Potter League, Executive Director

Noetic Search•Middletown, RI

13d•$200,000 - $250,000

About The Position

The Executive Director leads the Potter League for Animals, a comprehensive animal care and resource center serving Rhode Island, and reports to its Board of Directors. The role oversees all programs, services and operations, manages approximately 50 full- and part-time employees and more than 400 volunteers, and supervises the Director of Finance and Administration, Director of Philanthropy, Director of Operations, Director of Marketing and Community Relations, and Director of Human Resources. The new Executive Director will guide the organization into its centennial in 2029 and prepare it for its next century of service. Early priorities include developing a new strategic plan, strengthening systems and operations, fostering an open and respectful workplace culture, and ensuring organizational structures support excellent animal care. The leader will be a regular, hands-on presence at the shelter and clinic and will strengthen connections between the Middletown and Warwick teams. The position oversees financial planning and accountability, including a $5.5 million 2027 operating budget and approximately $14 million in reserves. In partnership with the Director of Philanthropy and the Board, the Executive Director cultivates and stewards donors, pursues grants, ensures pledges are fulfilled and prepares the organization for a possible future capital campaign. The leader will represent the Potter League in the community, initially emphasizing Newport County and Aquidneck Island, and build practical partnerships that extend the organization’s impact. The Executive Director will also assess program effectiveness and community need, strengthen core shelter and clinic services, and evaluate opportunities such as additional veterinary capacity and a mobile clinic. The Potter League for Animals enriches lives and promotes humane treatment of animals through sheltering, adoption, veterinary care, behavior and training support, spay and neuter services, humane education and owner assistance programs. Its work includes an open-admission shelter with managed intake, animal control contracts, a pet food pantry, temporary care for pets during owner crises, an affordable spay/neuter clinic and a community navigator program.

Requirements

Animal welfare experience is required.
Senior leadership experience at a humane society, SPCA, shelter or animal control organization, including knowledge of shelter operations, managed intake, transport partnerships and municipal contracts.
Experience reporting to or working closely with a Board of Directors.
At least 10 years in a senior leadership role.
Significant financial management experience, including understanding of nonprofit business principles and budget management.
Demonstrated success in fundraising, particularly cultivating and securing major and planned gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.
Strong personnel management skills, including collaboration, listening, humility, feedback, morale-building, conflict resolution, delegation and decision-making.
Exceptional interpersonal skills and a record of building local partnerships and coalitions.
Ability to set clear priorities, follow through, strengthen policies and procedures, and manage change, planning and forecasting.
Warm, credible communication skills and ability to represent the Potter League with the media and engage the community.
Commitment to humane and ethical treatment of animals.
Bachelor’s degree desired.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree preferred.
CAWA credential is a plus.
Capital campaign experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

Provide vision and direction for the Potter League’s programs, policies and growth.
Lead development and implementation of a new strategic plan.
Oversee all programs, services and operations, and manage staff and volunteers.
Provide guidance, stability and support to staff and maintain an open, collaborative partnership with the Board of Directors.
Be a hands-on, visible leader who strengthens systems across operations, human resources, finance and facilities.
Communicate decisions and their rationale to staff, support staff development and foster an open, inclusive culture.
Oversee the operating budget, business plans and reserves; ensure timely, accurate financial reporting and sound fiscal practices.
Involve directors and managers in budget development and negotiate municipal contracts that reflect the true cost of care.
Personally cultivate and steward major donors, model donor engagement and attract new supporters.
Ensure individual, corporate and foundation pledges are fulfilled; pursue program-specific grants and prepare for a future capital campaign.
Serve as a spokesperson and build relationships with local nonprofits, municipal leaders, donors, residents and seasonal community members.
Develop practical partnerships with food banks, human services agencies and other organizations to extend programs efficiently.
Evaluate programs with staff for effectiveness, sustainability and community need; strengthen core shelter and clinic operations before pursuing new initiatives.
Assess opportunities to expand veterinary capacity and other services, potentially including a mobile clinic.
Build connections between the Middletown and Warwick teams while respecting the clinic’s operational strengths.
Rally staff, volunteers and the community around the organization’s 2029 centennial.