Shelter Manager

The Shelter Manager is a vital leadership position within the organization, directly responsible for the daily operations of the animal shelter. This includes overseeing front desk services, animal intake, reclaims, adoptions, animal care procedures, and enrichment activities. The Shelter Manager directly supervises 2-4 Shelter Team Leads and supports up to 20 team members indirectly, fostering an environment that encourages teamwork, accountability, and collaboration.

This role is also key in modeling and perpetuating the organization’s core values of Teamwork, Human‑Animal Bond, Accountability, Collaboration, Inclusivity, and Respect.

The Shelter Manager plays an integral part in staff development, ensuring alignment with shelter values and mission while maintaining a commitment to the highest professional and ethical standards.

• Directly supervises 2-4 Shelter Team Leads, ensuring performance evaluations are based on organizational standards and values such as accountability and respect.
• Advises and supports Shelter Team Leads in training, supervision, evaluation, and management of Shelter Team Members, fostering an environment of collaboration and teamwork.
• Oversees the organization and performance of daily shelter operations, ensuring that all activities reflect the shelter’s commitment to animal welfare and the human‑animal bond.
• Makes staffing recommendations and ensures adequate departmental staffing, coordinates and maintains staff schedules.
• Responsible for all employee onboarding, coaching, performance reviews, recognition, and disciplinary actions, with a focus on fostering a positive and inclusive work environment.
• Identifies training and growth opportunities that align with individual development, shelter goals, and our core values of inclusivity and respect.
• Resolves interpersonal conflicts among staff or patrons with empathy and respect, modeling accountability and promoting a supportive culture.
• Participates in and provides recommendations for euthanasia decisions, performs euthanasia as needed, operates the crematorium as needed; become euthanasia technician within 180 days of hire.
• Responsible for ensuring a professional appearance of staff and departmental areas to include animal housing units, adoption visitation rooms, the front lobby, break room, and co‑working spaces.
• Assists Director of Operations with development, implementations, and enforcement of Shelter policies and procedures.
• Actively participates in the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures in accordance with organizational standards; identifies policy and procedural needs, and takes action to develop those needs.
• Conducts daily observations (rounds) of all shelter animals and reports findings on priority list.
• Supports compliance with all relevant Federal, State, and local animal care and sheltering regulations, emphasizing the importance of accountability in all operations (PACFA, DEA, OSHA as applicable).

• Assists the Director of Operations in managing budgets for personnel, training, and staff development, ensuring efficient resource allocation in support of both team and organizational goals.
• Assists in monitoring expenditures related to daily operations, ensuring financial decisions align with organizational values and sustainability.

• Upholds ethical standards of diversity, equality, inclusion, and respect while demonstrating a deep commitment to animal welfare in all aspects of leadership.
• Acts as a public representative of the shelter, communicating the organization’s programs, services, and values with clarity and professionalism, ensuring inclusivity in outreach efforts.
• Demonstrates a commitment to continuous personal development and staying current with industry trends and best practices.
• Assists the Director of Operations with defining challenges, opportunities, and goals.
• Models and reinforces safe work practices and standards, fostering a respectful environment for staff and patrons alike.
• Actively works to ensure personnel management practices align with the shelter’s mission, fostering an environment of…