Director, Military Affairs

American Humane•Washington, DC

5d•$135,000 - $165,000•Hybrid

About The Position

American Humane Society is seeking a mission-driven Director, Military Affairs to lead program operations and advance the impact of the Lois Pope LIFE Center for Military Affairs. The Director leads initiatives including Pups4Patriots®, Paws on the Homefront, and Military Working Dog (MWD) Reunifications, supporting veterans, first responders, military working dogs, and their communities through the human-animal bond. The position reports directly to the Chief Program Officer and is hybrid, based at either the Washington, DC headquarters or the American Humane Sanctuary in Palm City, Florida. The role involves approximately 25% national travel, potentially limited international travel, and occasional evening and weekend work. The Director works with the Chief Program Officer and other leaders to set program strategy, develop annual and multi-year plans, manage nationwide and international program delivery, establish standards, evaluate outcomes, and identify opportunities to improve or expand programs. The role includes leading implementation of the Center’s vision for its National Home at the Palm City Sanctuary, pursuing ADI accreditation for Pups4Patriots, directing operational staff and service dog training, and overseeing quality, partnerships, data, budgets, fundraising, communications, and stakeholder engagement. The Director manages and develops Military Affairs staff and coordinates onsite, remote, and contracted personnel. Direct reports include the Service Dog Training Manager, with additional staff and contractors as program needs evolve. The position requires working across offices, training sites, events, conferences, and partner locations, including around dogs and other animals in a sanctuary setting. It also involves extended computer use and communication by telephone, virtually, and in person.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience developing, managing, and/or leading complex programs.
Experience with service dog programs.
Demonstrated success operationalizing, evaluating, and expanding programs with measurable outcomes.
Strong project and program management skills, including experience managing complex, multifaceted initiatives.
Demonstrated personnel leadership, budget management, financial stewardship, and strategic planning skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication, public speaking, negotiation, and relationship-management skills.
Strong analytical and problem-solving ability and sound judgment in a dynamic environment.
Entrepreneurial, growth-oriented, and strategic mindset with strong attention to detail.
Sound judgment in handling confidential and sensitive information.
Ability to work cross-functionally and lead remote and external partners.
High level of discretion, professionalism, integrity, accountability, diplomacy, and responsiveness.
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment, pivot flexibly, and manage change.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Teams, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to learn and adapt to new software or database systems.
Comfort working around dogs in program settings and a variety of animals in a sanctuary setting.
Ability to travel nationally and potentially internationally; approximately 25% travel, with occasional evening and weekend work.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree strongly preferred.
Experience with national or multi-site programming.
Substantive experience with veterans and/or first responders.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the Chief Program Officer and relevant leaders to shape program strategy, establish priorities, and develop annual and multi-year plans aligned with organizational goals.
Translate program direction into work plans, goals, resource recommendations, and program improvements.
Lead implementation of the Center for Military Affairs’ vision for its National Home at the American Humane Sanctuary in Palm City, including activating kennels and future convening spaces, building community partnerships, and supporting long-term sustainability.
Develop, operationalize, manage, and evaluate program activities; use data and stakeholder feedback to improve quality, impact, recruitment, outcome tracking, storytelling, and community partnerships.
Establish program standards, procedures, protocols, performance expectations, and accountability mechanisms across internal and external training sites and partner organizations.
Identify emerging opportunities, risks, and trends affecting veterans, first responders, service and family dog programs, and the human-animal bond; recommend organizational responses.
Assess program trends, improvement and partnership opportunities, and potential expansion concepts; develop recommendations with the Chief Program Officer and other leaders.
Manage day-to-day delivery of Military Affairs programming across the country and internationally to achieve Humane 2030 growth goals.
Ensure quality assurance and efficient Pups4Patriots service delivery at training sites and partner locations.
Lead the application for and achieve ADI accreditation for the Pups4Patriots program.
Supervise and direct operations staff, including application administration, client services, logistics, records, reimbursements, reporting, and program processes.
Direct the service dog training team to ensure consistent application of American Humane Society training standards and appropriate matching of Pups4Patriots and Paws on the Homefront dogs with qualified participants.
Oversee relationships with dog trainers, training agencies, mental health providers, and other contractors to ensure contractual and programmatic expectations are met.
Ensure systems are in place for data collection, program evaluation, client and graduate follow-up, and reporting.
Build productive relationships with stakeholders in military and first responder communities, including veteran and first responder organizations, Veterans Affairs staff, service dog agencies and associations, mental health providers, and strategic partners.
Lead outreach and partnership strategies to increase qualified Pups4Patriots and Paws on the Homefront applicants, identify military working dogs in need, and strengthen referral pipelines.
Represent American Humane Society at conferences, meetings, briefings, industry events, and other external opportunities.
Organize and participate in strategic convenings, roundtables, and stakeholder meetings that advance Military Affairs priorities.
Serve as a key point of contact for constituents, funders, media, and other stakeholders.
Lead efforts to achieve Center for Military Affairs annual fundraising and revenue goals in partnership with Development and Executive Leadership.
Assist with grant proposals, donor presentations, funding strategies, stewardship activities, and program deliverables that demonstrate program impact.
Develop and maintain relationships with prospective and existing funders and revenue-generating partners in conjunction with Development.
Work with Leadership and Finance to develop and manage annual program budgets, forecasts, expenditures, and financial sustainability strategies.
Ensure program activities and expenditures comply with approved budgets, funding requirements, and organizational policies.
Represent American Humane Society as a spokesperson and subject matter expert on its Military Affairs programs, including Military Working Dog Reunifications, Pups4Patriots, and Paws on the Homefront.
Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to promote program activities, successes, impact stories, and stakeholder opportunities.
Provide stories, data, presentations, and other content for websites, appeals, funding proposals, reports, media, and public information.
Participate in fundraising events, congressional briefings, media appearances, and other meetings and events that advance the organization’s mission.
Work with Events and Development to identify appropriate Pups4Patriots teams and program participants to serve as ambassadors at approved donor and American Humane events.
Manage, coach, and develop Military Affairs staff and coordinate onsite, remote, and contracted personnel to achieve annual program goals.
Set clear team priorities, accountability, communication practices, and performance expectations.
Collaborate with Executive Leadership and Finance, Philanthropy, Marketing, Communications, Events, Legal, and other departments.
Make timely decisions, resolve operational issues, and appropriately escalate risks or challenges.