Position Title: Shelter Operations Manager

Position Summary: The Shelter Operations Manager provides leadership and direction to ensure best practices and high standards in sheltering and customer service. This includes overseeing day-to-day operations in all shelter departments and ensuring smooth communication flow. The Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring that all team members provide professional service and meet or exceed standards and protocols set. This position will drive continuous improvements, focusing on excellent customer service and best practices in animal welfare and care.

Salary: Starts at $58,000 – $62,000 annually

Reports To: Executive Director

About Cat Care Society (CCS): CCS is a limited-admission non-profit cat shelter in Lakewood, Colo., founded in 1981. Throughout our 40-plus-year history, we’ve worked to provide adoption services and life-saving medical treatment to cats in need in Colorado while providing community engagement to people who love cats. Our unique and free-roaming approach views all cats as worthy; none are too old or ill to be valued, loved, and treated with dignity.

Role Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Collaborates with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and other leadership to communicate the organization’s core values, mission, and vision effectively.
• Works with the Executive Director to develop long-range programs and review policies and procedures regularly.
• Works closely with leaders to develop CCS’ brand, engage donors, and tell the stories of the CCS cats and community.
• Works with shelter leadership to create and implement employee engagement programs and initiatives.
• Fosters a professional and cooperative relationship with others in the animal welfare industry.

Staff Management

• Manages staff to include but not limited to hiring and onboarding and performance management.
• Oversee the shelter’s hourly payroll budget, scheduling, and PTO requests.
• Establishes a comprehensive training program for staff and provides team building and skill-development opportunities.
• Works with the Executive Director and HR to ensure job descriptions and staffing needs are revised and updated quarterly.
• Demonstrates a commitment to team building by modeling a positive and respectful attitude toward all employees, volunteers, and partners.
• Establish and grow a culture that values critical and strategic thinking, resourcefulness, constructive feedback, engagement, and inclusion at all levels.

Operations

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the shelter, including adoptions, intake, animal care, foster, behavior/enrichment, and other related areas. Ensures all staff understand and engage with CCS’ mission, vision, and values.
• Oversee, develop, maintain, and evaluate program standards and best practices for animal care, adoptions, intake/transfer programs, behavior/enrichment, customer service, and any other related activities.
• Create policies and procedures for related duties. Responsible for the maintenance of these documents and communication with relevant staff.
• Provide friendly, professional, and knowledgeable service to the public. Respond to customer, staff, and volunteer concerns, resolving complaints, special requests, and issues. Lead by example in providing excellent customer service.
• Seeks to create, implement, and refine innovative programs that improve the lives of shelter cats and support the human-animal bond.
• Ensures off-site adoption partner locations are effectively utilized to maximize off-site adoptions.
• Meets regularly and frequently with relevant staff to proactively address the needs of CCS facilities, staff, volunteers, and cats.
• Works closely with the Veterinary Services Manager to ensure smooth and timely communication regarding medical cases, contagion control, and other concerns.
• Continuously evaluates shelter software use to ensure data collection is efficient and informative. Works closely with shelter staff and volunteers to ensure that data entry is timely and accurate.
• Ensures the humane treatment and handling of all shelter animals, providing training and support to staff to do so.
• Ensures all PACFA stipulations are being followed and serves as the “go-to” for PACFA-related questions from the community.
• Oversees shelter intake policy & procedure.
• Supports and facilitates shelter inspections to prioritize cleaning, repair & maintenance, and assessing capital improvement needs.
• Works closely to develop and support shelter volunteers.
• Oversees the shelter operating budget, monitoring expenses, supply inventory, and future needs.
• Maintain effective ordering & inventory systems
• Participate in disaster preparedness and response activities for CCS and the community regarding animal-related needs.
• Monitors programs to ensure compliance with OSHA regulations. Monitor staff safety compliance and take immediate action to correct hazards.
• In cooperation with all departments, ensure compliance with federal regulations and government agencies.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Excellent interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to effectively communicate in writing
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
• Proven ability to create and maintain a positive working environment
• Ability to utilize practical problem solving/decision-making skills
• Experience developing and monitoring budgets and inventory
• Able to plan and implement with little supervision and able to work independently
• Able to delegate tasks effectively
• Able to multitask, prioritize in line with organizational priorities, and be able to meet deadlines

Education & Experience:

• 3 or more years of management/supervisory experience
• Minimum of 3 years animal sheltering experience required
• Knowledge of animal care/ behavior and management experience in an animal shelter or similar organization preferred

Working Conditions:

• May sit or stand for long periods.
• Noise, odors, chemical fumes, animal hair, and dander are encountered due to equipment and animals.
• Subject to animal bites and scratches.
• Must be able to manage the emotional aspect of end-of-life services and humane euthanasia and support employees, volunteers, and patrons in high-emotion circumstances.
• Daily lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Frequently standing on concrete floors, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping.
• Must work under pressure with a public audience and have patience and tact when working with difficult or emotional people and situations.

Schedule

• 40 hours a week (weekends may be required)

Benefits & Perks:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance and 401k available to regular, full-time employees
• Paid time off and paid sick leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Professional development assistance
• Employee discount on Meow Mart
• Discounts on Hill’s cat food for your own pets
• Bilingual staff members receive $1 more per hour than the listed range

Note:

We value diverse experiences, perspectives, and abilities and highly encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply.

To Apply:

Email cover letter and resume to EC Michaels, Executive Director, at [email protected]