Dumb Friends League, with over a century of dedication to ending pet homelessness and advocating for animal welfare, is seeking a passionate and experienced Vice President of Sheltering. If you are compassionate about animals, possess strategic leadership skills, and want to make a lasting impact, we invite you to apply.

Join us in our mission to provide a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves. Apply now!

Purpose of Position: Provide strategic guidance for the League’s three animal shelters including all sheltering and shelter veterinary services functions, and to help guide and implement operational growth initiatives of the League.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, implement, and monitor strategies for shelter operations and shelter veterinary services to ensure the achievement of organizational objectives, compliance with federal, state, and local laws. to maximize efficiencies and use of organizational resources.
• Ensure all facilities are maintained to the highest standards including cleanliness, safety and support operational processes and efficiencies.
• Ensure the highest standards of animal welfare, consistent with Socially Conscious Sheltering, are maintained throughout the League’s shelter facilities.
• Ensure the highest standards of people care are provided by all the League’s sheltering and shelter veterinary services teams.
• Serve as advisor to COO providing transparency, best practices and strategic vision for operational growth initiatives.
• In partnership with the VP of Finance and COO, provide strategic oversight and guidance on departmental and operational budgets.
• Be available to mentor operations leaders on best practices for creating, reporting, and tracking operations budgets.
• Assist in the development of budget-tracking tools and resources to be used by operations leaders. Manage operations within approved budgets.
• Track data and compile statistical reports, monitor trends, and provide insights for leadership to use to support and shape operational actions and decisions.
• Deescalate and educate community members and patrons when issues are not resolved at the departmental level.
• Collaborate with partner organizations to develop, maintain, and improve programs that further the League’s mission.
• Represent the League at special events, community meetings, conferences, etc. to promote and further the League’s mission.
• As a member of the League’s executive team, participate in and lead efforts to develop and execute the League’s strategic plan and broad organizational objectives.
• Develop, implement, and monitor medical programs that improve the standard of animal and veterinary care.
• Collaborate with other staff and departments to ensure the League’s operations are conducted using appropriate and up-to-date medical practices, based on our core values.
• Manage and develop a high performing team: providing effective communication, leadership, guidance and resources. Determine staff qualifications and competency: recruit, interview, select, hire, train, orient, mentor, evaluate, coach, counsel, discipline, and reward. Establish and monitor staff safety and regulatory compliance.
• Support all League diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion efforts.
• Work in collaboration with the Development and Communications teams to support fundraising efforts and campaigns, such as providing impact stories and reports resulting in financial support.
• Participate in donor events, meetings and tours.
• Ensure program grant compliance including required data collection and reporting.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face-to-face, telephonic, and electronic interactions and also includes contact with the general public and League business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional, and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.

Organizational Key Competencies

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence
• DEAI advocacy

Leadership Key Competencies

• Leading through Vision and Purpose
• Strategic Agility
• Developing Direct Reports
• Building and Leading Effective Teams

Position Key Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Community Partnerships
• Conflict Management
• Financial Acumen
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Innovation
• People Development
• Project Management
• Strategic Thinking

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Director, Malone Center Operations
• Director, Shelter Behavior and Veterinary Services
• Director, Satellite Operations
• Medical Director, Shelter Veterinary Services
• Volunteers

Travel

• This position requires travel to different work sites

Full Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• Flexible spending accounts
• League-paid Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Holiday Pay
• 401(k) with matching
• Sabbatical program
• And more!

Compensation: Starting at $160,000.00-$180,000.00 (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Performs work primarily in an office setting. Potentially prolonged periods of sitting and repetitive motion. May work in an area with high noise level. Potentially subject to animal bites and scratches. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Occasional lifting with reasonable accommodation.

Requirements  

Position Qualifications 

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Proven ability to communicate and advocate effectively, both orally and in writing
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Strong organizational, planning, and critical thinking skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, MS Teams)
• Experience in data analytics – gathering and tracking data to assess meaningful trends and insights to guide business operational decision making

Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Work Experience: Five years’ management experience in animal welfare, operations, or similar industry including experience in developing and monitoring budgets and strategic plans.

Desired

• Working knowledge of non-profit animal shelter operations and databases
• Certified Animal Welfare Administrator
• Knowledge of shelter veterinary programs and general animal welfare
• Senior-level leadership experience
• Bilingual fluency speaking both English and Spanish