Director of Placement Services

Position:             Director of Placement Services

Department:         Placement

Reports To:           Senior Director of Operations

Location:               3280 Chamblee Dunwoody RD Chamblee, GA 30341

Summary:

LifeLine Animal Project is committed to the care and welfare of pets and the people who love them.  The values we exhibit as an organization show the strength of our staff, our leadership and our community.  We expect all employees to exhibit LifeLine’s core values as we complete daily tasks, provide services to clients and care for our animals.

The Director of Placement Services at DeKalb County Animal Services plays a pivotal role in leading and growing various placement departments within our organization. The position’s primary responsibility is to manage program budgets, auditing and creation. This includes conducting routine SOP reviews, recommending SOP changes, ensuring cross departmental coordination, setting program goals, and conducting weekly meetings with managers.  

Essential Job Functions:

This represents a list of essential job duties.   Other duties or special projects may be assigned as needed.

Uphold the standards and values of LifeLine Animal Project:

Save Lives -- Build Community -- Be Exceptional Stewards --  Be Courageous -- 

Be Compassionate -- Take Responsibility -- Respect, Embrace and Celebrate Diversity

Leadership: 

• Courageouslyprovide leadership to multiple placement departments, including adoption, foster, pathways, rescue, and volunteer:
  1. Provide department managers with performance feedback on an informal and formal basis. 
  2. Conduct employee performance reviews, performance corrective actions, and discipline meetings as needed for non-staff under immediate direction. 
  3. Help managers when difficult situations arise and offer guidance.
• Monitor and evaluate placement processes and procedures to maintain high standards of care, compliance with organizational policies, and adherence to animal welfare best practices.

Staff Training and Development: 

• Oversee managers in developing and implementing innovative placement strategies to maximize adoption rates, reduce length of stay for animals, and enhance overall placement outcomes in an effort to save lives.
• Provide placement managers with the support and tools they need to set priorities for their teams.
• Provide managers with tools and support needed to develop training materials – manuals, videos, etc. – to be used in training for all placement staff.

Administrative Management and Reporting:  

• Ensure the collection, analysis, and reporting of placement data to track performance metrics, identify trends, and inform decision-making. Work closely with the Administrative Manager to build efficiencies in these tasks.
• Take responsibility to maintain and suggest updates to program policies, procedures, & protocols; job descriptions; manage the program’s document inventory.

Communication and Collaboration:

• Collaborate with other departments, such as animal care, field services, veterinary services, and community support, to ensure seamless coordination and integration of services that support successful placements.
• Provide leadership and representation in the weekly Pathways meeting and ensure appropriate oversight and coordination of the euthanasia notification process.
• Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with community members, adopters, rescue groups, and other stakeholders to promote placement needs and responsible pet ownership. 
• Speak with visitors with compassion when a situation has escalated and needs intervention beyond manager capabilities.
• Respect, embrace, and celebrate diversity by always operating with a judgement-free mindset and welcome visitors with a friendly and professional demeanor.                
• Help build a community of animal welfare advocates by supporting and engaging the volunteers who aid LifeLine.

General Responsibilities:

• Continue education by participating in LifeLine’s 40-hour annual training requirement.
• Exhibit exceptional stewardship by maintaining a clean and tidy work area.
• Other tasks as assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.

• Compassion for animals and the people who love and care for them.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively.
• Proficiency in basic computer applications (e.g., MS Office, email) and experience with database systems is a plus.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate and develop a team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated commitment to animal welfare and advocacy.
• Proficiency in using shelter management software and basic computer applications.
• Ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and departments.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and a fast-paced work environment.
• Ability to prepare and maintain routine work records and reports.
• Proven ability to effectively supervise the work of assigned subordinates.
• Basic animal medical and behavior knowledge (preferred)
• Comfortable working with dogs and cats of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments.
• Ability to follow safety protocols and handle challenging situations with calmness and professionalism.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and to bend and reach to perform assigned work activities.
• Ability to serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity.
• Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and varying shifts based on shelter needs.
• Must have a means of travel that ensures prompt arrival for work shifts.
• Must pass a background check.

Education and/or Experience:

Minimum of high school diploma or equivalent. Bachelor's degree preferred.

Two or more years of leadership experience. 

One or more years’ experience in animal related field preferred.  

Minimum of 2 years of experience in a supervisory or managerial role, preferably in a customer service-oriented environment.

Fear Free Sheltering Preferred.

Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, employee may be exposed to unpleasant kennel smells.  May have to handle dogs and cats that are stray, injured, diseased or vicious.