Shelter Operations Manager

Job Overview

The Spokane Humane Society (SHS) is an animal welfare non-profit agency, fully supported by community donations. The Shelter Operations Manager is responsible for the daily operation of the animal shelter, providing leadership and support to shelter staff. This position ensures the highest standards of animal care, customer service, staff development, and operational efficiency. The Shelter Operations Manager works collaboratively with leadership, veterinary staff, and the community to promote positive outcomes for animals in the organization's care. Each team member of SHS must demonstrate the core values of the organization, including eagerness and willingness to go above and beyond, dependability, dedication to the vision of SHS, and compassion for both animals and humans, including fellow staff.

Essential Duties:

Shelter Operations

• Oversee daily shelter operations to ensure the humane care, safety, and well-being of all animals in the organization's care.
• Directly supervise and provide leadership, coaching, accountability, and performance management for animal care staff.
• Implement and monitor shelter policies, procedures, and best practices established by the Director of Veterinary Medicine and Operations.
• Ensure consistent standards for animal housing, sanitation, enrichment, feeding, handling, and welfare throughout the shelter.
• Collaborate with the Director of Veterinary Medicine and Operations to prioritize medical, behavioral, and operational needs of the animal population.
• Manage staffing schedules and daily workflow to maintain appropriate coverage and efficient operations.
• Monitor animal population levels.
• Conduct regular facility inspections to ensure compliance with animal welfare standards, safety regulations, and organizational protocols.
• Oversee inventory management for animal care supplies, food, cleaning products, and equipment.
• Lead staff training initiatives focused on animal handling, safety, enrichment, disease prevention, and shelter protocols.
• Support cross-department collaboration between animal care, veterinary, foster, and volunteer programs.
• Respond to operational challenges, emergencies, and animal welfare concerns in a timely and professional manner.
• Foster a positive, mission-driven culture that promotes teamwork, accountability, and compassionate animal care.

Leadership Expectations

• Serve as the primary operational leader of the shelter in the absence of the Director of Veterinary Medicine and Operations.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement throughout the shelter.
• Translate organizational goals into actionable plans and measurable outcomes for the animal care team.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism, customer service, and animal welfare.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement and operational efficiency.
• Support employee development, retention, and engagement through regular communication and coaching.
• Quality Assurance: Proficient in completing duties on time and with precision. Able to review the accuracy and thoroughness of one's work as well as the work of others, constructively apply feedback to improve performance, and generate ideas to enhance and promote quality in work related to animal and/or business services.
• Adaptability: Capable of adjusting to changes, delays, or unexpected events in the work environment. SHS works with animals who are unpredictable at times in behavior and health. All employees demonstrate being able to manage competing demands, prioritizing tasks, and altering approaches to best fit the situation.
• Interpersonal Skills: Proficient in developing and maintaining positive working relationships with all agency team members. Each day arrives to work as a positive team member both inside and outside the organization, while effectively handling internal pressure as animal welfare can be unpredictable.
• Dependability: Reliable in following instructions, both written and verbal. Responsive to management direction and able to complete tasks on time or notify the appropriate person with an alternate plan when necessary.
• Judgment: Adept at making timely decisions, exhibiting sound and accurate judgment, and explaining the reasoning behind decisions. Able to use SHS resources to support decisions such as tele health and approved partners.
• Language Ability: Competent in reading and writing reports, emails, and procedure and policy documents. Effective communication with community members and present information and responding to questions from management staff, volunteers, customers, and the public in a positive way.
• Problem Solving Ability: Capable of identifying and preventing problems before they occur by verifying your own work before submitting. Formulating alternative solutions when necessary and transferring learning from past animal and/or business experiences to continue to improve job performance.

Marginal Duties:

• When assigned closing procedures, complete a walkthrough of the building to ensure all animals are in good and safe condition and have appropriate food, water, and medications; or that all pre-surgery animals have had food properly removed for next-day surgery. Ensure the building is secured at the end of the working day. Document unusual happenings and maintain communication with the supervising manager.
• Accept and create receipts for donations. Maintain the in-kind log when customers do not need a receipt. Place donations in appropriate areas.
• Perform other work including stocking of food/supplies for assigned areas.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment and adhere to proper safety standards/procedures.
• Perform additional tasks and responsibilities as assigned, including but not limited to special projects, cross-departmental collaborations, and other duties as needed to support the team and organization.

Secondary Job Functions:

• Complete SHS maintenance forms when damages to structures or equipment require repair and coordinate appropriate follow-up with leadership, or designated staff.
• Take appropriate action in the event of emergencies, such as break-ins, thefts, power failures, fires, or floods. Contact the sheriff’s department at Crime Check 456-2233 or 9-1-1 when police authority is needed, and your direct supervisor.

Qualifications and Position Requirements:

• Ability to manage stressful and emotional situations effectively.
• Demonstrated experience leading, coaching, or supervising staff and volunteers.
• Ability to manage employee performance, scheduling, and conflict resolution in a professional manner.
• Frequent physical effort required for sustained periods, including lifting and carrying bulky items, and working outdoors in varied weather conditions.
• Exposure to potential hazards such as rabies, viruses, and toxic substances like disinfectants, pesticides, and corrosive cleaners.
• Handling needles and other sharp instruments during medical procedures.
• Frequent interaction with agitated or injured animals that may attempt to bite or scratch.
• Prolonged periods of sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting, and stooping.
• Grasping, repetitive hand movements, and fine coordination needed for preparing reports and data using a computer keyboard.
• Capability to handle all cats and dogs regardless of breed, temperament, or behavior.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience working in animal welfare, animal care, veterinary medicine, shelter operations, or a related field. Supervisory or leadership experience is strongly preferred.
• Reliability and adherence to the work schedule.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Strong team player with excellent communication skills and the ability to work with a diverse team.
• Excellent time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Supervisory or management experience in an animal shelter, rescue organization, veterinary hospital, or related environment.
• Experience with animal population management, enrichment programs, and disease control protocols.

Physical Effort:

• Ability to lift and carry materials weighing up to 50 lbs.
• Handle and guide/walk dogs weighing up to 150 lbs.
• Prolonged periods of walking and/or standing.
• Frequent work in a bent position.
• Use of strength or agility in capturing and restraining stronger, more active animals.
• Work indoors and outdoors in varying conditions
• Exposure to noise, odors, animal waste, bites, scratches, cleaning chemicals, and contagious diseases.

Pay: $24.00 - $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $24 - $26