Adoptions Manager

Humane Society of Huron Valley•Ann Arbor, MI

About The Position

This position is responsible for the oversight and development of HSHV’s adoption program. The guiding principles are to continually maximize our save rate and better our customers’ experience. The Adoptions Manager supports this through successful adoptions fueled by great customer service, superior animal care, smart marketing and matchmaking, development of people, and efficient coordination of the Adoptions process. HSHV’s adoption philosophy centers on an open-minded, individualized and discussion-based approach to providing caring homes for our animals with consideration to minimizing shelter animals’ length of stay.

Requirements

The Adoptions Manager position requires a self-motivated, goal-driven team builder who is compassionate, enthusiastic, innovative, open-minded, and flexible.
They must be able to provide supportive training and supervision to ensure that staff members are motivated and capable of performing their jobs and working effectively as a team.
The position demands an analytical yet creative person who continually sees the big picture, recognizes “hot button” issues, and deftly problem solves to drive improvement while remaining personally accountable and open to feedback and change.
Must have a proven ability to influence others and address conflict sensitively.
This person also must be able to effectively manage their time in fast-paced, high-stress environment with continual interruptions.
It requires strong customer service and attention to detail, in addition to organizational, computer, and verbal and written communication skills.
Experience in adoptions and shelter operations with strong knowledge of animal care preferred.
Minimum four years of supervisory experience in an animal welfare setting
Must have proven experience resolving disagreements and complaints from employees and the public.
An animal care facility can be an emotionally challenging, high-stress, rapidly changing, and high-demand environment.
Feelings of grief and loss, secondary trauma, and compassion fatigue are not uncommon.
As such, working in a management/leadership role at HSHV requires a high emotional IQ including adaptability, flexibility, and tolerance for calculated risk, ambiguity, and change; self-awareness; empathy for animals and people; perspective taking; assertive communication and conflict resolution skills; stress management skills, emotional regulation and resilience; and an overall positive outlook.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree preferred.
Experience in adoptions and shelter operations with strong knowledge of animal care preferred.

Responsibilities

Optimize Length of Stay for adoptable animals, making responsible decisions that facilitate movement to adoption, prioritize individual animal needs, follow HSHV’s adoption philosophy and monitor results, and make efficient use of staff time and resources.
Oversee HSHV’s Retail Program, supporting the Retail Coordinator in daily tasks and reaching budgetary and sales goals.
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, county and city laws and ordinances regarding animal sheltering, care, and safety.
Other duties as assigned.
Provide supportive management to staff. Monitor, mentor, and motivate staff performance.
Participate in interview process for new hires.
Ensure safety (OSHA, employee, environment) in Adoption areas.
Participate in setting department annual goals and budgeting.
Ensure accurate and thorough policies and procedures, in accordance with HSHV’s process and SOP system. Communicate changes in SOPs to staff.
Be an effective liaison to the community, positively promoting HSHV’s mission, goals and philosophies. Continuously seek to improve HSHV’s save rate without compromising public health or safety or causing or prolonging animal suffering.
Keep abreast of best practices in care of shelter animals and make recommendations regarding program improvements and new program elements.
Respond to needs with the proper sense of urgency.
Work effectively and sensitively with a diverse population of customers, volunteers and staff; and respond to the needs and concerns of a diverse socioeconomic community.
Attend agency staff meetings and participate in monthly statistics review. Read email on a daily basis, and respond as appropriate.
Keep informed of and abide by agency policies and procedures.