Animal Care Director (49744)

NEVADA HUMANE SOCIETY•Reno, NV

111d•Onsite

About The Position

The Animal Care Director provides strategic leadership for the humane care and effective management of all animals across both Nevada Humane Society campuses. This role oversees the Dog Care, Cat Care, and Behavior & Transfer teams, ensuring operations, animal population flow, and care standards align with ASV guidelines and organizational policies. The position supports data-informed decision-making, cross-departmental coordination, and emergency preparedness to safeguard animal welfare.

Requirements

Minimum 5 years of experience in animal sheltering, or animal welfare.
At least 3 years of supervisory or management experience in an animal shelter.
Demonstrated leadership effectiveness resulting in sustained employee retention, high performance and team stability.
Demonstrated experience leading multiple departments in a high-volume, open-admission animal shelter or similarly complex environment, with the ability to remain effective, adaptable, and solution-focused under sustained operational pressure, frequent change, and competing priorities.
Demonstrated and documented experience managing employee onboarding, training, performance management, and retention in accordance with organizational standards and best practices.
Demonstrated and documented experience managing employee relations matters, with a strong working knowledge of employment law, Human Resources best practices, and organizational policy compliance.
Bachelor’s degree in animal science, Veterinary Technology, non-profit management, or a related field or equivalent professional experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of canine behavior, learning theory, and humane training principles and ASV guidelines.
Demonstrated ability to supervise, evaluate, and support CPDT-KA–certified staff.
Demonstrated knowledge of animal welfare standards, shelter medicine, disease control, and humane handling practices.
Experience overseeing daily animal care operations, including population management and enrichment.
Ability to lead, train, and support staff, volunteers, and foster caregivers.
Strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
Experience working within budget constraints and stewarding limited resources responsibly.
Ability to make ethical, humane decisions in alignment with organizational policies.
Physical ability to perform shelter-related duties, including lifting 50+ lbs.
Availability to work flexible hours, including weekends, holidays, and emergency situations.
Demonstrated experience with shelter software.

Responsibilities

Lead and oversee Dog Care, Cat Care, and Behavior & Transfer teams across both campuses, ensuring humane, consistent, and high-quality care for all animals.
Set and continuously improve animal care standards, protocols, and operations in alignment with Association of Shelter Veterinarians guidelines and organizational policy.
Coach and manage Animal Care leadership staff, driving accountability, professional growth, and strong team performance.
Oversee daily animal care operations and shelter population management to optimize animal wellbeing, live outcomes, and length of stay.
Partner closely with Medical, Clinic, and Behavior teams to ensure coordinated, timely, and humane decision-making.
Lead enrichment and behavior programs that reduce stress and increase adoptability.
Ensure compliance with disease control, sanitation, safety, and animal welfare standards.
Serve as a certified euthanasia decision-maker, ensuring compassionate, consistent, and well-documented outcomes.
Oversee staffing, scheduling, hiring, training, and performance management for animal care leadership.
Manage budgets, data, and resources while analyzing key metrics to guide operational and strategic decisions.
Build and maintain strong relationships with community transfer partners.
Support organizational planning, emergency preparedness, and continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

100% Employer-paid medical & vision premium option (Full-Time Employees)
Pet-centric benefits not typical in most benefit packages
Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual starting on day one
Nine paid holidays
90% employer-paid buy-up options and low-cost dental plans
Eligibility for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program
Low-cost supplemental plans including Life Insurance, Accident, and Short-Term Disability
Pet-focused perks such as free vaccines, spay/neuter, and end-of-life services for employee-owned pets
Free and reduced-cost pet adoptions
Up to 50% off major brand and prescription pet food delivered directly to the shelter