Animal Sanctuary Operations Manager

West Place Animal Sanctuary • Tiverton, RI

10d • Onsite

About The Position

West Place Animal Sanctuary is hiring a full-time Operations Manager to oversee daily operations, with primary responsibility for the volunteer program, feed and supply ordering, inventories, organization, support for the animal care manager, and community outreach. The role helps ensure that the sanctuary’s standards of excellence are met. The sanctuary is a nonprofit open 365 days a year, and the position requires working in person in Tiverton, Rhode Island, Wednesday through Sunday, including both weekend days. The scheduled shift is 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with a half-hour lunch break and other necessary breaks. The employee must take the work phone home and respond to emergent public calls and emails, including on holidays and occasional late-night emergencies. Holiday work is required when a holiday falls on a scheduled workday, subject to the stated PTO and coverage conditions.

The Operations Manager recruits, onboards, schedules, trains, supports, and recognizes volunteers and interns, while maintaining related communications and databases. When the animal care manager or backup is unavailable, the Operations Manager may act as animal care manager, overseeing animal care tasks and volunteers, conducting daily animal health checks, administering routine supplements and medications, and reporting health issues. Administrative duties include supply and inventory management, handling public inquiries, maintaining records and calendars, and updating training manuals and operating procedures. The role also supports tours, group volunteering, weddings, corporate retreats, and virtual-tour and social-media content.

The position requires more than two years of operations management experience, administrative experience, and event and booking experience. The posting also lists volunteer management, customer service, strong communication, organization, time management, multitasking, critical thinking, database management, and proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel, the internet, G Suite for nonprofits, Discord, and Airtable. Applicants must be able to work around or handle large animals when necessary, stand for extended periods, and lift up to 30 pounds. A car and reliable commuting or relocation to Tiverton are required. The starting pay is $40,000 per year, based on experience, with yearly reviews and potential increases and advancement. Benefits include 10 days of paid time off and a 50% employee discount in the gift shop. The sanctuary says it does not currently offer health insurance or a retirement plan, though it is working toward potentially adding them in 2027.

Requirements

• More than two years of operations management experience.
• Administrative experience; required, with no minimum duration specified.
• Event and booking experience; required, with no minimum duration specified.
• Volunteer management experience.
• Customer service experience.
• Strong communication skills, including listening, speaking, and writing, and willingness to communicate by phone.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, time management, critical thinking, mindfulness, and ability to multitask.
• Database management experience or ability.
• Proficiency with Word, Excel, the internet, G Suite for nonprofits, Discord, Airtable, and certain programs and apps.
• Commitment to a team-based approach with staff, volunteers, and guests.
• Ability to manage in-person requests, phone calls, and emails.
• Ability to be around or handle large animals when necessary.
• Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 30 pounds.
• Reliable attendance and ability to work Wednesday through Sunday, including both weekend days; the schedule is stated to be non-negotiable.
• Ability to commute reliably to or relocate to Tiverton, Rhode Island, and access to a car.
• Applicants must submit a cover letter; resumes without a cover letter will not be considered.
• If leaving the role, the sanctuary requests at least one month’s notice and full training of a successor.

Nice To Haves

• Public relations experience.
• At least one year of farm animal care experience, or willingness to learn.
• Tour guide experience, or willingness to learn.
• Experience with repairs.
• Ability to lift more than 30 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and retain volunteers through outreach to individuals, community organizations, educational institutions, and corporations.
• Review volunteer applications, check references, interview candidates, assess their interests and skills, and match them with suitable activities.
• Onboard volunteers and interns, collect required documentation, identify and assign training, and track training completion.
• Maintain weekly volunteer and intern schedules, attendance communications, databases, and accurate, timely program data.
• Provide volunteers and interns with daily guidance and feedback; maintain recognition efforts and organize appreciation and training activities.
• Recruit high school, college, and graduate interns; respond to requests, match interns with staff or projects, manage orientation, update training information, and provide feedback and school evaluations with the animal care manager.
• Act as animal care manager when the animal care manager and backup are unavailable, with training provided.
• Oversee volunteers conducting feeding, cleaning, and maintenance of resident living areas; oversee cleaning, maintenance, and storage of sanctuary equipment.
• Assist with intake and inspection of new animals and oversee cleanliness, maintenance, and daily care of the kennel, office, and gift shop building.
• Conduct daily animal health checks, provide supplements, medications, and injections, and notify the animal care manager of health issues.
• Maintain inventories and ensure adequate supplies of food, medicine, tools, and other materials.
• Respond promptly and appropriately to emails, manage the main phone line and voicemail, and assist the public with questions.
• Update standard operating procedures, manuals, training tools, and resources related to volunteers, animal care, and operations; prepare daily updates to the Operations Training Manual and Animal Care Training Manual.
• Maintain feed, medical supply, inventory, and volunteer databases, and maintain the monthly calendar for vaccinations, deworming, hoof care, and related needs in conjunction with the animal care manager.
• Assist director-level staff with administrative tasks and interact respectfully and helpfully with employees, visitors, donors, and volunteers.
• Guide visitor-weekend and private tours after training; book private tours and manage gift shop checkout systems.
• Book group volunteering, plan projects, and manage groups; book small weddings and corporate retreats, with training provided.
• Assist with content for the virtual tour platform and gather social media content for the Communications Director.
• Carry the work phone home and assist the public with emergent calls and emails in a timely manner, including during holidays and occasional late-night emergencies.
• Work scheduled holidays when they fall on scheduled workdays unless PTO is used under the stated coverage conditions.

Benefits

• 10 days of paid time off.
• 50% employee discount in the gift shop.
• Yearly reviews and increases, and potential to move up within the organization.
• Health insurance and a retirement plan are not currently offered; the organization is working toward potentially adding them in 2027.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed