Location: New York City Pet Adoption Center (Soho)

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to $70,000 to $75,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits.

Schedule/Hours of Operation: The center is open to the public daily from 11 am – 7 pm. The schedule for this role will require regular weekend availability.

Interviews will begin the week of September 9th and continue until the position is filled.

Position Summary: Lifesaving & Care Managers are key leaders responsible for the daily functions, efficient operation, and growth of lifesaving programs including adoption, foster care, transfer/transport, as well as overseeing the provision of care for animals in Best Friends’ 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, programs, and/or facilities and promote lifesaving and care objectives throughout the department; oversee, coordinate, and conduct day-to-day lifesaving program activities including animal flow, intakes, care, outcomes, and other activities; contribute to strategies for operational efficiency, superior customer service, and increased lifesaving.

• Develop an expertise in Best Friends’ programs and animals to support staff and volunteers in speaking knowledgably about and best match both the animal and client’s (adopters, fosters, transfer partners) needs; lead by example in providing superior customer service.

• 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:

•  A minimum of 2 years of experience in leading teams/managing people of at least 4 direct reports, including staff and volunteers, with a record of program growth highly preferred. Management experience in an animal shelter setting is strongly preferred.  

• Previous experience working in public facing roles with a proven track record in providing not only a customer-centric, positive experience for customers, volunteers, or visitors, but also creating a welcoming environment for those who come into the center.

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to act decisively with a get-it-done attitude in difficult and fast-paced situations; strong interpersonal skills, professional, a team player, upbeat, energetic, tactful, and diplomatic, able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle and deescalate sensitive and confidential situations.

• Resourceful, creative thinker; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.

• 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.

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

• 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.

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

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

Physical Requirements:

• 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.    

• Valid driver’s license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards; ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.    

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

• Travel is expected up to 20%.

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.