New York City is advertising for a “somewhat bloodthirsty” person not opposed to “wholesale slaughter” to be its new rat czar.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration wants someone with “a general aura of badassery” to lead the city’s battle against the rodents.
While the official job title is for a “director of rodent mitigation”, the role has been dubbed the rat czar. It comes with a salary range of $120,000 to $170,000 (£97,700 to £138,430).
“The ideal candidate is highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty, determined to look at all solutions from various angles, including improving operational efficiency, data collection, technology innovation, trash management, and wholesale slaughter,” the ad reads.
New York City has been trying to control its rodent population for generations, with sightings of rats in parks and on the streets recently increasing.
The vermin have survived a multimillion-dollar effort under former mayor Bill de Blasio which introduced more rubbish pickups and better housing inspections in targeted neighbourhoods.
The city also used dry ice to suffocate rats in their hiding spots.
Mayor Adams, when he was borough president of Brooklyn, once demonstrated a trap which used a bucket filled with a toxic soup to drown rats lured by the scent of food.
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Now, his administration is looking for someone to become the public face of the city’s eradication and education efforts.
“Cunning, voracious, and prolific, New York City’s rats are legendary for their survival skills, but they don’t run this city – we do,” the posting adds.
Applicants are expected to have good communication skills, a keen sense of humour and “to lead from the front, using hands-on techniques to exterminate rodents with authority and efficiency”.