Assistant Director - Animal Shelter Division

Loudoun County Government • Leesburg, VA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Loudoun County Animal Services (LCAS) is seeking its first-ever Assistant Director to lead and manage animal shelter operations. This leadership role reports to the Department Director and is crucial for executing the department’s overall operations and strategic planning. The Assistant Director will oversee teams responsible for animal sheltering, behavior and care, customer service, public programming, and community outreach within a collective bargaining environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong skills in managing animal shelter operations, supervising staff, interpersonal communication, and budget management. The position requires an understanding of animal shelter management principles, including inclusive language, public safety, herd health, modern intake and adoption practices, and pet retention. Strong communication skills are essential for building relationships with County staff, state agencies, and regional partners. The role also involves understanding legislative impacts, interpreting veterinary and procurement documents, problem-solving, resource management, project management, and engaging with external entities. Adherence to ASV Animal Shelter Guidelines and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks are also key. The Assistant Director will represent the Department Director at meetings, assist with internal operations (budget, finance, HR, IT, safety, asset management), provide leadership, supervise staff (including professional development, recruitment, retention, and corrective action), establish emergency operations plans, and support the drafting of information for county officials. The role may involve handling complex events like large-scale animal intakes or inter-agency transfers and collaborating with the Chief of Humane Law Enforcement. The position is based at the department’s state-of-the-art facility in Leesburg, VA.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Business, Public Administration, Veterinary/Animal Science, Non-profit Management, or a related field
• Four (4) years of directly related, progressively responsible work experience
• Two (2) years in a supervisory or management role, preferably in a government setting
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Competent to serve on behalf of the Department Director.
• Skills and demonstrated experience in managing aspects of operations in an animal shelter setting.
• Demonstrated experience in supervising and appraising staff.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience in preparing and monitoring large budgets.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the theory, principles, and practices of animal shelter management, including the use of inclusive language, application of public safety tenets, herd health fundamentals (physical and mental), modern intake and adoption practices, and pet retention programming.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to develop strong working relationships with other County staff, state agencies, and regional partners.
• Awareness of the legislative process, and the ability to evaluate legislative items for their impact on department and County operations.
• Understanding and ability to interpret complex veterinary and procurement documents.
• Ability to solve common and unusual problems encountered in animal sheltering.
• Experience in determining the best use of human, fiscal, and material resources.
• Strong project management skills.
• History of successful engagement with external entities, including other government and non-profit entities.
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record.
• Rabies pre-exposure vaccination series will commence immediately upon hire unless proof of prior vaccination is provided.
• Candidate should not have allergies to, or fear of, common companion animal species, including cats, dogs, reptiles, guinea pigs and rabbits.
• Must be able to handle and restrain animals weighing over 100 pounds and to lift animals weighing up to 75 pounds.
• Must be able, as assigned, to communicate with the media and news reporters when inquiries are made.
• Must be able to attend meetings of the Board of Supervisors and other public events that may be in the evenings or on weekends as needed.
• Euthanasia Certification (Virginia) required to be obtained within 6 months of hire.
• Must complete FEMA-NIMS Incident Command System 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 coursework successfully completed within one (1) year of hire.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Animal Welfare Administrator

Responsibilities

• Manage Animal Shelter operations by supervising teams responsible for animal sheltering, behavior and care, customer service, public programming and community outreach.
• Set strategic goals for assigned areas, establish metrics and accountability measures, and support staff expansion.
• Represent the Department Director at internal and external meetings and act as the Department Director in his/her absence.
• Assist the Department Director with overseeing the internal operations of the department, including budget, finance, procurement, human resources, information technology, safety and security, and space and asset management.
• Provide leadership and direction to department employees.
• Supervise staff, including professional development planning, recruitment and retention, assessing staff, addressing employee misconduct and poor performance, and establishing professional development and training goals.
• Establish and maintain emergency operations plans.
• Support the reviewing and drafting of information for the Loudoun County Office of the County Administrator, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, and other groups.
• Handle complex events, such as overseeing teams that facilitate large-scale animal intakes during enforcement activities or inter-agency transfers.
• Work closely with the Chief of Humane Law Enforcement to foster and help ensure intra-departmental collaboration.
• Ensure ongoing adherence to the ASV Animal Shelter Guidelines.
• Prioritize work for self and staff and manage multiple projects and tasks.

Benefits

• Forbes' 2025 Best Large Employers recognition for employee satisfaction and excellence in public service.
• Commitment to employee wellness and work-life balance.
• Diverse and inclusive workplace.

What This Job Offers

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