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Our Vision 

Equity and optimal health for all communities to thrive. 

 

Our Mission 

Public Health, Policy & Planning is dedicated to advancing health equity and well-being, in collaboration with our communities and through partnerships, for those who live, work, learn, and play in San Mateo County. 

 

Our Values 

Accountability, Equity, Collaboration, Trust  

 

San Mateo County Health is seeking a well-qualified individual for the position of Chief Animal Control & Licensing and Chief Deputy Registrar of Vital Records (Health Services Manager II). This high-level manager will plan, coordinate, implement and manage activities of County-wide programs and services; recommend, develop, implement and evaluate goals, objectives, policies and procedures; provide leadership and coordination to community groups, public and private agencies, advisory boards and volunteers in planning and implementing programs.

There is currently one regular vacancy within the Public Health, Policy & Planning Division located in San Mateo, CA. This position will travel/drive within the County to perform duties of the job and will provide oversight to the following programs:

Animal Control and Licensing 

• Coordination of animal control services among the 20 city partners. Oversight includes contract and fiscal management of a $6.5 million contract annually, program implementation, reporting compliance, and evaluation.
• Management of the County’s 4,300-square-foot animal shelter, which houses stray and owned animals as well as wildlife. Annually, the shelter receives approximately 4,200 live dogs and cats and provides care for an additional 750 domestic animals.
• Response to nearly 10,000 field services calls and collection of approximately 1,700 live wild animals in the field each year.
• Oversight of the Veterinary Wellness Program to provide access to vaccinations, veterinary services, and necessary medical care for animals within homeless and low-income communities.
• Maintenance of the Fostering Wellness Program to ensure individuals entering rehabilitation programs or hospitals can access essential services without surrendering their pets by temporarily placing their animals in foster care.
• Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Animal Control Branch Director responsibilities to coordinate effective and unified emergency response in collaboration with Peninsula Humane Society, SPCA, and the San Mateo County Large Animal Evacuation Group.
• Knowledge of animal control laws to support enforcement and provide community education.

 

Vital Records

• Ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations for birth and death records.
• Maintaining awareness and knowledge state and federal laws and regulations.
• Timely submission of accurate birth and death records to aid epidemiology in the reduction of negative health outcomes through research, community education, and health policy development.
• Oversight of the distribution of medical marijuana ID cards.
• Coordination with County Coroner, County Attorney, Board of Supervisors, funeral homes, and County residents for vital records requests and requirements.

This position reports to the Director of Public Health, Policy & Planning and directly supervises nine staff and manages a team of thirteen professional and support staff. 

The primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:  

• Plan, direct, monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of activities, services and programs for Animal Control and Licensing/Vital Records. 
• Direct, coordinate, and participate in the development and implementation of program goals, objectives, policies, procedures and priorities that balance both mandated services and public health needs.
• Ensure accurate data collection and reporting to fulfill legal obligations.
• Ensure services are coordinated with programs of other County Health divisions and County departments.
• Maintain effective working relationships with a wide variety of public and private organizations such as internal and external county divisions and departments, external government agencies, community-based organizations and private contractors.
• Conduct public relations to promote program goals, objectives and regulations.
• Establish, facilitate and maintain effective communication, internally and externally.
• Identify operational and service delivery problems and implement solutions.
• Direct and assist in managing budget for programs and services.
• Prepare, administer and monitor approved budget to ensure the accomplishment of objectives within budget restrictions.
• Ensure that programs are funded with adequate resources to maintain mandated and expected levels of service.
• Negotiate or participate in negotiation of contracts with outside vendors, consultants or organizations; monitor and evaluate related fiscal and legal liabilities.
• Through direct and indirect supervision, select, supervise, train and evaluate staff.

 

Ideal candidate will possess:

• At least three years’ experience supervising animal control and licensing programs and/or vital records services. 
• Experience in animal care, husbandry, or related fields, or with a proven track record in administrative support and office operations.
• Experience in managing programs with multiple funding streams, including grants and fees.
• Experience in emergency action planning and management.
• Knowledge of applicable Health and Safety Codes (for example, CA HSC 122322, CA HSC 121690, CA HSC 122331, CA HSC Division 102).
• Ability to implement change management principles and practices.
• Experienced with analyzing and presenting data in ways that are easily understandable for a diverse array of audiences.
• Experience developing solicitations for services or vendor agreements and developing, implementing, and monitoring contracts. 
• Knowledge of invoicing and reimbursement practices (for example, Accounts Payable Invoice Automation, Coupa, Relish AI).
• Experience with Microsoft Suite applications including Excel, Power BI, SharePoint.
• Working knowledge of required reporting systems (for example, Cornerstone, Electronic Death Records, Electronic Birth Records, Fetal Death Registration Module).
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Experience as a manager, coach, and leader with a track record of supporting programs and staff and motivating teams with humility to achieve equitable goals and objectives.
• Strong personnel management skills and ability to maintain a leadership position for multiple teams and disciplines.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

 

 

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public administration, and program management, including planning, implementation and evaluation and reporting.
• Principles and methods of community health services, including current trends in education, research, treatment, prevention, rehabilitation, environmental health or related services.
• Laws, codes and regulations governing community health care and knowledge of County, state and federal legislative developments applicable to contemporary health issues.
• Organizational, personnel and fiscal management within a multi-faceted, community-based program setting.
• Community resources and public/private services and funding sources.

Skill/Ability to:

• Identify and analyze complex community health issues and problems.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate programs and services on a comprehensive, county-wide level to meet community needs.
• Integrate a variety of activities and services to achieve program goals, objectives, and priorities.
• Apply principles and techniques of community organization.
• Speak effectively to diverse audiences, including clinical, professional, civic and citizen groups.
• Maintain cooperative working relationships with other program managers and staff, other agencies and the community; enlist and mobilize community support for programs.
• Prepare complex and detailed written reports, program policies, procedures and contracts.
• Train staff and coordinate activities of contractors, volunteer groups and staff.

Education and Experience:
Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in public health, nursing, social work, public administration or a related discipline.

• Experience: Two years of administrative or managerial experience in a health, social or community services organization, including significant responsibility for one or more of the following: program and budget development, funding, utilization, coordination of community resources or program evaluation.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE

Final Filing Date: Wednesday, February 18, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. PST

Application Screening: Week of February 23, 2026  

Combined Civil Service Panel and Department Interviews: Monday, March 9, 2026

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities. 

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. 

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

HR Contact: Debbie Kong (02032026) (Health Services Manager II - D033)