Director of Shelter Operations

The Director of Shelter Operations is HSVC’s operations leader who helps guide our day-to-day and long-term sheltering work. This role keeps the shelter Innovating, steady, effective, and humane. It strengthens lifesaving outcomes for animals and supports a workplace where people embrace industry best practices, follow standards, and provide consistent, humane care for every animal.

This position is also part of HSVC’s broader goal: helping shape a stronger, more connected approach to strengthening the bond between animals and people across the region. We are seeking an action-oriented leader who will drive the daily work forward, sees long-term opportunities, and is ready to contribute to efforts that reach beyond a single campus.

• Oversee all daily sheltering functions to ensure animals receive safe, consistent, humane care.
• Lead key programs including animal care, adoptions, fostering, and volunteer engagement.
• Guide pathway planning, enrichment, and behavior support to reduce length of stay and increase successful placements of animals into new homes.
• Apply national best practices and use data to guide decisions that move animals efficiently and responsibly through the shelter.

• Build, coach, and support a capable and motivated team across multiple departments.
• Set clear expectations, provide direct feedback, and help staff develop skill and confidence.
• Maintain a workplace where accountability, respect, and humane practice guide daily interactions.
• Ensure staff and volunteers are supported, valued, and prepared for their roles.

• Strengthen and expand programs that move animals into new homes, including foster, volunteer, enrichment, adoption support, and community outreach.
• Create and manage budgets responsibly and transparently.
• Develop and refine SOPs, systems, and workflows that create clarity and consistency.
• Build processes that align with local and state animal welfare codes and support responsible sheltering practices.
• Support the HSVC Cares outreach program, including vaccination clinics, community spay/neuter services, and pet food distribution.

• Work collaboratively with clinic leadership, humane officers, communications, development, and other internal teams to support smooth shelter operations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with rescue partners and municipal animal sheltering organizations.
• Represent HSVC in public settings, including interviews and presentations, when needed.
• Serve as Acting Executive Director when assigned.

• Use data to monitor trends, identify needs, and guide improvements.
• Provide clear operational updates for the Executive Director, Board, and key stakeholders.
• Anticipate challenges, address issues early, and keep work moving in a dynamic environment.
• Prioritize safety and act promptly to correct hazards or risks.

• 5+ years of previous animal welfare experience in a leadership or supervisory role in a community achieving or striving to achieve a 90% or above live save rate.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in progressive and lifesaving animal welfare, pathway planning, shelter medicine, and community programs.
• Previous experience handling and working with cats and dogs of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical/behavioral conditions in a high stress environment.
• Demonstrated responsibility for leading and developing staff, executing personnel management functions to include selection, training, coaching, and performance evaluations.
• Demonstrated experience in building successful collaborative efforts with diverse community stakeholder groups and working with elected and appointed officials.
• Able to demonstrate exceptional discretion, judgement, integrity and confidentiality when dealing with personal and financial issues.
• Ability to help animals and people with compassion and empathy with commitment to life‑saving programs and services.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully communicating orally and in writing, including writing standard operating procedures, articulating policy…