Senior Operations and Administration Manager

Industry: Animal Welfare / Nonprofit Services

Work Setting: On-site | Pawling, New York, USA

Senior Operations Manager

Overview

An established animal welfare organisation is seeking a Senior Operations Manager to provide strategic, operational, financial, and administrative leadership for a specialised rehabilitation and recovery centre. Reporting directly to the Vice President, this role serves as a key operational partner, ensuring effective coordination across teams, resources, programs, and organisational priorities.

This position combines operational leadership, business management, project oversight, financial stewardship, stakeholder engagement, and people leadership within a mission-driven environment focused on delivering exceptional care and outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Business Management

• Lead day-to-day operational and administrative activities across the centre.
• Translate leadership priorities into actionable plans, workflows, and measurable outcomes.
• Drive alignment across departments, ensuring effective execution of strategic initiatives.
• Identify operational risks, resource constraints, and process improvement opportunities.
• Lead cross-functional projects and organisational initiatives from planning through implementation.
• Act as a key representative for the centre in internal and external stakeholder forums.

Executive & Strategic Support

• Serve as a trusted advisor and operational partner to senior leadership.
• Provide analysis, insights, and recommendations to support strategic decision-making.
• Prepare presentations, reports, briefings, and executive communications.
• Coordinate and monitor implementation of leadership decisions and strategic priorities.
• Manage executive scheduling, planning, and travel coordination.

Financial & Resource Management

• Support budget planning, forecasting, and financial oversight activities.
• Monitor departmental spending, resource allocation, and financial performance.
• Review purchasing requests, expense submissions, and reimbursement processes.
• Manage vendor relationships and coordinate with procurement and finance teams.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies and financial controls.

Administration & Process Improvement

• Oversee administrative systems, processes, and operational documentation.
• Develop training materials, guides, and operational resources.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Act as liaison with facilities, technology, procurement, and support services teams.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a small administrative team.
• Conduct performance management, development planning, and regular feedback discussions.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, and retention initiatives.
• Partner with HR teams to promote employee engagement and organisational culture.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing work environment.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement

• Build relationships with donors, community stakeholders, partners, and visitors.
• Support external communications, events, tours, and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Coordinate high-profile visits and represent the organisation professionally.
• Serve as a point of contact for sensitive enquiries and communications.

Requirements

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience required.
• Experience managing administrative, operational, and financial responsibilities.
• Previous people leadership or supervisory experience.
• Experience with budgeting, expense management, and financial reporting.
• Strong organisational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and business systems.
• Experience with project management, operations, or nonprofit environments is advantageous.
• Comfortable working within an animal care environment.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will be a proactive and highly organised operations professional who combines strong business acumen with excellent stakeholder management and leadership capabilities. They will be comfortable supporting senior leadership, driving operational excellence, managing resources effectively, and ensuring teams remain aligned to organisational goals.