual. Ability to write reports and correspondence. Ability to present information effectively, which may be controversial in nature, one-on-one, or in small groups, to citizens or employees of the City.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:  Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, decimals and percentages. 

REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed written or oral instructions.  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where prescribed standard practices are limited. 

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES : Must have, and maintain, a valid Massachusetts driver’s license. Within 2 months of hire must be enrolled in the Animal Control Officer of Massachusetts (ACOM) certification program.  Must have a rabies vaccination.  Must have First Aide certification. 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here represent those requirements that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

THE CITY:

The City of Newton is a wonderful place to live and work. Newton has safe and attractive neighborhoods, an excellent public school system, an active community life, multiple transportation systems, proximity to Boston and a well-managed and financially strong City government. The City of Newton has a population of approximately 88,900, with 32,600 housing units and occupies a land area of 18.3 square miles. Newton is principally suburban-residential in character. Unlike many other communities that are established around a single Main Street or downtown, Newton is comprised of thirteen distinctive villages. Newton has a diversified economic base with approximately 4,700 establishments employing approximately 79,500 people. Newton is special in many ways. It is home to a variety of private secondary and post-secondary schools including a portion of Boston College, Lasell University, William James College, Hebrew College, and the UMass Amherst – Mount Ida Campus.  The longest stretch of the Boston Marathon runs through the City, including the well-known Heartbreak Hill. Newton-Wellesley Hospital, part of the Mass General Brigham health care system, serves as an important partner to the City. In September 2018, Newton was again ranked #1 in Massachusetts as the best place to live and #12 in the U.S.

OUR GOVERNMENT:

Newton has what is known as a “strong Mayor” form of government with the Mayor having the executive and administrative powers of the City. The legislative branch is comprised of 24 City Councilors. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller was sworn in on January 1, 2018 after serving on the City Council. She ran on a platform of providing Newton’s children with a top-notch education in an inclusive environment where empty nesters, seniors, young families, and people of diverse incomes can live together in vibrant villages and neighborhoods. Mayor Fuller is committed to keeping Newton safe, improving the city’s infrastructure, addressing climate change, providing excellent and responsive city services, and fostering art, culture and community life. The first female Mayor of Newton, she is a tireless advocate for all the city’s residents and is committed to making sure the city is welcoming, inclusive and diverse. The City of Newton was evaluated by Moody’s Investors Services in February 2020 and assigned its highest rating of AAA. Newton was thus well-positioned to weather the pandemic and economic downturn.

AS AN EMPLOYER:

The City of Newton believes that its employees are its greatest asset.  To that end, we are committed to supporting our employees by providing competitive wages and growth, a comprehensive benefits package which includes a defined municipal pension plan, quality health and dental insurance plans, generous paid leave benefits, paid holidays, and access to supplemental benefits such as deferred compensation, short term disability plans, flexible spending accounts, and other employee benefits.  We also provide access to an Employee Assistance Program and access to employee training and professional development opportunities.  We continuously work to review and expand upon our benefit offerings.  We encourage you to visit our Human Resources Department website to learn more about our organization and benefits which are available to our employees.  And as always, you are encouraged to reach out to our dynamic HR Team by emailing

Human Resources Diversity Statement

We recognize our workforce is a source of strength that is vital to our ability to effectively serve the City of Newton’s diverse community. We will:

•   Actively recruit, develop, and retain a diverse and talented workforce.
•   Proactively address discrimination through education and in partnership with other departments and leaders.
•   Serve as a role model to celebrate and nurture diversity.
•   Foster inclusion by staying curious and clarifying assumptions.
•   Evaluate and develop policies and practices that reflect the diverse nature of our workforce.
•   Build and strengthen accountability at all levels to support diversity efforts.

This is a non-benefited position