Chief Operating Officer

The Lost Dogs' Home; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous remuneration package

Career development opportunities

Discounts at Vet Hospital

Employee Assistance Program

Unique work environment with animals

Staff wellbeing initiatives

Foster Care Program

Surrounded by animals every day

Job summary

An animal welfare organization located in Melbourne is seeking a passionate Chief Operating Officer to lead their transformation efforts in sheltering and animal welfare. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in animal management, demonstrate strategic thinking, and have a successful track record in a multi-site shelter environment. This role involves overseeing various teams, ensuring compliance, driving operational efficiency, and building relationships with stakeholders to deliver optimal welfare outcomes.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of contemporary animal management models in shelters.
• Proven capability to develop leaders at all levels in a senior operational role.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen with budget oversight experience.
• Ability to work with CEOs, boards and governance bodies.
• Evidence-based decision making and strong stakeholder negotiation.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for Shelter Operations across all sites.
• Ensure compliance with legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Drive integrated shelter practices to achieve welfare-driven outcomes.
• Drive integrated shelter practices across Operations, Veterinary Care, Behaviour and Service Delivery.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with local government, regulators and industry bodies.
• Oversee financial and operational performance and allocate resources effectively.
• Provide transformational leadership to Shelter Services teams and set performance standards.

Skills

Leadership

Animal management

Strategic thinking

Relationship management

People development

Governance & compliance

Education

Experience in animal welfare

Tools

Financial analytics

Budgeting

Job description

Join to apply for the Chief Operating Officer role at The Lost Dogs' Home

At the Lost Dogs’ Home, we are a foundation of Victoria's animal welfare landscape, celebrated for our compassionate care of around 18,000 lost and abandoned dogs and cats every year. Beyond caring for animals, we provide diverse services including veterinary medicine, behaviour, advocacy and community education programs, all aimed at giving animals the best chance of a happy and healthy life. Our mission is upheld by passionate individuals who embody a profound affinity for animals, community and advocacy.

About the Role

This newly created role presents an exciting opportunity to lead the transformation of sheltering and animal welfare at the Lost Dogs’ Home. Overseeing our Shelter Veterinary Services, Operations, Behaviour and Service Delivery teams, the COO is responsible for shaping cohesive, contemporary and high‑performing shelter operations across both our Cranbourne and North Melbourne locations.

With a welfare‑first philosophy and a transformational leadership approach, this role will deliver a strategic plan for sustainable growth and best‑practice contemporary sheltering. Leading all core shelter functions, the COO will oversee a robust operational planning process to drive efficiency, improve cohesion and collaboration between departments, and ultimately deliver exceptional animal welfare and people‑leadership outcomes.

A key member of the Executive Team, this role will work closely with the CEO and Executives to define the strategic direction of the Lost Dogs’ Home.

The key responsibilities of this role include:

• Providing executive leadership and strategic direction for Shelter Operations across all sites in alignment with broader LDH strategic objectives.
• Ensuring Shelter Operations operate within a robust governance and compliance framework, meeting all obligations under relevant legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Championing innovative methods of improving animal welfare by ensuring LDH remains at the forefront of contemporary animal care models and upholds ethical standards.
• Driving integrated shelter practices across Operations, Veterinary Care, Behaviour and Service Delivery functions to ensure seamless, safe, efficient and welfare‑driven outcomes.
• Building and maintaining strong, strategic relationships with key stakeholders including local government authorities, state regulatory bodies, industry groups and other governing bodies.
• Providing executive oversight of financial and operational performance across all Shelter Services, ensuring resources are effectively allocated and financial targets are met.
• Providing transformational leadership to all Shelter Services teams, setting clear performance expectations, strategic priorities and cultural standards across all LDH sites.

Our Ideal Candidate:

You will be a passionate advocate for the welfare of animals and an exceptional people leader. Bringing extensive knowledge of contemporary, best‑practice animal management models in shelters and pounds, you will have significant experience in a senior operational role within a high‑intake, multi‑site shelter environment.

You will be a strategic thinker with a strong track record of success in transformational change initiatives and proven capability to develop leaders at all levels, build organisational capability and strengthen culture.

In addition, you will bring:

• Extensive knowledge of contemporary, best‑practice animal management models in shelters and pounds.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience overseeing complex operational budgets.
• A proven track record of embedding a performance‑driven culture through clear KPIs, operational discipline and governance.
• Capability in working effectively with CEOs, Boards, governance committees and external oversight bodies.
• Demonstrated ability to apply evidence‑based decision‑making to achieve high‑quality outcomes.
• Strong relationship‑management skills, with experience influencing and negotiating with senior external stakeholders.

About our culture:

At the Lost Dogs’ Home, we cultivate an inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity. Our team enjoys a vibrant culture that fosters meaningful connections, both professionally and socially. We take pride in our diverse team, where every individual is encouraged to be their authentic self, regardless of their role within the organisation.

What we can offer:

• A unique and rewarding career in animal welfare, where you can make a real difference in the lives of shelter animals.
• A generous remuneration package, and access to relocation assistance for interstate or international candidates.
• Fantastic career‑development opportunities, including financial assistance for approved studies.
• Discounts at our Vet Hospital to support your own pet’s health.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program and staff wellbeing initiatives.
• Opportunities to join our Foster Care Program and help care for animals in need.
• A truly unique work environment—surrounded by animals every day!

If you have the skills, experience and enthusiasm to be successful in this role, apply now, ensuring you have attached your cover letter and current résumé in Word or PDF format. If you have any further questions or queries regarding the role, please email Tanya Drakopoulos ([e-mail]).

Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received, so we encourage you to apply early as the role may close if a suitable candidate is found. Don't miss out—apply today!

The successful applicant will be required to satisfactorily complete background screening checks.

The Lost Dogs’ Home is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. Only candidates with the right to work in Australia may apply for this position.