Senior Manager, Animal Welfare

Summary:

Overview

Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic and complex environment? Do you envision yourself implementing plans for effective animal population management and driving innovative processes that ensure the provision of high-quality animal care and enrichment? Do you have a passion for developing strong, collaborative teams? If so, consider the role Senior Manager, Animal Welfare (Sr. Manager) at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center in New York City. 

Who We Are

The ASPCA Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery provides intake, holistic care, including medical and behavioral support and outcomes for animals in New York City that need us most and is dedicated to helping animals by engaging community members directly in the work of caring for animals.

Our population consists of five groups of animals:

1) Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD

2) Animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team

3) Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals

4) Animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes

5) Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners

The Adoption Center and partner teams utilize and develop best practices for providing care and innovative placement strategies for these specialized populations.

What You’ll Do

You’ll closely partner with the Director, Animal Welfare and other managers to position the ASPCA Adoption Center as a learning hub that encourages public involvement as ambassadors for the ASPCA’s mission through volunteerism, foster and adoption. You’ll be part of a high-performing team dedicated to the care of +/-2,000 at-risk pets per year, working collaboratively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders to further the ASPCA’s ultimate goal: ensuring animals live fulfilling lives. You’ll work with your team to minimize length of stay (LOS) using measurable outcomes, while ensuring all animals in care receive timely assessment, services and interventions throughout their stay. 

To succeed in this role, the Sr. Manager will be a strong manager, teacher, supervisor and coach. The Sr. Manager will be dedicated to motivating, developing and leading a large team of Integrated Care Assistants in demanding and physical work. The Sr. Manager will champion canine and feline populations equally and enthusiastically and be fluent in all aspects of their well-being, including housing, enrichment, animal body language and recognizing and mitigating indicators of stress and illness. Success also hinges on the Sr. Manager’s collaboration with other Adoption Center teams, with a special focus on partnering with medical and behavior subject matter experts to balance the social and psychological needs of animals with best practices in herd health and shelter medicine, ensuring an enriched and healthy shelter environment is maintained at all times.  

• The Senior Manager reports directly to the Director, Animal Welfare and holds supervisory oversight responsibility for a full team of 20 staff, in tandem with their co-manager. The Sr. Manager has direct reporting accountability for 10 team members.

Where and When You’ll Work

• This position is an on-site role and reports to the ASPCA Adoption Center location, located in New York, NY.
• The schedule for this role will be a 5 consecutive-day workweek with one weekend day required. Periodic schedule flexibility to accommodate team and departmental needs can be expected.

Compensation 

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. 

The target hiring range for this role is $72,000-$77,000 annually.

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please visit our website to join our Talent Community and stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Benefits 

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps you live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage. 

• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you. 

• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year. 

• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more. 

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

People Management (50%) 

• With Director, Animal Welfare, nurture a culture of learning at the Adoption Center, including ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment, active participation in goal setting and monitoring, clear expectations, and regular practice of feedback and after-actions 

• Lead the recruitment process for hiring Integrated Care Assistants and ensure comprehensive and effective onboarding processes are followed.

• Plan and lead routine developmental meetings for Lead ICAs 

• Provide regular, timely and direct feedback via regular one-on-one check ins and quarterly feedback sessions with direct reports  

• Provide training, supervision, modeling, feedback and ongoing guidance for the full Animal Welfare team 

• Provide the ICA team direct, timely and transparent communication about animals’ pathways through care and prioritize support for staff in understanding humane euthanasia outcomes may ultimately be appropriate for some animals.

• Be a consistent and visible presence on the floor to observe the workflow and needs of the team, identify developmental opportunities, and offer in-the-moment coaching

• Maintain adequate staffing levels at all times; assign and/or re-assign appropriate responsibilities, as well as direct workflow in order to maximize productivity and maintain coverage 

• Guide the team in training, supervising, coaching and the provision of developmental and appreciative feedback to volunteers in their deep support of Animal Welfare functions 

• Serve as a champion in times of change and work with the Director in identifying ways to improve welfare operations and ensure the success of the Animal Welfare team 

• Maintain understanding of the terms of the collective bargaining unit

• Rotate coverage of weekend, evening, holiday and event coverage with other Adoption Center managers

Animal Welfare Oversight and Operations (50%) 

• In partnership with Director, Animal Welfare, ensure the Adoption Center operates with the Five Freedoms (freedom from hunger and thirst; from discomfort; from pain, injury or disease; from fear and distress; and to express normal behavior), and the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ “Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters” as guiding principles for animal care 

• Oversee and participate in the daily work of the Integrated Care Assistants, answer questions, make timely operational and staffing adjustments, receive feedback, and ensure deep understanding of and compliance with Adoption Center operations  

• Lead daily Medical, Behavior, and Sheltering Rounds (MBS Rounds), ensuring all teams are focused on moving animals through the Adoption Center efficiently 

• Oversee space allocation for Adoption Center animals, including forecasting to determine capacity for care and guide intake decisions 

• In partnership with the Director, Animal Welfare, design and implement improved systems, tools and/or operations to manage animal flow and other animal welfare processes

• Manage Animal Welfare administrative processes including but not limited to inventory, supply ordering, payroll and scheduling

• Partner with Behavior leadership to identify opportunities for enrichment; ensure that daily feline and canine enrichment programs are implemented and maintained 

• Implement and maintain updates to written materials (protocols, information sheets, data sheets, etc.) and ensure their consistent use by staff and volunteers 

• Ensure robust training and protocols are in place to maintain personnel and animal safety

• Act as Animal Welfare representative in departmental meetings as directed

• Lead or consult on Animal Welfare-related projects and protocols as directed

• Collaborate and plan cross-departmentally to ensure efficient intake of both criminal and non-criminal large-scale animal cases 

• Partner with other Senior Managers to ensure consistent Adoption Center operations, and the provision of the highest standards of animal and client care 

• Play an integral role on the Adoption Center’s response team to implement and enhance an effective emergency mobilization plan (e.g. storms and large-scale animal intakes) including overnight management presence as needed   

• Deploy with Community Engagement, Community Medicine, Relocation or National Field & Response (NFR) Team twice per year 

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor 

Qualifications: 

• Demonstrates exceptional leadership skills in managing a team and prioritizing their development 

• Superior problem-solving abilities; likes to troubleshoot and find solutions when facing challenges 

• Ability to provide training, supervision, modeling, coaching and ongoing guidance for direct reports  

• Proven history of building and maintaining positive and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders 

• Knowledge of animal behavior and animal welfare; readily able to work closely with animals who are behaviorally and/or medically compromised; and to understand and participate in euthanasia decisions as appropriate, and support staff in understanding these outcomes. 

• Demonstrates care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals and others, especially during stressful situations 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, potentially stressful environment; must be flexible and adaptable to frequent changes to plans/protocols 

• Excellent written and oral communication skills 

• Excellent low stress handling skills with felines and canines preferred 

• Fluent in PetPoint or other animal management software with an affinity for learning new technology quickly 

• Available to work a flexible schedule when needed including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays 

• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies

Education and Work Experience

• High school degree required or equivalent work experience

• 5 years people management experience required – preferably in a veterinary practice or animal shelter

• Fear Free® Shelter certified or required completion within 60 days of hire

• Experience managing union staff strongly preferred 

• Experience managing operations and logistics preferred

• 3 years in animal behavior and/or animal welfare field strongly preferred

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