Job Description

Responsibilities:

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

Shelter Operations

Cruelty Recovery Center

• Direct Care and Enrichment team, in partnership with fellow Managers, to monitor and help maintain the medical and behavioral health of shelter animals; ensure proper daily care and adherence to nutrition, sanitation and infectious disease-prevention protocols; fill in to support CET responsibilities as needed

• Act as Shelter Lead, Floor Lead, and Enrichment Coordinator as assigned by the Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment

• Ensure that feline and canine enrichment programs are implemented and maintained; that staff are trained and compliant; that adequate supplies are on hand; and that animals are receiving an appropriate variety of items and experiences to support and enhance behavioral health

• Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and volunteers by using low-stress handling techniques

• Ensure that all team members have received training and mastered the skills to handle in a low stress manner, and that they implement these handling techniques consistently in all their interactions with animals

• Hold team briefings at regular intervals throughout the day to give relevant updates, determine progress on tasks, who needs additional support, and shape the remainder of the day accordingly

• Collaborate with behavior and veterinary team members, working together to ensure open and ample communication, excellent care, and close monitoring of every animal in the shelter

• Perform daily rounds to ensure the animals’ needs are met. Work alongside Medical and Behavior Leads to identify concerns and problem-solve solutions

• Work with the Senior Manager, Volunteers and Responders to train and integrate volunteers into daily care, setting clear expectations, providing guidance as needed and always communicating respect and gratitude for volunteer support

• Work with the Senior Manager, Foster and Placement to orchestrate the export of released animals to partner organizations and foster homes

• Ensure that shelter supply needs are met at the CRC and in the field, track expenses and order supplies with supervisor approval

• Collaborate consistently with other ASPCA departments, prioritizing alignment in operations practices across departments

• Maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with criminal cases

• Assist the Medical team with handling animals for humane euthanasia and after care as needed

Temporary Sheltering

• Assist with planning and animal care enrichment arrangements for temporary sheltering operations in the field

• Serve in a leadership role during rotations into temporary shelters, ensuring consistent operations and communications between CRC, NFDR, Forensics, CPI, BST and SMS, while also ensuring CRC is operating efficiently

• Assist Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment in scheduling CRC team members, other ASPCA staff and Responders to staff emergency/temporary shelters

• Work with Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment and Field Logistics on the NFDR team to order and ship necessary supplies for the shelter and staff; collaborate with NFDR Logistics and Safety leads on the ground

• When appropriate, work with local communities affected by disasters to return rescued animals to their owners and find placement for unclaimed animals

People Management

• Manage and supervise CETs andCET Leads; maintain a fully staffed team, hiring and onboarding new CETs as necessary

• Develop and implement an annual professional development plan for each direct report, leveraging tools provided by the ASPCA; guide staff to achieve individual yearly goals

• Provide opportunities and coach 2 CET leads alongside two other Managers to develop their leadership skills

• Source, hire, and onboard local contingent workers on an on-going basis as needed.

• Oversee up to 30 ASPCA staff, volunteers, and contingent workers in unique locations and situations.

• Clearly and concisely explain the reasoning behind each protocol, garnering buy-in from CETs, volunteers and contingent workers and ensuring protocols are used as intended

• Oversee the Care & Enrichment team’s daily cleaning, handling, enrichment, monitoring, and documentation

• Provide regular trainings, keeping the Care & Enrichment team up to date on advances in the field and proficient in protocols

• Work alongside the Care & Enrichment Technicians, assisting in daily care and monitoring adherence to all relevant protocols as necessary

• Provide timely, kind, coaching when a deficiency in any aspect of job performance is noted

• Directly and immediately address conflict and concerns as they arise, ensuring difficult conversations are productive, respectful, and meaningful

• Practice delegation for growth, giving direct reports appropriate stretch opportunities to develop new skills

• Evaluate staffing levels and training needs, providing feedback to the Senior Manager, Care & Enrichment on a regular basis

• Regularly recognize team members’ accomplishments and provide healthy work-related engagement opportunities

Program Maintenance

• Review Standard Operating Procedures for both CRC and temporary shelters on a regular basis and, with other team leads, ensure changes and updates are communicated to the entire team

• Provide continual feedback and assist the Senior Manager, Care & Enrichment to improve processes and minimize barriers to efficient work and high-quality animal care

• Continually assess the efficacy of CRC animal enrichment, innovating and encouraging the team to work together to maintain a robust, comprehensive program

• Research and develop best practices in sheltering, enrichment, and animal care/handling, including advances in emergency shelter practices

• Attend workshops for animal welfare professionals to expand the sheltering, rehabilitation and recovery work of the ASPCA; share learning with the entire Care and Enrichment team upon return

• Attend and meaningfully contribute to all relevant CRC and ASPCA meetings 

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Manager

Qualifications

• Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history

• Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals andhave a genuine interest in leading others

• Ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where humane euthanasia is performed on a regular basis

• Advanced animal handling and restraint skills required

• Supports fellow team leads; can serve as a member of a united management team

• Excellent people-management skills

• Maintains a positive attitude; must enjoy working directly with people; respects team members at all levels

• Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to interact with diverse personalities and groups

• Meticulous organizational skills; pays close attention to detail

• Works efficiently and calmly in a quick-paced changing environment---and can motivate a team to do the same

• Proactively problem-solves and takes appropriate initiative to implement solutions

• Builds strong work relationships based on trust, respect, and listening to understand; Cultivates a climate in which diverse perspectives are solicited, encouraged, valued, and respected 

• Freely and generously shares knowledge, skills, and expertise with others

• Proficient administrative and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint

• Ability to work in a physically demanding environment that requires standing, walking, bending, squatting, and/or kneeling for extended periods of time

• Ability to lift and carry animals (50 pounds unassisted, 100 pounds with assistance) and equipment, such as food bags, bedding, and cleaning supplies

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

Education and Work Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required

• Minimum of one year of experience leading a team, directly or indirectly required; people management experience strongly preferred

• At least 2 years of professional experience working hands-on with animals required

• Experience working in an animal shelter in a hands-on role required

• IS 700, 800 and ICS100 and 200 preferred; must be completed within 90 days of hire

• Low Stress Handling® University Silver-Level certification is required within six months of hire

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent Experience (Required)