Operations Manager at Centre County PAWS
Department: Operations
Position type: Full time (exempt)
Starting Annual Salary: $45,000-58,000
Location: State College, PA
Centre County PAWS, a non-euthanasia, nonprofit, and member-supported animal shelter in State College, Pennsylvania, is seeking applications for an Operations Manager position.
The Operations Manager is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations related to animal care, adoptions, and volunteer management. This position provides leadership, oversight, and long-range planning to ensure that all areas of the shelter are functioning at the highest standard possible.
The Operations Manager will also have supervisor responsibilities to Kennel Assistants, Adoption Assistants, the Facility Manager, designated volunteers, and others deemed appropriate by the leadership team.
More specific responsibilities of the Operations Manager include but are not limited to:
- Lead employees and volunteers in effective animal care, ensuring policies and practices are followed and updated as needed.
- Attract, train, retain, motivate, and develop employees and volunteers. Promote collaboration, assist in conflict resolution, and foster effective communication.
- Oversee day-to-day operations by actively monitoring personnel and ensure proper coverage of shifts in all areas. Perform staff and volunteer responsibilities to help with the daily flow or to cover unexpected staff shortages, as needed.
- Stay up-to-date on best practices in animal welfare through continuous education, including professional development conferences.
- Assess operational effectiveness and implement process improvement/enhancement measures for optimal animal experience and advocacy; own outcomes related to animal experiences.
- Oversee intakes and adoptions and ensure visitors receive accurate information and excellent customer service.
- Learn companion animal behaviors to ensure the humane treatment of all shelter animals
- Enforce safe behaviors and policies; educate new volunteers and staff on safety practices.
- Maintain daily/weekly statistics and evaluate data to increase the ability to help more animals, increase adoptions.
- Proactively drive adoptions and related programs: strategize, develop, and implement initiatives that streamline operations, improve customer service, and/or enhance programs, ensuring the continued growth and progress with annual goals.
- Collaborate with foster coordinators gathering new information to promote our foster animals.
The Operations Manager will be expected to work one weekend day and evenings, as well as be on-call to quickly respond to animal needs (this may involve returning to PAWS to resolve issues).
The Operations Manager will also be expected to demonstrate the Core Values of Centre County PAWS - compassion, generosity, open communication, and responsible practices.
Education and Experience:
This position typically requires an Associate’s degree or higher and three years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Candidates must also have at least one year of experience in a management capacity and working hands-on with animals in a professional setting.
Additional Required Qualifications:
- Accumulated knowledge of and compassion for domestic animals and experience of how to use best practices to minimize fear, anxiety, and stress in companion animals.
- Demonstrated leadership skills with a passion to be empathetic and inspire others
- Ability to motivate, empower and provide solutions for team success
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and in a team environment
- Effective verbal and written communication skills.
- Basic understanding of veterinary medical needs
- Able to organize, prioritize, delegate, and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
- Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrates a genuine appreciation for working with diverse audiences
- Detailed-oriented and driven to provide excellent customer service
To apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume to recruiting@centrecountypaws.org. Review of applications will begin immediately.
Centre County PAWS is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the above essential functions of this position.