Executive Director Seattle Animal Shelter

The City of Seattle seeks a collaborative, forward-thinking Executive Director dedicated to animal welfare and public safety to bring their leadership and operational talents to the Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS). This leader has an unrelenting commitment to equity, social justice, and a world where human and animal welfare organizations work together to serve people and their pets. 

The Executive Director is responsible for managing City animal welfare services for maximum effectiveness and efficiency, supporting an organizational culture that builds bridges and engagement opportunities, and empowers employees and volunteers to do their best work.  

SAS was founded in 1972 as the Division of Animal Control, whose primary focus was public health through rabies abatement. Today, the shelter protects public safety through park patrols and dangerous animal cases, runs proactive animal welfare programs, like the Spay and Neuter Clinic and the community Pet Vaccination Clinic, cares for thousands of animals annually and operates a robust volunteer and foster program.  

Like shelters around the nation, Seattle’s municipal shelter has experienced overcrowding, resource constraints and other challenges heightened in the wake of the pandemic. SAS has committed to a transformational organizational roadmap informed by input from employees, volunteers, community members and national animal welfare experts. SAS is committed to: 

• Implementing a progressive, collaborative and transparent model to keep animals out of the shelter and in their homes with their families.
• Removing barriers to adoption, fostering, and volunteering to ensure people from low-income, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities form a part of the shelter.
• Meeting communities where they are and ensuring a thriving pet population—both in the shelter and in the community.

SAS is a division of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS). The 500-plus employees of FAS span across 10 divisions and work behind-the-scenes providing critical functions - like managing 120 City facilities, including police and fire stations - overseeing the City's neighborhood customer service centers and Customer Service Bureau, and making sure minority-owned businesses can equitably compete for City contracts. 

The Executive Director guides the development of SAS goals, policies, and programs, and provides leadership on strategic planning for the city’s animal welfare activities. They provide oversight and direction for the Seattle Animal Shelter and are accountable for supporting FAS and City goals, initiatives and policy. Centering the values of equity and social justice in the division's work, they champion an inclusive, respectful organizational culture and empower innovation. As the supervisor of the SAS executive team, they provide administrative direction and oversight for community centric animal welfare services and programs. The Executive Director provides oversight of Animal Control for the City of Seattle, which enforces laws and codes involving animals within the city of Seattle. They provide expert counsel on issues related to animal welfare and foster cooperative working relationships with advocacy groups, community members, City departments and volunteers. The Executive Director is an active contributor to the FAS Leadership Team and reports to the FAS Chief Administrative Officer. 

 Accountabilities: 

Improve the animal adoption process and experience: 

• Enhance animal well-being through the development and refinement of processes and policies
• Support volunteers and staff through development of communications and organizational tools
• Improve community access through information and resources so that the opportunity to adopt is more inclusive and equitable.

Enhance the foster experience: 

• Provide orientations and training to better support foster volunteers and teams.

• Improve organizational structure for foster volunteers to help move animals through the foster process quickly and seamlessly.
• Increase promotion of foster opportunities to help grow the program and better support existing foster volunteers.

Advance organizational development: 

• Prioritize organizational culture to better support SAS teams and development of processes that serve the public.
• Continue to build bridges and engagement with communities, with a specific focus on BIPOC and underserved communities, through programmatic and policy shifts and increased outreach.
• Direct implementation of fundraising to sustain SAS programs, community involvement and physical space needs.

Create process improvements:

• Prioritize health and safety process improvements that ensure volunteers, staff and pets operate in the safest possible environment.
• Review onboarding and training processes to ensure consistency and accuracy of information shared with employees and volunteers.
• Clarify roles and responsibilities and develop standard operating procedures.

Oversee animal safety and welfare: 

• Strategize effective and community-focused dispatch of field services to ensure pet health and safety throughout the City of Seattle.
• Implement strategies to keep staff and animals safe and healthy while in shelter care.
• Sustain and expand strategies that improve animal health and community engagement, including vaccination and spay and neuter clinics.

Leverage technology to improve information sharing and processes: 

• Utilize technology to improve foster and volunteer visibility of individual animal needs, behavioral profiles, shelter opportunities and more.
• Improve public-facing websites and social media to better promote and explain the shelter’s services, available pets and how to get involved.
• Modernize and streamline processes so customers have a more seamless, convenient and inclusive experience.

Please note this job advertisement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the SAS Executive Director. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

The SAS Executive Director will be a results-oriented leader whose work is grounded by a commitment to animal welfare, community centric services, and resilient partnerships. They serve as a trusted partner known for listening and their expertise in the management of animal shelters and/or animal welfare organizations. Equity centers their decision-making and active engagement with community, staff and stakeholders inform their leadership. To the work they bring a strategic mindset, service delivery acumen and operational expertise complemented by an engaging personal style. They have a reputation for exercising a high level of tact, good judgment, discretion, and diplomacy in working with executive leaders, employees at all levels and the public. 

