Pet Care Manager

Reports to: Director of Operations; works collaboratively with other department managers.

Job Summary: The Pet Care Manager leads the LHS Pet Care Department, balancing administrative duties with hands-on pet care. This role supports staff development, coordinates care with other department managers, and manages daily workflow to provide compassionate care and maintain a clean, sanitary shelter consistent with LHS's lifesaving mission, protocols, and legal requirements. 

Responsibilities

Management:

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate pet care staff; provide regular feedback, coaching, and corrective action as needed. 
• Manage staff schedules, daily workflow, task assignments, time-off approvals, and biweekly timecard approvals for payroll. 
• Manages the department’s daily scheduling, operational flow, task lists, and staff role assignments to ensure department time efficiency, staff productivity, and job satisfaction. 
• Promotes the integration of volunteers into the pet care department. Works closely with the volunteer coordinator to lead efforts to increase volunteer training and assistance.
• Makes multiple daily shelter inspections to ensure work is completed promptly, pets receive appropriate care, and housing and non-housing areas are clean, sanitary, and organized.
• Oversee inventories of shelter cleaning supplies and equipment and assures that appropriate quantities of all supplies are on hand at all times
• Ensures the department remains within budget and strives to cut unnecessary waste.
• Ensures cleaning protocols are kept up to date and easily accessible to pet care staff
• Constantly strives for improvement in cleanliness, efficiencies, and time management

Pet Care and Disease Control:

• Monitor shelter pets’ health; ensure daily medical care needs are met, promptly report concerns to the Shelter Health Department, and coordinate responses to contagious illness with the Shelter Health Manager.
• Ensure species appropriate housing, diet, and enrichment for all pets in the shelter 
• Maintain incorporation of low stress and fear-free handling and housing in day-to-day operations
• Monitor pets’ behavioral needs and ensure behavior and enrichment plans are followed daily; Report concerns to the Behavior Manager or Director of Operations.
• Assist with daily playgroups.
• Work in collaboration with the Adoptions and Foster Manager and other department managers and staff to move pets through the LHS Pathway Program and support individualized placement and timely adoption.
• Work alongside staff to provide daily pet care and cleaning as needed.

Compliance:

• Work in collaboration with the Director of Operations Shelter Health Manager to review, update, and implement sanitation and disease control protocols and mitigate outbreaks; keep cleaning protocols easily accessible to staff.
• Monitor staff safety practices and ensure training and resources are provided for disease control, safe handling, and low-stress and Fear-Free techniques.
• Monitor staff safety compliance of staff and ensure proper training and resources are provided for disease control, low-stress and Fear-Free handling, and proper handling.

Other:

• Participate in professional development and training, keeping current in animal welfare, pet care, disease control, and low-stress practices; apply learning to improve care and daily operations.
• Celebrate staff and promote a safe, positive, and inclusive work environment rooted in LHS Core Values, respect, and teamwork.
• Share manager-on-duty responsibilities when other department managers are off shift. 

 Education, Experience, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• High school diploma; college degree preferred.
• At least one year of demonstrated excellence managing staff and daily operations
• Experience working in an animal shelter setting preferred but not required
• Knowledge of disease prevention and animal husbandry 
• Knowledge of dog and cat body language and low-stress handling techniques

Physical Requirements

• Ability to perform daily pet care and cleaning duties, including standing, walking, bending, and kneeling.
• Ability to safely handle cats, dogs, and small animals of varying sizes and behavioral needs, usin appropriate methods, equipment, and assistance.

Qualifications

• Ability to teach pet care procedures, assess staff understanding and skills, and provide ongoing support and correction.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate professionally and respectfully and address conflict calmly and directly, while remaining receptive to feedback and differing perspectives.
• Ability to thrive in a busy and rapidly changing environment while remaining organized and accurate and providing direction and leadership to staff.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify and solve problems.
• Ability to use electronic systems for staff scheduling, timecard approvals, communication, and record keeping.
• Commitment to LHS’s lifesaving mission and willingness to learn, evaluate current practices, and support changes that improve care for pets and people.
• Ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds in a way that fosters understanding and compassion.