Animal Services Director

Multnomah County • Troutdale, OR

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Multnomah County is seeking a progressive and visionary leader who brings a steady, compassionate presence and a deep passion for animal welfare and community service to serve as its next Animal Services Director. This role offers an extraordinary opportunity to balance complex municipal operations with compassionate, community-centered care. In this deeply impactful role, you will be a visible and trusted voice for our division, guiding a passionate team and shaping progressive animal welfare policies. Your ability to build authentic public trust and nurture community relationships will directly uplift both the people and animals we serve every day. Multnomah County Animal Services (MCAS) is an open-admission public animal care and control agency guided by a vital mission: to protect the health, safety, and welfare of animals and people throughout the county. Reporting directly to the Director of the Department of Community Services (DCS), you will lead a division backed by a $13.8 annual budget, 74 full-time employees, and an active, passionate network of over 100 volunteers and foster parents. MCAS provides comprehensive regional services, including humane sheltering, emergency response, pet adoption, licensing, and reunification. As a founding member of the Animal Shelter Alliance of Portland (ASAP), our collaborative regional efforts allow us to regularly maintain a live release rate exceeding 90%. Looking forward, our shelter environment is evolving, presenting the incoming Director with a unique opportunity to advocate for modern shelter developments, update operating policies, and implement industry best practices.

Requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree in public health, business administration, public policy, or a related field or equivalent related experience.
• Minimum of (5) years of senior-level management, preferably working in a Union (represented) environment, including fiscal management experience, developing and directing budgets, and managing capital expenditures.
• Experience communicating complex information clearly and persuasively through presentations to various partners, ranging from staff-level colleagues to external partners and the Board of Commissioners.
• Demonstrated success in process implementation and performance measurement.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s Degree
• 5 years of Experience in Senior Level role
• Public Sector/Governmental Experience: Direct, substantial experience in a large county, state, or municipal government or other comparable complex public-sector entity.
• Strong preference for experience in the animal welfare industry.

Responsibilities

• Lead a division with a $13.8 million annual budget and 74 full-time employees.
• Manage an active network of over 100 volunteers and foster parents.
• Provide comprehensive regional services including humane sheltering, emergency response, pet adoption, licensing, and reunification.
• Advocate for modern shelter developments, update operating policies, and implement industry best practices.
• Translate high-level vision into measurable, accountable results.
• Provide rigorous oversight to a multi-million dollar budget.
• Develop modern enterprise solutions and collaborate with cross-agency community partners.
• Foster an approachable, open-door environment rooted in safety, equity, and trust.
• Lead with emotional empathy, empowering a diverse, passionate workforce and management team to excel.
• Take a trauma-informed approach to manage staff and difficult situations.
• Understand the connection between people and their pets and honor the human-animal bond, particularly within underserved communities.
• Navigate political landscapes and build bridges with elected officials and community leaders.
• Build trust through collaborative communication.
• Navigate Board politics, manage public perception, translate complex strategies, and de-escalate sensitive conflicts.
• Coach and mentor management staff.
• Implement process improvements and performance measurement.

Benefits

• Employer-funded retirement savings
• Health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents
• Paid parental leave
• Wellness programs
• Focus on work-life balance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive