Manager, Care & Enrichment

Overview 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 new Recovery & Rehabilitation Center (R&R Center) in Pawling, NY might be right for you! The application for this position will be open until Tuesday, May 5 at 5pm EST. Who We Are The R&R Center in Pawling, NY is a unique program dedicated to providing integrated sheltering, behavioral, and medical care for canine victims of cruelty. The R&R Center team works closely with ASPCA teams in New York City to help animals rescued in partnership with the NYPD. What You’ll Do The individual in this role is responsible for overseeing the R&R Center’s team of Care & Enrichment Technicians (CETs), developing, implementing and overseeing daily monitoring processes, meticulous data collection, and ample and open communication within and between teams. Included below are the primary responsibilities, qualifications, schedule, and compensation for the role. Responsibilities Maintain working knowledge of all Care & Enrichment daily protocols and ensure protocols are clear, concise, and up-to-date. Maintain working knowledge of all relevant regulatory requirements, and keep accurate records of compliance activities. Oversee the cleaning and prep of animal holding areas and associated tasks, the provision of enrichment, and the feeding and watering of animals. Arrange daily animal care and enrichment tasks to optimize workflow and ensure efficiency. Provide consistent floor management throughout the day, supporting Technicians with hands‑on guidance and assisting with daily tasks whenever needed to maintain smooth operations and high‑quality care. Assist in training and overseeing volunteers as they perform animal‑related tasks, especially when directly handling animals. Collaborate with behavior and veterinary team members, ensuring open and ample communication, excellent care, and close monitoring of every animal. Creatively problem‑solve and take appropriate initiative to resolve day‑to‑day issues. Provide continual feedback to the Senior Manager, Care & Enrichment to improve processes and minimize barriers to efficient work. Contribute to ongoing development and refinement of daily care and enrichment SOPs, representing the interests of Technicians and working with the behavior and veterinary team. Audit data entered by Technicians on a daily basis to ensure accuracy, informativeness, and court‑law suitability. Assist in choreographing animal movement into and out of the shelter in a seamless and low‑stress manner. Perform repeated daily checks of animal holding areas, spot‑cleaning, feeding, watering, and providing enrichment as needed. Hold team huddles at regular intervals to determine progress, allocate support, and shape the remainder of the day. Develop, implement, and execute strategies to keep animal‑care and enrichment equipment and supplies organized and in good repair. Monitor inventory and conditions of supplies, requesting replenishment before stock is depleted. Perform daily rounds to ensure all animals are in appropriate enclosures and evaluate enclosure conditions. Clearly and concisely explain the reasoning behind each protocol, securing technician buy‑in. Serve as an active floor lead by monitoring workflow, offering real‑time support, and stepping in to complete tasks when needed. Oversee the team’s daily cleaning, handling, enrichment, monitoring, and documentation. Provide regular trainings, keeping Technicians up to date on advances in the field. Assist in daily care and monitor adherence to all protocols. Provide instant, kind feedback and coaching for deficiencies in job performance. Ensure compliance with standard operating procedures and set clear, achievable goals. Address conflict and concerns immediately, ensuring respectful, meaningful conversations. Practice delegation for growth, offering stretch opportunities to develop new skills. Monitor and evaluate employee performance, fostering growth through coaching and formal appraisals. Evaluate staffing levels and training needs, providing feedback to the Senior Director. Recognize team members’ accomplishments and provide healthy work‑related engagement opportunities. Attend and contribute to all relevant R&R Center and ASPCA meetings. Accurately track and report time worked, time off, and expenses. Review time‑off requests and weekly hours worked for Technicians. Responsibly steward R&R Center assets. Schedule and Location This is an on‑site role at the Recovery & Rehabilitation Center in Pawling, NY. The work schedule will be established within the hours of 7am–7pm and will include at least one weekend day. The employee must be able to work a flexible schedule, including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as program needs determine. Schedules are subject to change at the sole discretion of the ASPCA. The employee may need to travel up to 10% of the time. Compensation and Benefits Starting pay range: $68,000–$73,000 annually, with potential for increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance. Benefits include, but are not limited to: Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer‑paid dental, and optional vision coverage. Flexible time off, including vacation, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company holidays, and paid personal time. Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions – match dollar for dollar up to 4% and an additional 4% each year. Robust professional development opportunities: classes, on‑the‑job training, coaching and mentorship with industry leaders, internal mobility, and support in the field. Education and Work Experience High School Diploma or GED required; B.S. or B.A. preferred. Minimum of one year of experience leading a team, directly or indirectly. At least two years of experience working in an animal shelter in a hands‑on role. FearFree® Shelter Program certification (approximately 5hours) required or completed within 60days of hire. Qualifications Valid driver’s license and ability to pass a motor vehicle history check. Fluent in MSWord, Excel, PowerPoint (plus a plus). Familiarity with shelter software systems or Salesforce (plus). Familiarity with Airtable or a project‑management system (plus). Familiarity with Canva or other design software (plus). Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to regularly witness animals suffering medically and/or behaviorally. Comfortable with humane euthanasia in theory and in practice. Displays concern for safety and well‑being of self, animals, and others, especially under stress. Builds strong work relationships based on trust, respect, and listening. Shares knowledge, skills, and expertise freely and generously. Proactively problem‑solves and implements solutions. Flexible, resilient, and adaptable. Strong people leadership and coaching ability. Creates a climate that values diverse perspectives. Sets clear direction and inspires others toward shared goals. Leads with transparency, integrity, honesty, and strong ethics. Unafraid of hard conversations and handles them kindly. Views conflict as a generative force for innovation. Values training and education and provides opportunities for team growth. Physical Demands and Work Environment Work takes place in indoor climate‑controlled spaces and outdoors where surfaces may be wet or uneven, and extreme heat, cold, or precipitation can occur. Work involves exposure to chemical and biological hazards such as medications, cleaning products, urine, feces, blood, and sharp objects. Ability to stand, walk, bend, squat, kneel for extended periods, lift and carry animals (50lb unassisted, 100lb with assistance), and restrain animals safely and humanely in stressful situations is required. Ability to wear appropriate personal protective equipment, including coveralls, respirators or face masks, and booties. Language English (Required) #J-18808-Ljbffr