Senior Manager, Placement Programs

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals • Weaverville, NC

5d • Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Placement Programs oversees placement of dogs graduating from the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC), coordinating direct adoptions and placements with partner organizations. The role collaborates across shelter operations, medicine, behavior, centralized placement, communications, and other ASPCA teams to support successful placements and the behavioral health of dogs in treatment. The position directly supervises the Coordinator, Adoptions and Placement and reports to the Senior Director, Operations.

This is an in-person role based at the BRC in Weaverville, North Carolina. The schedule is typically five days per week, usually Monday through Friday, but must be flexible to include days, evenings, weekends, and holidays when operationally needed. The role participates in a rotating on-call schedule and requires travel up to 20%, including at least quarterly travel to transport animals or provide field or temporary-shelter support.

The Senior Manager develops adoption and placement programs, prepares and maintains animal profiles and placement documentation, coordinates transports, cultivates partner and community relationships, and supports adoption marketing and outreach. The role also manages staff performance and development, contributes to BRC operations, and helps ensure that placement practices and daily work support the animals’ behavioral and mental health. Applicants must be comfortable working with behaviorally compromised animals in an environment where euthanasia is performed regularly.

Requirements

• Knowledge of companion-animal behavior and animal welfare.
• Ability to work closely with behaviorally compromised animals and comfort working in an environment where euthanasia is performed regularly.
• Proficiency with internet use and research.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent spoken, telephone, and written communication skills.
• Collaborative, team-oriented interpersonal skills.
• Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced and potentially stressful environment, remain flexible, and adapt to frequent changes in plans or protocols.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Willingness and ability to handle animals in stressful conditions.
• Care and concern for the safety and well-being of oneself, animals, and others, especially during stressful situations.
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA core values and behavioral competencies.
• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience.
• At least two years of professional experience working in animal shelters.
• Leadership experience, such as managing, mentoring, coaching, or training others.
• English language proficiency.
• Ability to work in person at the BRC in Weaverville, North Carolina, on a schedule typically five days per week; flexibility for days, evenings, weekends, holidays, and rotating on-call duties as operationally needed.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time, including at least quarterly travel for animal transport or field or temporary-shelter support.
• Ability to obtain Fear Free® certification within 60 days of hire; training will be provided.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in an animal-shelter adoptions setting.
• Professional experience handling and working with dogs.
• Community outreach and engagement experience.
• Writing and photography experience.
• Experience with Airtable or similar software.
• Familiarity with shelter management software systems.
• Familiarity with Salesforce or related software.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement direct-adoption program enhancements and standard operating procedures to help place BRC graduates in adoptive homes.
• Expand adoption and outreach efforts and improve the direct-adoption experience for adopters and staff.
• Coordinate with Behavior and Operations teams to build knowledge of graduates, participate regularly in treatments and playgroups, and collect photos and videos.
• Review graduate medical and behavioral documentation for transparency, objectivity, and alignment with organizational standards; coordinate revisions with relevant teams.
• Coordinate dog transports with Centralized Placement, medical, behavior, and operations teams, and follow up with adopters through surveys to assess placement outcomes.
• Onboard shelter partners with the Behavior Branch and Centralized Placement, conduct facility visits when needed, and develop partner shelter shadowing opportunities.
• Prepare dogs and their documentation and supplies for transport; coordinate with the Relocation Team and transport dogs to partners when necessary.
• Directly supervise the Coordinator, Adoptions and Placement; ensure compliance with procedures and regulatory requirements and maintain accurate compliance records.
• Set team goals, organize tasks and resources, facilitate communication, address conflict, evaluate performance, coach staff, and support recruitment, onboarding, workforce planning, and professional development.
• Collaborate with BRC leadership on employee recognition and engagement initiatives and serve as Manager on Duty for the daily care team as needed.
• Collect compelling graduate stories, photographs, videos, and details for placement and adoption marketing; develop or edit web biographies and detailed animal profiles.
• Identify and communicate each animal’s traits and management needs to placement partners, and maintain relationships that support future placements.
• Coordinate with the Behavior Branch and Media & Communications Team to maintain adoption profiles and provide marketing support to receiving shelters.
• Monitor adoption trends, develop creative approaches to expand the reach of direct adoption, participate in community outreach, and cultivate local business relationships for adoption promotion.
• Create and manage adoption agreements, placement forms, and other required documentation; ensure documents are signed, retained, and filed appropriately.
• Maintain placement documents, protocols, and SOPs; prepare graduate folders and confirm that required medical and other documentation and actions are complete before a dog leaves the BRC.
• Collect and track adoption inquiry data to inform a strategic plan for promoting graduates.
• Attend relevant leadership, staff, dog-status, outcomes, and other meetings; collaborate with Learning Lab and represent the BRC during teaching weeks as needed.
• Represent the BRC in media opportunities as needed and support other departmental activities identified by the supervisor.
• Model and support practices that promote animals’ behavioral and mental health, and contribute to a respectful, collaborative team culture.

Benefits

• Affordable medical coverage, employer-paid dental coverage, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off including vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, and paid parental leave.
• Ten company-paid holidays.
• 401(k) plan with dollar-for-dollar employer matching up to 4% and an additional 4% employer contribution.
• Professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching, mentorship, internal mobility, and field-support opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: High school or GED