Associate Manager of Shelter Vet Services

Purpose of Position

The Associate Manager is responsible for the overall performance, staffing, compliance, and operational effectiveness of Shelter Veterinary Services. This role provides direct management of staff, ensures high-quality animal care, and drives operational and financial outcomes in alignment with organizational goals.

• Manage and develop an effective staff: providing effective communication, leadership, guidance and resources. Determine staff qualifications and competency; recruit, interview, select, hire, train, orient, mentors, evaluate, coach, counsel, discipline, and reward. Establish and monitor staff safety and regulatory compliance.
• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure accountability through regular feedback and formal evaluations.
• Oversee daily operations of Shelter Veterinary Services, ensuring patient care capacity, workflow efficiency, and service quality meet organizational standards.
• Partner with site leadership to align staffing, scheduling, and resource allocation with operational needs, adjusting in real time as necessary.
• Own and manage staff scheduling, time‑off approvals, and coverage planning to ensure consistent service delivery.
• Ensure consistent execution of standard operating procedures and lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of SOPs.
• Regularly serve as floor manager, providing hands‑on operational support and leadership presence (approximately 25% of time).
• Ensure internal and external patron experiences with SVS reflect the company’s mission, brand and core values.
• Schedule staff and review productivity to best align people resources. Work with Team Leaders to create daily work plans ensuring maximum efficiency while maintaining high standards of patient and patron care.
• Oversee training for staff and volunteers and assist with the creation of training plans and ongoing evaluation.
• Understand and support, as needed, the financial functions of the department, including but not limited to accounts payable, payroll, and daily deposits.
• Serve as a safety officer for the department, responsible for understanding and ensuring compliance with OSHA, DEA and FDA, and applicable state and local agencies.
• Maintain DEA and DORA licenses for BC/MC/SLV/HEC shelters and Chief Veterinarian.
• Oversee and coordinate internal and external training programs, including internship, externship and apprenticeship programs, for veterinary assistants and veterinary technicians.
• Oversee inventory management, including medical supplies and controlled drugs, to ensure availability while minimizing waste and cost. Oversee upkeep and maintenance of medical equipment and instruments.
• Perform euthanasia and related tasks; train staff as needed.
• Perform shelter opening and closing duties as needed.
• Represent the organization internally and externally with integrity, serving as an ambassador of the mission and brand.
• Address escalated patron or stakeholder concerns (including foster parents) with professionalism and resolution‑focused leadership.

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, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and Humane Colorado 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 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.

• Job Knowledge
• Excellence
• Adapting to Change / Agility
• Dependability
• People Care

• Project and Process Management
• Delivering Results
• People…