Hourly Pay Rate: $20.00 – $30.00

Supervisor: COO                                       

Work hours:  Full-time – Various Shifts depending on shelter needs; Approximately 40 hours per week. Must be willing to work an occasional Saturday.

Position Summary: The Canine Department Manager is responsible for managing and expanding all facets of the canine department. This role ensures canine management of staff and consistent management of intake, adoption, placement, and behavior/medical/physical needs of dogs. The Canine Department manager serves on the HSDC leadership team, providing training, mentoring, guidance, resources, and communication that promotes positive staff to customer experience while advancing the mission of HSDC.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Responsible for the implementation, management, supervision and evaluation of all activities of the canine department.

• Coordinates intake of all canines to the HSDC, which includes transfers, owner surrenders, drop offs, and humane cases. Ensures each animal is recorded in the shelter management system in a timely manner and an animal number is assigned.
• Supervises and provides work direction to all canine staff which may include, but is not limited to, canine assistants, foster coordinators, adoption counselors, and kennel technicians. Responsible for interviewing, hiring, training, evaluations and terminations of canine staff.
• Responsible for the oversight of all canine staff to reinforce established policies and procedures for the safety of the animal, staff, volunteers, and the community. Responsible for interviewing, hiring, training, evaluations and terminations of canine staff.
• Assist in the development of policies and procedures related to canine areas.
• Delegates, oversees, and responds to canine communication needs. This includes ensuring canine staff respond in a timely manner to e-mails, phone calls, or in person as it relates to admissions, assessments, medical needs, behavior, adoptions and euthanasia related to canines.
• Ensures the 5 Freedoms of Animal Welfare are being incorporated into daily activities and procedures. Ensures compliance with admission policies and procedures.
• Actively participate in pathway planning meetings on a weekly basis to identify and discuss outcomes and decision-making for canines.
• Maintains supplies, inventory, and equipment needs.
• Produce accurate reports to support activities, accomplishments, and workload of the canine admissions department. Monitor goals and objectives for achievement.
• Provide leadership to resolve disputes and mediates complaints at the lowest level possible.
• Promotes and follows safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment. Takes immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance with safety directions that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal and/or the organization at risk.
• Promote communication and cooperation among the HSDC’s departments and areas to encourage a professional, highly functional leadership team.

Qualifications/Requirement

• High school diploma with a minimum of 4 years hands-on experience working in a high-volume animal shelter with 2-years experience in supervisory capacity; or any combination of equivalent relevant training/experience.
• Organization and detail-oriented, with proficiency in databases, email, and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to maintain a professional appearance and demeanor both within the HSDC and the general public.
• Strong communication and customer service skills. Ability to proactively approach HSDC staff, volunteers and the general public to openly discuss the shelter, its mission, and the animals in a compassionate, friendly, honest, and professional manner.
• Euthanasia certification must be obtained within the first year of employment.
• Electronic deposit (ACH) of paycheck is required.

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge and understanding of animal breeds, temperaments, and behavior and those suffering from physical and mental neglect (e.g., mill dogs, humane cases).
• Ability to motivate a team and use sound judgment when providing guidance to staff and volunteers in alignment with existing policies and procedures.
• Ability to adhere to disease management and safety protocols.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers and volunteers of diverse backgrounds and cultures regardless of race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability or political affiliation.
• Ability to work in a team-oriented and frequently changing environment.

Physical demands and working environment

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and handle dogs of various sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions. Frequent standing, walking, bending, and handling animals. May be required to work long or unusual hours during peak operational needs.
• Ability to work in an emotionally taxing field – a positive attitude and sense of humor are essential.
• Work is performed in an animal shelter. There is a potential for exposure to environmental factors such as temperature variations, high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, animal waste, hazardous chemicals or chemical materials requiring OSHA Material Safety Data Sheets, anesthetics, sharp objects, and potential hostile persons and/or dangerous and fractious animals.
• Ability to multi-task in a constantly changing environment. All work is performed on-site at HSDC. This position is not eligible for remote work experience. Must be able to work assigned shift, including weekends, holidays or during emergencies.

This position has a 90 day probationary period. This is an at-will position.