Director, Animal Shelter

Job Status: Full-time

FSLA: Exempt

Reports to: Board of Directors

Supervises: Shelter Manager, Officer Manager, Volunteer/Foster Coordinator, and Contract Veterinarians

Position Location: Danielsville, GA

Job Summary:

Madison-Oglethorpe Animal Shelter is seeking a highly-motivated, self-starter with leadership experience in shelter management to lead a 501(c)(3), open-admission animal shelter serving two large rural counties. The position reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for supervising and directing all shelter operations including animal care, staff management, veterinary services for MOAS’ low-cost spay/neuter and vaccine clinics, adoptions and rescue placements, facilities maintenance, finances and budgeting, and partnerships with outside entities This position requires strong leadership in all internal and external programs that align with the shelter’s strategic mission and goals.

Organization:

MOAS’ mission is to serve the citizens of Madison and Oglethorpe counties by housing, caring for, and placing stray and unwanted dogs and cats; by offering low-cost vaccinations and sterilization; and by striving to save as many as possible while reducing pet overpopulation. Located in Danielsville, Georgia, just 16 miles away from downtown Athens, a thriving college town that’s home to UGA, Georgia’s flagship university. MOAS contracts with both Madison and Oglethorpe counties to provide intake services but receives over 70% of its funding from donations, services, and grants. MOAS actively collaborates with organizations in surrounding counties as pet overpopulation is a regional problem that can best be solved when we all work together.

MOAS offers many ancillary programs to meet community needs, including a Spay it Forward program providing free spay/neuter surgeries to low-income families, a Guardian Angels Program for animals needing significant medical care, a free community pet food bank, low-cost spay/neuter and vaccine clinics, low-cost medications including heartworm preventatives, an extensive transport program, and TNR assistance. MOAS also collaborates with local partners to provide barn cat placements for feral cats. While MOAS is an open-admission shelter taking in over 2,500 animals a year, due to the efforts of our board and staff, the help of our community partners, and significant grant-funded spay/neuter initiatives, our live release rate is currently over 94%. MOAS is looking for a Director who will continue these positive strides to help us fulfill our mission.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

• Oversee operations to ensure optimal animal care, maintaining the highest standards, for dogs and cats at the shelter and in foster care
• Develops and reviews policies and procedures; implements policy changes as needed to improve operations
• Reviews trends in the veterinary and shelter fields; proposes and implements changes
• Ensures SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) policies and procedures are followed by all staff
• Maintains records and analyzes statistical data for presentation to the Board
• Responsible for leading in a manner that supports and guides the organization’s mission as defined by the Board of Directors; timely and accurately communicates necessary information to Board of Directors to assist in informed decision making.
• Builds and maintains working relationships with donors and county commissioners
• Meets with outside groups to explain shelter operations and educate the public
• Assures compliance with all county, state, and federal guidelines and the mission of MOAS
• Oversees the hiring of new staff and evaluates job performances
• Actively pursues grants by writing proposals and explores further options for funding
• Responsible for fiscal integrity of MOAS; responsible for fiscal management that ensures maximum resource utilization and maintenance of a positive financial position; fundraising and other resource development to support our mission
• Develops an annual budget with the Board Treasurer; implements budget while tracking revenues and expenses; approves weekly payroll
• Authorizes staff salary increases within Board guidelines
• Assists Board with Membership program and Community Education programs
• Assists with creating and updating job descriptions and organizational charts
• Monitors supplies and monitors levels and amounts; inventories surgical suite and surgical trailer ensuring fully stocked
• Moderates social media sites
• Serves as the organization’s primary spokesperson with media, general public, and other entities. Strong written and oral skills including public speaking
• Meets with the Board of Directors regularly
• Authorizes purchases and/or sends requests to Board for non-standard purchases
• Oversees euthanasia chemical logs as required by the GA Department of Agriculture
• Oversees contract veterinarians
• Manage relationships and negotiates agreements with vendors
• Oversees animal adoption events offsite requiring long distance transport
• Arranges continuing education classes for management and staff; responsible for regularly scheduled staff meetings
• Develops and maintains working relationships with other animal shelters and approved rescue organizations.
• Assists other staff and performs shelter functions as needed

Expectations:

The following are a list of expectations that the Director is responsible for completing or delegating to other staff for completion where appropriate.

