Looking to make a difference in the lives of pets and people? With an almost year-round beautiful blue sky and a scenic mountain backdrop, HSPPR is a nonprofit animal shelter serving El Paso, Pueblo, and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial in the colorful State of Colorado. We employ a total of 200 employees. We are an organization that celebrates and prioritizes diversity and inclusion. HSPPR welcomes you to apply for this exciting opportunity at our socially conscious animal shelter.
*This job posting will close on Thursday, June 6, 2024*
The Animal Care Supervisor is responsible for providing direct supervision and supporting staff; ensuring that high quality animal care is being provided and that animals are being processed in an efficient and timely manner; monitors the workflow of all animal care areas; assists in the training and oversight of new staff and volunteers. The Animal Care Supervisor ensures an environment of compassionate and respectful animal and people care in accordance with HSPPR's mission, values, goals, and management philosophy.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Animal Care Operations

• Supervises all aspects of the animal care department, including high quality standards of animal care, handling, and sanitation and that staff performance is consistent with protocols.
• Assists to ensure that the animal care department operates in a coordinated, efficient, and effective manner in all aspects including but not limited to ensuring that animals are fed according to dietary instructions; cleaning and disinfecting of animal enclosures, dishes and other equipment used; completion of laundry duties; flow and movement of the animal population.
• Serves as the Euthanasia Lead, performing humane euthanasia of animals as well as proper care and disposal of deceased animals.
• Assists in keeping all training manuals, procedures, checklists, and tests up to date.
• Assists with training of staff and volunteers.
• Schedules staff for each work area to ensure efficient workflow.
• Provides floor supervision, giving guidance, feedback and/or additional training.
• Ensures sections' checklists are reviewed for completion and follow up with staff if not completed.
• Performs all Animal Care job duties as needed.

Relationships

• Works to anticipate and resolve conflict and promote open communication between volunteers, staff, and management. Solicits volunteer and employee input regarding their work and workplace.
• Supports staff and volunteers; provide quality services to clients, volunteers, and employees recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization.

Communication

• Liaison to volunteers, provides feedback and answers to FAQ's, provides problem solving, addresses animal behavior issues following current procedure for such.
  • Communicates effectively with staff and volunteers so pertinent parties are informed of animal care issues/information.
• Documents staff and volunteer complaints. Handles complaints and/or concerns with professionalism and good judgment. Involves Animal Care Manager as necessary.
• Informs Animal Care Manager of developments that may affect HSPPR or the department including department progress, media exposure, public image, client concerns, and personnel issues.

Customer Service

• Informs Animal Care Manager of developments that may affect HSPPR or the department including department progress, media exposure, public image, client concerns, and personnel issues.
• Supports staff and volunteers; provide quality services to clients, volunteers, and employees recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Assists ordering, maintenance, and inventory of supplies and equipment.
• Plans and organizes in anticipation of future needs.

Performance Management and Supervision

• Recruit, train, coordinate, motivate, evaluate, and recognize staff.

Other

• Commitment to the mission, values, goals and success of HSPPR.
• Appropriately documents observed animal behaviors utilizing objective language as required in relevant procedures and/or policies.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties

• Animal Care Specialists, Animal Care Technicians (I & II), Animal Care Assistants
• Responsible for the direction, morale, performance, and discipline of up to 13 employees

• Physical Demands

• All physical demands of Animal Care Tech 1, Animal Care Tech 2, and Animal Care Specialist positions.
• Must regularly lift 50 or more pounds of static or moving weight.
• Required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and smell.
• Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to use both hands and arms to grip, pull and push utilizing safety equipment such as, but not limited to catch poles, snappy snares, leashes, ropes, muzzles.
• Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Must handle various animals of various sizes, including aggressive animals.
• Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases.
• Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions.
• Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing toxic or caustic chemicals.

Schedule Requirements

• Schedule may include evenings, weekends and holidays.

Education/Experience Required

• Ability to effectively read, write, interpret, communicate, perform basic problem solving, and perform basic math as commonly expected from completion of a High School Diploma or Equivalent Education.
• One plus [1 ] years' experience in public administration, customer service, animal control, or a combination of equivalent education and work experience.
• Experience in professional animal handling preferred.
• One plus [1 ] year of supervisory experience preferred.
• EBI (Euthanasia by Injection) certification required at time of hire or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire.
• Possess excellent communication and organizational skills. Must be detail-oriented.
• Able to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Excellent interpersonal and team building skills.
• Able to work through daily issues with staff and volunteers and create solutions.
• Positive attitude and professional demeanor.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office software, data entry and reporting.
• Experience with Chameleon or other Shelter Management Software highly desired.
• Valid Colorado Driver's License or the ability to obtain one in 90 days.

The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care, our organization, and our community.
Core Values Statements-

• • Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness, respect, and compassion.

• • Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve.

• • Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission, always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community, and by standing united in our decisions.

• • Excellence: We are passionate about our mission, and strive for excellence through continual learning, innovation, and the development of our board, staff and volunteers.

• • Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people.

• • Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do.