Director Of Community Initiatives & Engagement

Cleveland Animal Protective League is looking for a driven animal welfare, human services, or community relations professional with program management, legislative advocacy, and supervisory experience to join our team!

How you’ll impact our mission?

The Cleveland Animal Protective League believes in maintaining the human-animal bond whenever possible. This is an important, new role within the organization that is focused on expanding our reach and our “More Than a Shelter” narrative to advance our animal resource center.

This role supports our Community Animal Retention Effort (CARE) with the goal of helping owners retain their pets during times of hardship.

Services currently offered to Project CARE area residents include:

• Resource referrals to other programs.
• Emergency assistance with pet food on as needed basis.
• Counseling help with behavioral and medical needs and general care guidance.
• Low-cost flea treatment/preventative.
• Low-cost spay/neuter (those outside of the Project CARE target area may be eligible to schedule with the Community Pet Clinic).
• One-time emergency medical assistance through our Peticaid program (restrictions apply).

Our strategic priorities are to expand access to care and resources for pets through community outreach, including:

• Expand Community Pet Clinic Access
• Build strategic partnership with human social service agencies, advocacy groups, and others with shared vision
• Implementing a Crisis Safety Net Program
• Reduce client barriers to accessing care

If you believe in delivering the best animal and client service possible, want to be an active part of a team that saves the lives of homeless animals and works together to make quality pet care accessible to pet owners facing financial challenges, you may be just the person we need!

What’s in it for you?

We are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and promote a drug-free workplace. We are always seeking dynamic individuals who will help fulfill our mission. We believe that the only way we are successful is with the right team, so we will invest in you.

As an employee you’ll enjoy:

• 7 Paid Holidays, plus two floating holidays of personal choice
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Voluntary benefits
• Paid Personal Mental Health day
• Two banks of Paid Time Off – Vacation Time and Sick Time
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match
• Paid Bereavement time (family and pets)
• … and many more!
• Employee Animal Wellness Program – extremely low service rates for veterinary care by our clinic!
• Company paid life insurance and long-term disability plan

What you’ll do?

Develops, implements, and oversees all aspects of APL community initiatives and engagement in support of the APL’s commitment to keeping families together and helping pet owners access care and resources.

• With the VP of Operations, develops and implements policies and procedures for community initiatives and programs.
• Continuously reviews program effectiveness and ensures all programs and services are provided in kind and compassionate manner, in accordance with the APL’s policies, procedures, and philosophy, and are serving the needs of the diverse Cleveland community.
• Leads the CI&E team in researching, developing, and implementing new programming according to industry best practices and the evolving needs of the community and that support APL strategic goals and initiatives.
• Ensures programming revenue goals are met while creating additional fundraising opportunities and supporting organizational fundraising initiatives.
• Serves as a liaison and spokesperson when promoting the APL’s mission, goals, animal care, client care and management philosophy to veterinarians, vendors, the public, media, other organizations, agencies, businesses,and the community. Solicits and represents the organization at public speaking opportunities and follows through with ongoing engagement.
• With the VP of Operations, builds and expands relationships with the business community, community leaders, human services, and other various groups within Cleveland to achieve APL strategic objectives and create long-term relationships that will support offering greater community interaction and engagement.

Supports APL advocacy and legislative initiatives.

• Builds the APL’s reputation as Ohio’s #1 subject matter expert and resource for policy matters involving animals.
• Tracks and monitors the status of legislative/advocacy issues that pertain to the APL and reports to the CEO.
• Meets regularly with the APL lobbyist.
• Prepares thoughtful, informed, compelling draft testimony for review and presents professional, articulate testimony and education to policymakers at hearings or other meetings as needed.
• Works collaboratively with the CEO and APL lobbyist to research and address advocacy issues related to the APL’s mission and in accordance with the APL’s advocacy policy.

What we’re looking for:

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in legislative advocacy including preparing/presenting testimony at government hearings.
• Must possess a valid Ohio Driver’s License and insurable driving record.
• Committed to maintaining the integrity of the APL’s client service programs, high standard of animal care, and promoting our mission to foster compassion and end animal suffering.
• Ability and interest in animal handling are required.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and planning skills. Requires ability to proactively establish priorities, meet deadlines, and manage projects to timelines and budget.
• Minimum 8 years of paid, full-time experience in developing and managing programs and services, preferably in animal or human services. Bachelor’s degree in human services, social work, public health, nonprofit management, or a related subject preferred or any equivalent combination of education and experience working as a community relations professional with emphasis on building partnerships, thinking out of the box, and overall creativity
• Ability to handle confidential information and use discretion.
• Bilingual in Spanish is desirable.
• Is flexible with scheduling. Must be able to travel to Columbus or other destinations as needed.
• Strong writing skills and exceptional leadership, interpersonal, and presentation skills, and professional appearance.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience as a supervisor.

Location: 1729 Willey Avenue Cleveland, OH 44113

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provides day-to-day oversight, guidance and mentorship to CI&E manager(s) and programs, including:
• Participates in strategic planning and monitors agency goal achievements.
• Manages and supports the Education Manager (future) to review and develop programs that will provide community members on-site interactions, while generating revenue and embracing industry trends.
• Acts as department liaison to key internal departments and locations to provide strategic planning support, and
• Manages and supports the project CARE Manager to grow community partnerships and client support services.
• Utilizes performance-based management when counseling and evaluating staff and sets measurable goals for employee growth. Submits evaluations on time and encourages continuing education as it relates to the organization’s needs. Recognizes good performance and provides solutions and counseling to correct problems.
• Takes control of situations that could be potentially damaging to the professional image of the APL.
• Evaluates goals and objectives of specific programs as they relate to the mission and strategic plan, making program changes as needed.
• Responsible for all aspects of the CI&E team’s employment including hiring, orienting, training and instruction, coaching, mentorship, performance appraisals, recommending salary adjustments, and disciplinary actions, up to and including termination. Trains or oversees the training and work of volunteers and interns.

Link to Full : https://clevelandapl.org/about-us/employment/director-of-community-initiatives-and-engagement/