Assistant Manager

Spca; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

BC SPCA in British Columbia is seeking an Assistant Manager at an Animal Centre to serve as second in command and support the Animal Centre Manager in achieving annual targets and delivering high welfare for animals.

The role includes volunteer management, staff supervision, recruitment, training, program development, and performance coaching, with a focus on community engagement and superior customer service while maintaining BC SPCA standards.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and developing volunteer programs.
• Strong supervision and coaching capabilities for staff and volunteers.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time, and communicate effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provides support to the Animal Centre Manager based on goals and resources.
• Screens, selects, and retains volunteers; develops recruitment strategies.
• Maintains current volunteer database for communication and hours tracking.
• Supervises volunteers with feedback and recognition programs.
• Monitors need for volunteers and grows volunteer programs and foster networks.
• Acts as BC SPCA ambassador at community events and builds partnerships.

Skills

Volunteer management

Staff supervision

Leadership

Customer service

Communication

Payroll

Scheduling

Budget awareness

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Post-Secondary Education in related field preferred

Valid Class N or 5 BC Drivers’ License

Animal welfare knowledge

Better Impact

Low Stress Handling

Towel Wrapping

Job description

Job Description

Posted Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM | Expires Friday, January 1, 2027 at 10:59 AM

We welcome diversity, value differences, and foster inclusion in our employment practices.Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion by reading our Foundational Principleson our website. We invite applications from all qualified individuals who are philosophically aligned with our mission, vision and values .

The BC SPCA is a dynamic organization with facilities and services across the province of BC. Join an expanding team in an exciting time of change in an organization that makes a difference! Please read below for additional details and let us know if you have the skills and experience we are looking for by submitting your application.

If you are up for the challenge and would like to be considered for this position, we would like to hear from you. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is looking to fill the following career opportunity:

STATUS: Temporary; Full-Time with benefits - until March 2028

SHIFT: 35 hours per week / Various Shifts - including weekend shifts

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

About the Position:

Reporting directly to the Animal Centre Manager, this position acts as “second in command” at the Animal Centre/location. This position supports the Animal Centre Manager in fulfilling the fundamental requirements of their role and meeting the annual targets and goals for the Animal Centre.

Approximately 50% of the Assistant Manager’s time is devoted to managing volunteers, including recruitment and selection, training, program development, and performance management. The incumbent will evaluate and grow the volunteer programs based on the needs and goals of the shelter.

The Assistant Manager makes decisions, including supervision of staff and volunteers on behalf of the Animal Centre Manager in their absence, including during periods of vacation, illness, and regular days off.

Following the lead of the Animal Centre Manager, the Assistant Manager ensures that the vision and strategic initiatives are implemented and reflected in the Animal Centre and community by meeting operational goals and objectives consistent with the Strategic Plan.

Some specific duties:

• Provides support to the Animal Centre Manager based on goals, targets, and resource allocation of the Animal Centre/location.
• Responsible for the screening, selection, and retention of volunteers within the BC SPCA’s approved recruitment process. Develops and implements strategies to recruit volunteers based on needs of location and community demographics.
• Ensures that a current volunteer database is maintained through “Better Impact” for the purposes of communicating with volunteers and tracking hours and output of volunteers.
• Supervises volunteers in performance of duties providing them continuous feedback and guidance when requested or required. Conducts recognition programs to honor volunteers by celebrating successes and achievements.
• Monitors ongoing need for volunteers and volunteer programs, working with staff to maintain and grow a volunteer program including foster network that supports ongoing BCSPCA programs and activities.
• Acts as an ambassador of the BC SPCA at community events, maintaining and improving partnerships with community partners such as businesses, vendors, and sponsors.
• Communicates with the community to promote humane animal care, address animal welfare issues and promote the activities of the shelter in accordance with BC SPCA’s mission and vision.
• Replies to customer inquiries in a courteous, efficient and professional manner providing a high level of personalized customer service and assists in resolving escalated customer service complaints in a timely manner.
• Assists in overseeing the delivery of high customer service standards from staff and volunteers through supervising overall customer satisfaction in the Animal Centre and providing training and coaching as necessary.
• Provides customer support by assisting shelter staff with customers, answering telephones, adoptions and animal emergencies.
• Maintains optimum welfare standards in the shelter at all times as defined by the CSC guidelines, ShelterSense programs and related BC SPCA programs and policies.
• Assists the Animal Centre Manager in providing on-going training, direction, motivation, and coaching to staff. Assists with performance reviews and performance management as directed by the Animal Centre Manager.
• In conjunction with the Animal Centre Manager, is responsible for administrative functions such as inventory, scheduling, payroll and completion of financial paperwork in a timely manner.
• Assists Animal Centre Manager in complying with revenues and expense targets within the approved Animal Centre budget on an ongoing basis.
• Works collaboratively with cruelty investigations department to ensure appropriate Animal Centre response to cruelty investigations.
• Assists the execution of local and provincial fundraising initiatives, working in conjunction with the Animal Centre Manager and Community Fundraiser to meet annual fundraising targets.
• Assists and develops adoption events to promote animals at the BC SPCA and to increase community awareness of adoptable animals.
• Acts as a champion of the BC SPCA Health & Safety program ensuring the implementation of safe work practices to protect staff, volunteers, and animals from injury and/or illness.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications you need to have:

• High School Diploma or equivalent
• Post-Secondary Education in a related field preferred
• Valid Class N or 5 BC Drivers’ License and driver’s abstract
• A sound knowledge of animals, their breeds, characteristics, and common diseases
• Previous leadership or supervisory experience preferred
• Demonstrable interest in all aspects of animal welfare
• Must be able to work with other staff, volunteers, and the public in a positive, practical manner and be able to work with minimum supervision
• Ability to prioritize demands on time
• Must possess excellent verbal, written and organizational skills
• Basic computer skills sufficient to deal effectively with the administrative duties including answering emails, generating reports and updating animal records
• Position is physically demanding and includes heavy lifting, pushing and pulling which requires an individual with the ability to maintain a level of fitness and endurance to fulfill the required duties
• Minimum of three years’ animal care experience with the BC SPCA or equivalent agency preferred
• Completion and demonstrated competency in the following BC SPCA courses upon hire (preferred), or within 6 months of hire:
• Better Impact
• Low Stress Handling
• Towel Wrapping

We are committed to a transparent, human-led hiring process. While we use technology to support application management, applications are not screened, scored, or ranked by AI systems. All hiring decisions are made by human hiring managers based on skills, experience, and alignment with the organizational values.

We thank you for your interest in the BC SPCA, however; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No emails or telephone calls, please.

The BC SPCA is a Registered Charity BN 11881 9036 RR0001