Director of Animal Operations

SPCA of Wake County•Raleigh, NC

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Animal Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the SPCA of Wake County's Animal Care, Adoptions, Intake, and Animal Behavior departments. This position is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, operational excellence, staff development, and customer experience while advancing the organization's mission to improve the lives of pets and people throughout the community. This role oversees the development, execution, and continuous improvement of programs, policies, procedures, and operational strategies that support positive outcomes for animals and adopters. The Director of Animal Operations ensures that departmental operations are aligned with sheltering best practices, organizational goals, and evolving community needs while maintaining a strong focus on animal welfare, operational efficiency, and employee engagement. The Director serves as a key member of the Operations leadership team and partners closely with Medical, Volunteer & Foster, Facilities, Development, Communications, and organizational leadership to ensure seamless coordination across functions. This position is responsible for developing leaders, fostering a culture of accountability and psychological safety, and driving continuous improvement through data-informed decision making. This role is ideal for an experienced animal welfare leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys developing people and programs, and is passionate about creating innovative solutions that improve outcomes for animals, adopters, staff, and the community.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
Minimum 3 years of leadership experience within animal welfare, animal sheltering, humane organizations, or a closely related field
Strong knowledge of shelter operations, humane care, animal welfare principles, population management, and industry best practices
Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and coaching employees and leaders
Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
Proven ability to lead with empathy and curiosity, build trust, and develop employees at all levels of the organization
Positive attitude with a collaborative, team-oriented approach to leadership and problem solving
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment
Experience utilizing data, metrics, and performance measures to support operational decision-making
Proficiency with relevant software, databases, and reporting systems
Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of the SPCA of Wake County

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Organizational Leadership, or a related field
Five or more years of progressive leadership experience within animal welfare organizations
Experience leading multiple operational departments or large teams
Experience with shelter population management, behavior programs, and adoption operations
Experience developing and implementing operational strategies, policies, and standard operating procedures
Experience managing budgets and organizational resources
Fear Free, low-stress handling, or related animal welfare certifications
Experience leading organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives

Responsibilities

Provide strategic and operational leadership across Adoptions, Animal Care, Animal Behavior, and Intake departments
Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with organizational priorities, mission, and long-term goals
Foster a culture of collaboration, psychological safety, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
Participate as a member of the leadership team and contribute to organizational planning, decision-making, and strategic initiatives
Partner with organizational leaders to identify opportunities for operational enhancements and improved outcomes across departments
Lead change management initiatives and support implementation of new programs, services, and operational processes
Ensure departmental goals and performance measures align with organizational objectives
Recruit, develop, coach, and retain high-performing managers and department teams
Model a leadership style built on trust, transparency, accountability, and professional development
Inspires confidence through consistent leadership, sound judgment, and accountability
Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and provide ongoing coaching and performance feedback to direct reports
Foster an environment where employees feel empowered to raise concerns, contribute ideas, and participate in problem-solving efforts
Support succession planning and leadership development across operational departments
Promote employee engagement, teamwork, and a culture consistent with SPCA of Wake County values
Address performance concerns and support corrective action, coaching, and employee development efforts as needed
Oversee daily operations across Animal Care, Adoptions, Intake, and Animal Behavior departments to ensure consistent, compassionate, and humane care for animals
Ensure operational practices align with animal welfare best practices, fear-free principles, and organizational standards
Develop, implement, and maintain standard operating procedures and operational workflows for assigned departments
Monitor shelter capacity, animal flow, and population management strategies to maximize outcomes and organizational readiness
Identify and proactively address barriers impacting intake, animal movement, adoption outcomes, and overall operational efficiency
Ensure behavior assessment and support programs are effectively integrated into shelter operations and adoption processes for animals and adopters
Oversee development and implementation of enrichment, behavior modification, and animal welfare initiatives that support positive outcomes and quality of life
Evaluate operational performance and implement improvements that enhance efficiency, consistency, and service delivery
Lead strategies designed to maximize positive outcomes through efficient intake, placement, transfer, and adoption practices
Develop and support community-facing adoption programs, events, partnerships, and initiatives that increase adoptions and community engagement
Ensure intake operations are aligned with organizational capacity, population management goals, and animal welfare standards
Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to strengthen community partnerships and improve access to services
Support innovative programs that improve customer experience and increase organizational impact
Establish, monitor, and evaluate key performance indicators related to animal welfare, operations, customer experience, and departmental effectiveness
Track and analyze metrics including intake volume, adoption rates, length of stay, capacity utilization, behavior outcomes, and other operational measures
Utilize data and performance trends to drive strategic decision-making and continuous improvement efforts
Prepare and present operational updates, recommendations, and performance reports to organizational leadership
Identify trends, opportunities, and risks and implement action plans to improve organizational outcomes
Assist in the development and management of departmental budgets and operational resources
Ensure responsible stewardship of organizational assets, supplies, and resources
Evaluate staffing models, operational needs, and resource allocation to support efficient and effective operations
Partner with leadership to identify opportunities for operational investments and cost-effective improvements
Work closely with Medical, Volunteer & Foster, Facilities, Development, Communications, and other organizational teams to support seamless operations
Collaborate with fellow directors and leaders to ensure alignment across departments and operational functions
Participate in meetings, committees, events, and organizational initiatives as assigned
Serve as a resource and subject matter expert regarding shelter operations, animal welfare, and population management strategies
Perform additional leadership and operational duties as assigned to support organizational priorities

Benefits

Medical and Dental: Employer pays 90% of employee coverage (full-time)
Insurance includes wellness, dental, vision, life, mental health care, prescriptions, emergency & urgent care, chiropractic care, and physical therapy
Telemedicine options, 24/7 access to virtual health & wellness care and virtual behavioral health care
PAID TIME OFF – All part-time and full-time staff receive paid time off.
Paid Holidays - 9 paid holidays per year (full-time)
Vacation Time - 10 paid vacation days per year (full-time) with scheduled increases at milestone anniversaries of hire date
Sick Time - 6.5 paid sick days per year (full-time)
FINANCIAL – Healthcare: Flexible Spending Account
401k Plan
Coastal Federal Credit Union Membership
20% discount on pet adoptions and in SPCA Wake retail store
OTHER – Bereavement time off
Federal & State Leave of Absence options