Communication

• Attends necessary meetings.
• Conducts scheduled staff meetings with employees.
• Communicates with the Board of Directors for all significant matters involving shelter activity, personnel concerns, etc.

Organizational Development

• Establish and enforce administrative policies and procedures; oversee employment and operations policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Develops new ideas with staff, board, and/or volunteer input.
• Develops and follows timelines for annual plans and projects and is accountable for staff’s decisions and actions.
• Encourages the use of volunteers and the solicitation of monetary and in-kind donations whenever possible.

Staff Management

• Ensures that all performance-based reviews are completed by appropriate supervisors in a timely manner.
• Utilizes performance-based management when counseling and evaluating staff directly supervised by the Director and sets measurable goals for employee growth.
• Coaches and supports staff to succeed in their respective positions
• Recognizes good performance and counsels staff when necessary to correct problems.

Availability / Schedule Requirements

As a salaried employee, the Director is responsible for occasional overtime and emergency availability with the goal of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Schedule may include weekend and holiday work. The Director is expected to work on average 2 weekends a month, but in return would have a Mon-Tues off.

Safety

• Ensure a safe work environment; following all safety guidelines and modeling safe work practices.
• Take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member, volunteer, customer, animal, or the organization at risk.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal safety requirements, including those mandated by the GA Department of Agriculture.

Material and Equipment Directly Used

• Various computers with Windows and Microsoft software (or similar) such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and the animal shelter software ASM.
• Medical equipment, medication, and or supplies, including syringes, needles, controlled substances, and vaccines.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including ear protection, isolation gowns, isolation booties, face masks, safety glasses, and gloves.
• Various types of animal restraint and safety equipment, including leashes, ketch poles, live traps, feral cubbies, nets, and safety gloves.
• Operates vehicles during routine operations under varying road, weather, and lighting conditions. May also participate in animal transports both in and out of state using MOAS’ cargo van.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time.
• The employee may regularly lift and/or move 25 or more pounds of moving weight and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 or more pounds of moving weight, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and smell.
• Must be able to use both hands and arms to grip, pull, and push utilizing safety equipment.
• Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Must handle various animals of various sizes, may include aggressive animals, and potential exposure to zoonotic diseases.
• Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions.
• Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing chemicals.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree (preferred) or minimum 5 years of direct related experience, and 2 years of supervisory / leadership experience in a shelter environment.
• 3 years nonprofit or government experience (preferred)
• Advanced knowledge of GA Department of Agriculture requirements is preferred.
• Extensive knowledge of animal health, behavior, care, and welfare is required.
• Experience with ASM preferred.
• Experience with Quickbooks preferred.
• Extensive experience in animal handling is required; advanced training and/or instruction in the field of animal care is preferred.
• Ability to use good judgment and flexibility when dealing with personnel, animal, or management issues.
• Must be certified to euthanize or be able and willing to become certified within 30 days of employment.

Qualifications/Skills

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.

• Commitment to animal welfare and a strong belief in animal rescue
• The ideal person for this job is a team player, personable, professional, upbeat, energetic, a self-starter, results-driven, creative, and highly-motivated with a leadership and interpersonal style that fosters constructive and productive communication.
• Experience with dog socialization and training preferred as well as knowledge of dog behavior and general positive reinforcement methods
• Experience with cat behavior and socialization preferred
• Must be self-motivated, have a strong work ethic, and be able to work independently and in a team equally with proven communication, collaboration, and conflict resolution skills
• Must be available to work weekends and attend meetings
• Ability to handle, walk, and work with dogs weighing over 100 pounds
• Hold a valid driver's license with ability to drive on behalf of the organization; must have a clean driving record

NOTE: The job description is only a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties.

Compensation and Benefits:

The salary for this position will be determined commensurate with experience. Benefits include an optional 401k after one year of employment with flexible matching and three weeks paid vacation with the potential for performance-based bonuses.

Drug-Free Workplace:

MOAS maintains a Drug-Free Workplace and it is a condition of employment that all employees be drug free, which may include random drug testing. Drug and alcohol use by MOAS employees during assigned working hours, on MOAS property, or otherwise while on MOAS business is prohibited. This shall include the use of illegal substances, the abuse of prescription medications, and the use of alcohol. Employees who test positive for drug use shall be terminated.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

MOAS is an equal opportunity employer that considers all applications without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation or preference, religion, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $47,000.00 - $58,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Work Location: In person

Salary : $47,000 - $58,000