Animal Shelter Division Director

WAGE: DOE/DOQ

DEPARTMENT: Animal Shelter

PERSONNEL STATUS: Full Time (FLSA and Merit Exempt)

BENEFITS: Health, Dental, Vision, Retirement, 401k match, Sick/Vacation, Life Insurance, Short-term Disability, Accident, Critical Illness; Parental Leave; Maternity Leave

JOB OVERVIEW:

The Animal Shelter Division Director is responsible for overseeing the daily operations, strategic planning, and overall management of an animal shelter. This role ensures the humane treatment of animals, manages staff and volunteers, coordinates with community partners, and oversees fundraising and budgeting efforts. The director ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations while working to improve adoption rates and animal welfare.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Assumes management responsibility for all services and activities of the animal shelter including, retrieval and care of lost or stray animals, promotion of animal welfare and control, animal euthanasia, investigation of cruelty-to-animals complaints, issuance of citations, summons and warrants regarding animals. Investigate reports of animal abuse. Ensure proper sanitation, medical care, and behavioral assessments for animals. Manage animal intake, adoption, fostering, and transfer programs.

Manages and participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies and priorities for assigned programs including administration, field services, volunteer services, and shelter operations. Develop and implement policies and procedures to maintain shelter efficiency and compliance with regulations. Enforce workplace safety policies and provide training as needed.

Act as the public face of the shelter, building relationships with community partners, donors, and local government. Coordinates fund raising activities for the shelter, solicits donations and community support of shelter services. Develop and execute marketing campaigns for adoption events, fundraising, and public awareness. Work with local rescue groups, veterinarians, and other organizations to enhance shelter programs.

Negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues. Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints. Receives lost and found animal reports. Assists visitors in locating missing pets.

Develop and manage the shelter's budget, including fundraising, grants, and financial planning. Oversee financial transactions, record-keeping, and reporting requirements. Seek grant opportunities and oversee fundraising efforts to support shelter operations. Prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence. Attends and participates in professional group meetings, stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of animal care and control.

Ensure all animals receive proper medical care, nutrition, and enrichment. Provides animal care and shelter services, administers first aid and vaccination shots as needed, orders necessary controlled substances and medications. Impounds, quarantines, and euthanizes animals as appropriate. Determines whether injured animals should be treated or euthanized and contacts a veterinarian to treat injured animals as appropriate.

Investigate reports or complaints of dogs, cats or other animals creating nuisances and take appropriate action. Work with law enforcement and animal control regarding cruelty cases and public safety concerns. Enforce county animal control laws, explains ordinances relating to keeping and caring for animals to the public, issues citations for violations of the animal control ordinances. Coordinate assigned cases with the County Attorney, write requests for search warrants and summons, appear in court on applicable cases.

Will be required to work some evenings, weekends, and on-call availability.

Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Monitors and evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; recommends within departmental policy appropriate service and staffing levels.

Plans, directs, coordinates and reviews the work plan for the Animal Services Facility. Assigns work activities, projects and programs. Reviews and evaluates work products, methods and procedures, and meets with staff to identify and resolve problems.

Selects, trains, motivates and evaluates Animal Services personnel and volunteers, provides or coordinates staff training, works with employees to correct deficiencies, implements discipline and termination procedures. Establishes schedules and methods for effective operations, plans routine patrols to search for stray animals.

Participates in the development and administration of the Animal Services Facility annual budget to include staffing, equipment, materials and supplies. Monitors and approves expenditures and implements adjustments.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in animal science, business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field (preferred).

Experience: Minimum of 3-5 years in animal welfare, shelter management, or nonprofit leadership. Strong leadership, organizational, and problem-solving skills. Experience in fundraising, grant writing, and community outreach. Proficiency in shelter management software, budgeting, and administrative tasks.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA):

Knowledge of: Knowledge of animal behavior, shelter medicine, and animal welfare laws. Knowledge of operational characteristics, services and activities of an animal services facility. Knowledge of principles and practices of program development and administration. Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration. Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation. Animal medication dosages and lethal injection procedures. Knowledge of the methods of handling and transporting large and small animals. Knowledge of safety precautions in capturing, housing, and euthanasia techniques and procedures for animals. Working knowledge of county ordinances regarding animals. Knowledge of effective communication including dealing with the public in a tactful but firm manner. Knowledge of techniques of marketing and fund raising. Knowledge of various animal interest and support groups. Knowledge of pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.

Skills and Abilities to: Ability to handle difficult situations, including distressed animals and emotional pet owners. Skill in public relations and sound decision making in stressful situations. Ability to manage, direct and coordinate the work of lower level staff including, selection, supervision, training and evaluation. Ability to oversee and direct the operations, services and activities of this facility. Capture, house, and dispose of stray and dangerous animals without endangering the public. Ability to perform routine clerical duties necessary. Ability to issue dog licenses. Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing. Ability to establish good working relations with employees, the public, and other agencies.

YOUR SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Must possess a valid Utah Driver's License and have a good driving record. Must be able to pass an extensive background investigation. Must attend euthanasia training, as required by law.

Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment background check prior to starting the position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Some physical labor, including lifting animals, cleaning kennels, and handling supplies.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Work is performed in an animal shelter environment, with exposure to animals of varying temperaments and health conditions.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Bereavement leave
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Loan forgiveness
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Evenings as needed
• Holidays
• Monday to Friday
• On call
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person