Location: 1845 Pontius Avenue  Los Angeles, CA 90025 (onsite)

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $72,000 to $78,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Schedule: Tuesday – Saturday (10 am – 7 pm), but will require one closing shift per week that is typically until 8 pm.

Interviews will occur the week of November 11th.

Position Summary: Adoptions and Foster Program Managers are key leaders responsible for the daily functions, efficient operation, and growth of lifesaving and outcome programs including adoption, foster care, and transfer/transport in our program locations. Managers act with urgency, leading teams to accomplish important tasks and play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society’s no-kill mission and organizational success. Managers may receive intensive assignments in a particular program, based on organizational needs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Treat people around you as our most valuable resource by leading with Kindness and Compassion in all your actions, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, encourage self-care and work-life balance through your own example, and work to build strong relationships with your team by creating communication loops to share and receive honest feedback. You are responsible and accountable for the culture of your team.

• Lead teams, provide strategic direction, and promote lifesaving objectives; oversee, coordinate, and conduct lifesaving programs throughout the department; oversee, coordinate, and conduct day-to-day lifesaving program activities including animal flow, adoptions, foster care, transports, and other activities; contribute to strategies for operational efficiency, superior customer service, and increased lifesaving.

• Provide support, training, mentoring, and performance feedback; conduct performance conversations; participate in recruitment and hiring; ensure teams meet expectations for Best Friends’ program requirements and procedures; lead teams so that each person achieves their fullest potential as contributors to Best Friends’ mission and goals.

• Prepare and manage the department’s operational budget, forecasting, and performance metrics; participate in the maintenance of physical facilities or vehicles; develop a comprehensive knowledge of Best Friends’ programs to advise teams.

• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; participate in the development of operating procedures; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.

• Maintain a safe workplace, value, and model safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and addressing or communicating to leadership about unsafe practices and conditions.

Skills and Experience:

• Experience in leading teams or managing people, including staff and volunteers, with a record of program growth is required. A minimum of 3 years of experience leading teams is preferred.

• Prior experience working or volunteering in animal welfare, including with conversation-based adoptions or a willingness to learn, is preferred.

• Previous experience working in customer facing and/or community focused roles is required. Experience with community outreach is a plus.

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.

• Excellent communications skills: comfort with public speaking and presentation experience; ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ position on issues.

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required.

• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.

• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.  

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands. 

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.

Physical Requirements:

• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.

• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, and holiday work.

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel and/or drive on behalf of Best Friends, including overnight stays, when needed.  

• Travel up to 10%.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society.  Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by Best Friends Animal Society.