What are the responsibilities and job description for the Animal Services Assistant Director position at City of Burlington NC?
View the full job description on the recruitment brochure: Animal Services Assistant Director
Are you ready to lead with purpose and compassion? Burlington Animal Services is seeking an experienced and visionary professional to serve as our next Assistant Director of Animal Services. This is a unique opportunity to join a nationally recognized no-kill municipal agency committed to progressive, community-centered animal welfare. We’re seeking a dynamic leader who can drive innovation, support a high-performing team, and help shape the future of animal services in Burlington and beyond.
The Assistant Director of Animal Services plays a pivotal leadership role in one of North Carolina's most progressive and community-focused municipal animal welfare agencies. Working in partnership with the Director, this position provides strategic and operational oversight of core departmental functions, including shelter operations, veterinary and behavioral care, field services, ordinance enforcement, and public-facing community program.
You’ll help drive our mission of providing innovative, compassionate, and inclusive animal services to achieve and maintain our no-kill, community-centric goals. This role leads high-performing teams, cultivates impactful community partnerships, and implements best practices in animal services.
Provide leadership and strategic direction across sheltering, field operations, veterinary services, community pet support, and policy development
Supervise, coach, and evaluate department managers and their teams; promote professional development and a collaborative, high- performance culture
Oversee and ensure regulatory compliance with NCAC 52J,
Collaborate with the Director to shape and execute operational budgets, departmental goals, and public outreach strategies
Champion community engagement programs and partnerships with nonprofits, local government, and regional stakeholders
Guide effective recruitment and coordination of veterinarians, community partners, and operational programs.
Represent the department in city meetings, stakeholder events, and community forums on behalf of the Director.
Ensure data-informed decision-making, reporting, and continuous quality improvement across services.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Strong commitment to a modern, no-kill animal services approach and philosophy
Expertise in all functional areas of animal services operations, municipal governance, budgeting, and personnel management.
Results-oriented, positive, collaborative approach to personnel management and problem solving.
Strong knowledge of local, state, and federal animal-related laws and policies relevant to animal services.
Demonstrated ability to lead through change, inspire teams, and build community trust
Experience managing complex operational systems in a fast-paced professional animal services environment
Proficiency with data management and analytics in driving process improvement
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including public speaking
Ability to foster collaboration across departments, agencies, and public entities
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, animal science, or a related field required.
Minimum four (4) years of professional management-level experience in animal services required.
Special Requirements:
Valid driver’s license
Certified Euthanasia Technician in North Carolina (or within 6 months)
FEMA ICS basic certifications (ICS 100, 200, 700, 800)
Fear Free© Shelters Certification (or within 6 months)
Must be able to work occasional evenings/weekends and participate during emergencies
Preferred:
Master’s degree in public or business administration, or related.
Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) strongly preferred
Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
- Handle animals that are sick or injured, frightened, dangerous, and who may display unpredictable behavior.
- Individual must be able to lift up to 75 lbs.
- Stand, sit, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl to perform procedures and handle pets.
- Must be able to lift, carry, and restrain pets, and operate vehicles and equipment during the day and at night.
- Work requires exposure to potentially hazardous conditions such as aggressive animals, potential exposure to anesthetic gases, hazardous chemicals, drugs, and zoonotic diseases.
- Work in this position is primarily performed indoors.
FLSA Status: Exempt
Inclement Weather Classification: Non-Essential
This job description in no way implies that the duties listed are the only ones the employee may be required to perform. The employee is expected to perform other tasks, duties, and training as requested by their supervisors.
Salary : $67,018 - $107,224