Well qualified candidates have empowered innovation in service delivery, have successfully raised funds to achieve financial goals and growth, and aligned diverse stakeholders to take collaborative and unified action. They inspire trust, act with compassion, and their actions consistently reflect integrity, accountability, and collaboration. They effectively balance the emotional demands of the position with meeting the competing needs of diverse stakeholders. As a leader they value transparency, keep their commitments, and hold people accountable. They actively promote an inclusive culture and the organizations and people they have led are regarded as capable, progressive, and trustworthy.  

Salary: The salary range for this position is currently $134,801 – $222,414 ($64.56/hour - $106.52/hour) and is determined by City ordinance. The salary range for this role has been identified as $187,920 - $200,448 annually ($90.00/hour - $96.00/hour). This full-time position is authorized for relocation assistance and is not covered by the Civil Service System. 

Job offers are contingent on the verification of credentials and other information required by the employment process, including the completion of a detailed background check. The background check will involve an extensive criminal history check, which includes conviction and arrest records, and a driving history review in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance SMC 14.17. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain or correct background information. 

Benefits: The City of Seattle offers a comprehensive benefits package including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and long-term disability insurance for employees and their dependents. More information about employee benefits is available on the City's website at: https://www.seattle.gov/human-resources/benefits/employees-and-covered-family-members/most-employees-plans.

Work Environment: The position will work primarily at the Seattle Animal Shelter. Additional reporting locations may be required, such as the Seattle Municipal Tower or clinic/event sites.

This position is an in-person position with no or very limited remote work options. 

Application Process: To be considered, submit a resume and cover letter through the City’s application portal. We encourage you to use your cover letter to discuss why you want to lead the Seattle Animal Shelter and your vision for a municipal animal welfare agency. Your resume should be comprehensive and summarize the talent, experience, knowledge, and skills you bring to this critical leadership role. Applications received by Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 4:00PM PST will receive first consideration. The position will remain open to application until the position is filled.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact Pam Inch at Pam.Inch@seattle.gov to request accommodation.

Who may apply: This position is open to all individuals whose experience, skills, and abilities are aligned with the qualifications presented above. The City of Seattle values diverse perspectives and life experiences. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, medical condition, or pregnancy. The City of Seattle encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with diverse life experiences. 

If you have questions, please contact Pam Inch, Senior Executive Recruiter at Pam.Inch@seattle.gov. 

The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS): The Seattle Animal Shelter (SAS) has an operating budget of about $7.8 million and 46 full-time approved equivalent positions. Approximately 800 volunteers support the SAS mission by helping in the direct care of animals, fundraising and other activities.

SAS is a nationally recognized animal welfare organization that promotes public safety and animal welfare and protects animals from cruelty and neglect. SAS runs animal sheltering and adoption programs to reunite lost animals with their owners and places animals in forever homes. SAS hosts a spay and neuter clinic providing low-cost services serving more than 4,000 animals per year, community pet vaccination events and manages pet licensing for City residents. SAS’s animal control field services staff enforce Seattle’s laws regarding animals, helping keep animals and people safe. 

SAS’s five program areas are:     

Field Services: Enforce animal related ordinances, including leash law, scoop law, noise ordinance, pet licensing and property damage; regulate dangerous, menacing and exotic animals; enforce animal control code in parks and neighborhoods; investigate animal cruelty, neglect and abuse; pick up stray, abandoned, surrendered and deceased animals; respond to injured/deceased marine wildlife calls; provide support to police, fire, health and related agencies; conduct inspections at special exhibits; and educate residents about responsible pet ownership.     

Animal Care: Provide care and shelter for the City’s lost, surrendered, injured and impounded animals; reunite lost animals with their owners; adopt available animals to suitable homes; provide behavioral care, enrichment and training; and support the robust volunteer program.     

Veterinary Services: Provide low-cost, high-quality sterilization services for dogs and cats owned by Seattle residents; provide medical care and surgical services for animals in SAS’ care; provide limited veterinary care to low-income members of the community; and operate a vaccination program.     

Volunteer Programs: Manage a variety of programs for the many volunteers at SAS, including foster care for cats, dogs and critters; direct care of animals at the shelter; and support of outreach efforts.     

Customer Service and Administration: Handle a wide variety of administrative, customer service and financial functions, such as: maintain high levels of customer service and customer relations; manage SAS’s finances and budget; assess policies and practices with a racial equity lens and support the RSJ team; and oversee the pet licensing program. 

 Additional information about the Seattle Animal Shelter is available at:  https://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter

The Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS): SAS is a division of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS). FAS is often the public's first interaction with the City of Seattle, operating as a customer-focused front door that assists with everything from starting a business or paying utilities, to reporting a pothole, requesting public information, or even adopting a new pet. The department’s 500 plus employees span across 10 divisions and work behind-the-scenes providing critical functions, like managing 120 City facilities including police and fire stations, overseeing the City's neighborhood customer service centers and Customer Service Bureau and making sure minority-owned businesses can equitably compete for City contracts.

Additional information about the Department of Finance and Administrative Services (FAS) is available at: https://www.seattle.gov/finance-and-administrative-services

Salary : $134,801 - $222,414