Senior Manager, Center Operations - New York, NY

Best Friends•New York, NY

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Center Operations Senior Manager is a key leader responsible for the daily functions, efficient operations, and growth of lifesaving programs, including outcomes, foster care, and the care and enrichment for all pets at our lifesaving centers. This role works with leadership to oversee strategic expansion and community engagement for the success of Best Friends Animal Society’s mission and vision. They serve as program leaders to achieve objectives and function with a high degree of autonomy.

Requirements

High School Diploma or GED or 3-5 years’ experience working in animal welfare, animal care or veterinary practice.
Solid leadership and management experience preferably in animal welfare with a lifesaving focus.
3+ years of management or leadership experience, including overseeing budgets and staff.
3+ years of experience working for or with a humane organization preferred but not required.
Strengths in utilizing statistical information to inform, develop and implement division and department level strategic plans, including change management strategies and program direction.
Proven attention to detail with advanced organizational and time management skills.
Excellent communications skills: comfort with public speaking and presentation experience.
Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ position on issues.
Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues.
Familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.
Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns.
Basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.
Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds.
Ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process.
Problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically.
Flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
Familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.
Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.
Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.
Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.
Valid driver’s license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards.
Ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.
After-hours flexibility to monitor a designated phone line for urgent foster care or volunteer-related issues, such as animal emergencies, or scheduling issues.
Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Lead by example towards Best Friends’ no-kill 2025 goal, acting with urgency and efficiency on behalf of animals at risk.
Develop and maintain a comprehensive knowledge of Best Friends’ mission, programs, and strategic direction.
Develop annual lifesaving center goals and metrics, integrating operational work to direct impact of shelter conversions.
Review department progress to goals routinely and maintain ongoing review of operations, providing feedback to department managers.
Oversee division and departmental budgets, including managing expenses, revenues, and reporting.
Oversee physical facilities, equipment procurement, and management of supplies, inventory, and building upkeep.
Participate in capital improvement project planning.
Promote and oversee community-first strategies, engaging volunteers, community members, and other stakeholders.
Create an environment where Best Friends is the best place to work in animal welfare, providing opportunities for growth.
Lead human resource matters in conjunction with HR and Employee Relations departments regarding staff selection, management, development, and retention.
Oversee headcount controls and position creation or realignment.
Build individual capabilities and capacity through performance measurement, goals setting, reporting, and analysis.
Lead teams and volunteers to oversee, coordinate, and conduct daily lifesaving outcomes & care such as adoptions, foster placement, feeding, cleaning, walking, and medicating animals.
Identify pet adoption opportunities and foster engagement opportunities through events and offsite adoption meets.
Source pet retention resources to help expand Best Friends’ lifesaving capacity utilizing volunteers.
Introduce, recruit, and engage with local organizations, individuals, and stakeholders to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.
Implement Best Friends engagement and advocacy strategies through communications, events, social media, or other methods.
Routinely evaluate onsite animal capacity and determine lifesaving needs for shelter conversions.
Develop and improve program efficiency to increase placement opportunities.
Routinely audit length of stay trends and reporting in Lifesaving Center animal population and work with all Lifesaving Program managers to expedite placement for long-stay animals.
Oversee department managers and supervisors, ensuring priority focus on creating a welcoming and engaging environment at the Lifesaving Center and its offsite events and activities.
Provide superior customer service to all visitors and use each interaction as an opportunity to develop and engage individuals.
Develop strategies for recruitment and retention of volunteers, to include foster program volunteers.
Ensure volunteer opportunities augment daily operations and maximize lifesaving capacity.
Oversee and assist in the creation of engaging content for social media platforms, including written, video, and photo content.
Collaborate with other departments and marketing teams to identify engagement opportunities with social media and PR.
Represent Best Friends in media relations when requested and ensure Best Friends’ voice is maintained across all communications.
Supervise and support veterinary leadership, ensuring high standards of medical care, compliance with regulations, and alignment with shelter medicine best practices.
Collaborate with veterinarians to set medical protocols for preventive care, spay/neuter, treatment plans, and humane euthanasia decisions.
Lead the maintenance of a safe workplace, value and model safe work practices, and address or communicate unsafe practices and conditions to leadership.