Position Summary:

The Shelter Manager provides the necessary leadership within the shelter, and intake infrastructure for ARF’s rescue and adoption efforts. The manager of these areas must coordinate these teams to accomplish the goals of providing humane housing and care. The manager will provide oversight to the intake process by ensuring a supply of adoptable rescued cats and dogs adequate to make maximum use of shelter/adoption center space and meet foundation placement goals. The manager also ensures that animal programs decisions and plans are carried out and departmental goals are met.

Principal Duties:

• Interview, supervise, and hire AC Supervisors and as needed.
• Support the adoption team to ensure:
  • Animals are housed in best possible manner for adoption while meeting medical and behavior guidelines.
  • Paperwork is updated in a timely manner to inform prospective adopters of animals available for adoption.
  • Support with staffing, as needed.
• Manage the Animal Care Supervisors to ensure the following:
• Create an environment in which volunteers feel welcome and are given constructive feedback when working in the shelter areas.
• Paperwork is updated in a timely manner to inform prospective adopters of animals available for adoption.
• Dog play dates are conducted on a daily basis.
• Support the behavior team to ensure:
  • Animal Care and Intake Specialist are scheduled to provide support for the Behavior Manager and Shelter Dog Trainer.
  • Dog play dates are conducted on a daily basis.
• Manage strategic planning of intake to maximize lifesaving capabilities with partner shelters while balancing needs of ARF’s adoption department.
• Maintain a high level of service in the shelter and intake areas through leading by example and mentoring staff.
• Stay informed on current shelter guidelines, standards, and practices and update the department accordingly.
• Animal Care and Intake Specialist are scheduled to provide support for the Behavior Manager and Shelter Dog Trainer.
• Support with staffing, as needed.
• Animals are housed in best possible manner for adoption while meeting medical and behavior guidelines.
• Manage and be responsible for all aspects of ARF’s intake and shelter operation.

• Animal care task manuals are kept current and all animal care staff have reviewed, including any changes.
• Supplies, food and equipment used in kenneling and feeding of animals are tracked and ensure orders are placed accordingly, so that the ARF has the supplies needed to care for the animals.
• Medical or behavioral conditions are identified and reported to the veterinary staff, behavior staff, or the animal programs director.
• Housing is utilized in an efficient and effective manner to maximize intake/capacity while maximizing health (both physical and behavioral).
• Proper daily care, feeding and medicating of all animals at ARF; and that all animals are handled and housed appropriately, and socialized humanely by both staff and volunteers.

• Always promote a humane and caring attitude toward all animals.
• Produce and maintain accurate statistics, reports and animal care and intake programs data to support management reporting needs. Ensure data is input into the databases in a correct and timely manner, and that paperwork is correct and filed properly and promptly.
• Assist in the preparation of budgets for the animal care and intake program and implement programs within the approved budget.
• Produce and maintain complete and accurate work records, statistics and other reports regarding shelter guests and animal care and intake specialist issues.
• Ensure that supervised staff and volunteers comply with all Federal, State, and local safety regulations and laws, as well as ARF policies and guidelines. Follow established procedures governing safe work practices including, but not limited to, wearing protective clothing and/or using equipment when necessary.
• Maintain an effective and high level of communication and cooperation with other ARF departments, staff, and volunteers, promoting inter-departmental teamwork, and a safe, productive work atmosphere.
• Drive ARF vehicles as assigned by supervisor.
• Provide oversight for returns of ARF adopted animals outside 90 days of adoption date.
• Work cooperatively with other departments to fulfill commitments to corporate and individual sponsors in a manner that will encourage renewal of those sponsorships.
• Always treat people and animals with respect, contribute to effective teamwork, promote staff cooperation, and foster public relations beneficial to ARF.
• Perform duties in a manner which encourages attainment of goals, contributions and business for ARF and its programs.
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information.
• Ensure that the facilities and equipment are maintained in a safe, clean, and serviceable condition and that staff are trained in the proper and safe use of all equipment, as needed in the performance of their job duties. Establish, organize and maintain necessary documentation for OSHA/CAL compliance.
• Keep staff and associated volunteers informed of departmental policy and procedures, including any updates that have been made.
• Follow safe driving practices, obeying all traffic laws at all times when driving for ARF business purposes.
• Approve Animal Care and Intake schedules, time off requests, and overtime.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Comply with all Federal, State and local safety regulations and laws, as well as ARF policies and guidelines. Follow established procedures governing safe work practices; and perform duties in a manner that assures the safety of oneself and others.
• Approve shelter inventories and place orders for supplies, food, and equipment.
• Improve and maintain cleaning protocols to ensure customer satisfaction, the welfare of the animals, and the shelter is inviting to the public.

Physical/Environmental Requirements:

• Tetanus and rabies inoculations are required or must be waived.
• Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens.
• Dexterity to handle animals and small objects.
• Flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist.
• Sit for long and short periods of time while using a computer.
• Push/pull moderately heavy objects up to 25 pounds.
• Walk dogs weighing up to 150 pounds in a variety of weather conditions.
• Assess medical and behavior changes in animals using a variety of techniques including, but not limited to, visually and audibly.
• Lift and move objects and animals weighing up to 50 pounds for short distances and to humanely restrain animals when necessary.
• Kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach, grasp and turn objects, stand, and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift.
• Drive a vehicle.

Educational Requirements:

A four-year college degree with preferred emphasis in business administration, management, or public service. Qualifying work experience will be considered as an alternative on the basis that one year of experience may be substituted for one year of education.

Experience, Abilities and Qualities Required:

• Minimum of two years’ experience working with community groups, volunteers and other nonprofit programs and organizations.
• Minimum of two years’ work experience in caring for and handling animals in a safe, effective and humane manner, especially larger and possibly untrained pets.
• Ability to communicate with the public, volunteers and co-workers in a pleasant, courteous and tactful manner at all times.
• Complete ARF training to drive ARF vehicles, including 24 foot van, if requested by supervisor.
• Affection for animals, concern for their welfare and a willingness to accommodate animals in the work place.
• Pre-employment background screening required.
• Demonstrate maturity, good judgment and professional manner and personal appearance.
• Knowledge of shelter maintenance techniques and accepted sanitary practices. Knowledge of common health and behavior problems in dogs and cats and impact of environment, familiarity with symptoms of disease and basic quarantine protocol, and grasp of basic learning theory preferred.
• Prior supervisory experience.
• Ability to work independently and effectively with other managers and staff in order to accomplish daily tasks as well as strategic plans and contribute effectively as part of a team.
• Good analytical skills and ability to identify issues/opportunities. Accomplishes problem-solving within existing resources; does not rely on additional dollars to resolve problems.
• Must have a valid California Driver’s License and must not have more than two at-fault incidents in a three-year period and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years, and must be insured.
• Proven ability to work with, evaluate, coach and supervise staff. Experience developing staff into a cohesive team while holding individuals and work teams accountable for their results. Oriented to performance by objectives for individuals and teams.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate with the public, volunteers and co-workers in a pleasant, courteous and tactful manner at all times.
• Be comfortable and skilled in working with staff, volunteers and community.
• Computer proficient with Word, Access, and Excel; ability to learn new programs required. Internet savvy.

Hours:

Full-time: minimum of 40 hours per week. Daily reporting hours and days of the week according to the changing needs of the department. Evening and weekend work may be required based on the needs of the Animal Programs Department.