Improving pets' lives since 1993

Director of Operations, Lakefield Animal Welfare Society

Lakefield Animal Welfare Society (LAWS), founded in 1993, is a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing homeless, abandoned, and injured animals in our community and finding adoptive homes for them. With a handful of paid staff, we rely on our caring and experienced volunteers every day. We are a no-kill shelter and work very hard at finding homes for even the most difficult to place animals. We do not believe that euthanasia is an acceptable method of population control but that spay and neuter is the only humane way to combat the problem. LAWS is run strictly on donations, memberships and adoption fees. We do not benefit from any outside government or private sector funding.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Board of Directors, we are looking for a Director of Operations who is passionate about serving the community and animals in need, while leading and motivating a team who is committed to making an impact.  We are seeking a collaborative and engaging leader with experience in animal services management, community engagement and outreach including fundraising, and one who stays abreast of current and emerging best practices to ensure animals in our shelter experience the highest standards of care.

The Director of Operations is a key role, accountable for managing, directing, planning, organizing and coordinating the overall activities, objectives and priorities for the shelter.  This includes leading a small number of employees and oversight of a sizable volunteer base who are critical to LAWS success.

Leadership – 40%

  • Partners with the Board to develop the shelter strategy, short to long-range plans, and to review programs, policies and procedures
  • Responsible for the annual budget, monitoring budget expenditures on a monthly basis, as well as cashflow and banking
  • Recruitment and onboarding for shelter employees as well as involvement in the recruitment process for volunteers
  • Supervise, evaluate, motivate, coach, mentor, and develop employees
  • Resource management – assigns work, prepares work schedules for all employees and volunteers, ensuring all are appropriately trained to execute on their role

Animal Care – 25%

  • Supervise, control and provide approval for incoming animals
  • Oversee the animal operations and foster programs
  • Working with the Registered Vet Tech (RVT), oversees the scheduling of surgery, ordering of medication and all medical tests for shelter animals
  • Lead team discussions regarding placement decisions, behaviour plans and other animal related concerns
  • Maintain shelter records and statistics as well as producing relevant reporting on activity for the Board
  • Ensure the information provided to the public and adoptive parents is accurate and correct regarding the animals in question

Shelter Operations – 10%

  • Oversee all inventories and ordering of shelter supplies and equipment to ensure the appropriate quantities of supplies are available at all times
  • In partnership with employees and veterinarians, enforce all policies and protocols to protect the health and wellbeing of the animals in the shelter
  • Inspect shelter property and coordinate any needed repairs and maintenance to ensure a clean and safe work environment

General – 25%

  • Develop and maintain a cooperative working relationship with the public and other community agencies and organizations
  • Development of fundraising plan, including initiating fundraising opportunities and research grants
  • Oversee digital content and usage
  • Stay abreast of best practices in animal care, perform ongoing evaluations of existing programs and practices and continually look at ways to improve

Qualifications & Skills:

  • Post secondary degree or diploma preferred
  • 4+ years management experience, including financial management i.e. budgeting and resource allocation
  • Minimum 3 years’ experience working in an animal shelter or veterinary clinic environment, specifically with programs and care delivery
  • Fundraising – familiarity with grant application processes, stewardship plans
  • Knowledge of principles and practices of administration, including budgeting, purchasing, contract administration, strategic planning, maintenance of records
  • Familiarity with provincial laws and regulations regarding animal sheltering, animal control, animal welfare, health and safety
  • Solid understanding of principles of animal behavior and care; occupational hazards and standard safety practices necessary in shelters
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively and professionally with various stakeholders including the Board, the public, donors, employees and volunteers
  • Strong computer skills – knowledge of PetPoint and Canada Helps software an asset

Compensation & Benefits

Salary is $60,000–$75,000, commensurate with experience.

LAWS offers a competitive benefits package to support the well-being of our full-time employees.

Please submit your cover letter and resume to board@lakefieldanimalwelfare.org for consideration by 4 p.m. October 7, 2024.  We thank all for applying, however only those applications deemed a suitable fit will be contacted.

Equal Opportunity Statement

LAWS is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds without regard to age, colour, race, sex, religion or belief, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family or parental status, genetic characteristics, or physical or mental disability. We provide employment accommodation in accordance with provincial legislation. To request a reasonable accommodation, contact board@lakefieldanimalwelfare.org.