Manager, Care & Enrichment

Summary: Are you passionate about helping animals in need and eager to advance the field of animal welfare? Do you thrive in a dynamic, complex, highly collaborative environment? If so, the role of Manager, Care & Enrichment at the ASPCA’s Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, OH might be right for you! The application for this position will be open until 5pm EST on Tuesday, June 16. Who We Are At the CRC, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in ASPCA national cruelty cases and disaster responses. This team works closely with the ASPCA’s National Field & Disaster Response (NFDR), Veterinary Forensics, Criminal Practice & Investigations (CPI), Behavioral Sciences (BST) and Shelter Medicine Services (SMS) teams to ensure well- coordinated operations and high-quality care for animal victims of neglect, abuse and natural disasters. The CRC team also provides care for animals housed in ASPCA temporary field shelters. What You’ll Do The Manager, Care and Enrichment works alongside two other Managers, Care and Enrichment, under the direction of the Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment. Manager will directly supervise two Care and Enrichment Technicians (CETs) who comprise a team of 8 in total. The Care and Enrichment team works together to provide daily care and enrichment, perform low-stress handling and husbandry, reconfigure and build kennel and play spaces to fill operational needs on a regular basis, closely monitor the population for signs of medical and behavioral change and keep all animal care areas stocked with supplies. In the absence of the Senior Manager, the Manager shares oversight of CRC daily operations with fellow Managers. The Manager will also help plan and rotate into leadership roles to oversee sheltering functions at ASPCA temporary shelter facilities. In addition to taking a lead role in the oversight of animal care and supervision of daily care teams, the Manager will perform recordkeeping, track and order needed supplies and work with the Senior Manager and Manager, Facilities to ensure a safe, well-organized environment for all animals and staff. Perhaps the most critical function of the Manager will be to serve as part of a harmonious, united management team of shelter operations, shelter medicine and animal behavior experts, all dedicated to collaborating with each other to provide balanced care. The Manager, Care and Enrichment reports directly to the Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment and has 2-3 direct reports. Where and When You’ll Work This position is an on-site role and reports to the Cruelty Recovery Center in Columbus, OH. Regular schedule of Wednesday-Saturday, 7:30am to 5:30pm This role requires the ability to adapt to a flexible work schedule and willingness to be on-call for last-minute deployments Schedules are subject to change as needed by the ASPCA. This role requires the ability and willingness to travel up to 30% of the time as needed What You’ll Get Compensation Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. The target hiring range for this role is $56,000-$60,000 annually. Benefits At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include but are not limited to: Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage. Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you. Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year. Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more. For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website. Responsibilities: Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to: Shelter Operations Cruelty Recovery Center: Direct Care and Enrichment team, in partnership with fellow Managers, to monitor and help maintain the medical and behavioral health of shelter animals; ensure proper daily care and adherence to nutrition, sanitation and infectious disease-prevention protocols; fill in to support CET responsibilities as needed Act as Shelter Lead, Floor Lead, and Enrichment Coordinator as assigned by the Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment Ensure that feline and canine enrichment programs are implemented and maintained; that staff are trained and compliant; that adequate supplies are on hand; and that animals are receiving an appropriate variety of items and experiences to support and enhance behavioral health Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and volunteers by using low-stress handling techniques Ensure that all team members have received training and mastered the skills to handle in a low stress manner, and that they implement these handling techniques consistently in all their interactions with animals Hold team briefings at regular intervals throughout the day to give relevant updates, determine progress on tasks, who needs additional support, and shape the remainder of the day accordingly Collaborate with behavior and veterinary team members, working together to ensure open and ample communication, excellent care, and close monitoring of every animal in the shelter Perform daily rounds to ensure the animals’ needs are met. Work alongside Medical and Behavior Leads to identify concerns and problem-solve solutions Work with the Senior Manager, Volunteers and Responders to train and integrate volunteers into daily care, setting clear expectations, providing guidance as needed and always communicating respect and gratitude for volunteer support Work with the Senior Manager, Foster and Placement to orchestrate the export of released animals to partner organizations and foster homes Ensure that shelter supply needs are met at the CRC and in the field, track expenses and order supplies with supervisor approval Collaborate consistently with other ASPCA departments, prioritizing alignment in operations practices across departments Maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with criminal cases Assist the Medical team with handling animals for humane euthanasia and after care as needed Temporary Sheltering: Assist with planning and animal care enrichment arrangements for temporary sheltering operations in the field Serve in a leadership role during rotations into temporary shelters, ensuring consistent operations and communications between CRC, NFDR, Forensics, CPI, BST and SMS, while also ensuring CRC is operating efficiently Assist Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment in scheduling CRC team members, other ASPCA staff and Responders to staff emergency/temporary shelters Work with Senior Manager, Care and Enrichment and Field Logistics on the NFDR team to order and ship necessary supplies for the shelter and staff; collaborate with NFDR Logistics and Safety leads on the ground When appropriate, work with local communities affected by disasters to return rescued animals to their owners and find placement for unclaimed animals People Management Manage and supervise CETs andCET Leads; maintain a fully staffed team, hiring and onboarding new CETs as necessary Develop and implement an annual professional development plan for each direct report, leveraging tools provided by the ASPCA; guide staff to achieve individual yearly goals Provide opportunities and coach 2 CET leads alongside two other Managers to develop their leadership skills Source, hire, and onboard local contingent workers on an on-going basis as needed. Oversee up to 30 ASPCA staff, volunteers, and contingent workers in unique locations and situations. Clearly and concisely explain the reasoning behind each protocol, garnering buy-in from CETs, volunteers and contingent workers and ensuring protocols are used as intended Oversee the Care & Enrichment team’s daily cleaning, handling, enrichment, monitoring, and documentation Provide regular trainings, keeping the Care & Enrichment team up to date on advances in the field and proficient in protocols Work alongside the Care & Enrichment Technicians, assisting in daily care and monitoring adherence to all relevant protocols as necessary Provide timely, kind, coaching when a deficiency in any aspect of job performance is noted Directly and immediately address conflict and concerns as they arise, ensuring difficult conversations are productive, respectful, and meaningful Practice delegation for growth, giving direct reports appropriate stretch opportunities to develop new skills Evaluate staffing levels and training needs, providing feedback to the Senior Manager, Care & Enrichment on a regular basis Regularly recognize team members’ accomplishments and provide healthy work-related engagement opportunities Program Maintenance Review Standard Operating Procedures for both CRC and temporary shelters on a regular basis and, with other team leads, ensure changes and updates are communicated to the entire team Provide continual feedback and assist the Senior Manager, Care & Enrichment to improve processes and minimize barriers to efficient work and high-quality animal care Continually assess the efficacy of CRC animal enrichment, innovating and encouraging the team to work together to maintain a robust, comprehensive program Research and develop best practices in sheltering, enrichment, and animal care/handling, including advances in emergency shelter practices Attend workshops for animal welfare professionals to expand the sheltering, rehabilitation and recovery work of the ASPCA; share learning with the entire Care and Enrichment team upon return Attend and meaningfully contribute to all relevant CRC and ASPCA meetings  Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Manager Qualifications Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals and have a genuine interest in leading others Ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where humane euthanasia is performed on a regular basis Advanced animal handling and restraint skills required Supports fellow team leads; can serve as a member of a united management team Excellent people-management skills Maintains a positive attitude; must enjoy working directly with people; respects team members at all levels Excellent written and oral communication skills; ability to interact with diverse personalities and groups Meticulous organizational skills; pays close attention to detail Works efficiently and calmly in a quick-paced changing environment---and can motivate a team to do the same Proactively problem-solves and takes appropriate initiative to implement solutions Builds strong work relationships based on trust, respect, and listening to understand; Cultivates a climate in which diverse perspectives are solicited, encouraged, valued, and respected  Freely and generously shares knowledge, skills, and expertise with others Proficient administrative and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint Ability to work in a physically demanding environment that requires standing, walking, bending, squatting, and/or kneeling for extended periods of time Ability to lift and carry animals (50 pounds unassisted, 100 pounds with assistance) and equipment, such as food bags, bedding, and cleaning supplies Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies Education and Work Experience High School Diploma or GED required Minimum of one year of experience leading a team, directly or indirectly required; people management experience strongly preferred At least 2 years of professional experience working hands-on with animals required Experience working in an animal shelter in a hands-on role required IS 700, 800 and ICS100 and 200 preferred; must be completed within 90 days of hire Low Stress Handling® University Silver-Level certification is required within six months of hire Language: English (Required) Education and Work Experience: High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent Experience (Required) The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States. The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers. The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources. At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.