Animal Shelter Operations Manager

PEARL RIVER COUNTY SPCA INC; Picayune (MS); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Pearl River County SPCA Inc. seeks a hands-on Animal Shelter Operations Manager to lead day-to-day shelter operations and a capable team. This role emphasizes people leadership, consistency, and accountability to ensure high standards of animal care and safe, efficient workflows.

You will oversee intake, care, adoption processes, and coordination with veterinary partners. The position requires strong communication, problem-solving, and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience leading people in a fast-moving operational environment.
• At least 2–4 years of relevant animal care or shelter experience, including 1–2 years in a leadership role.
• Strong judgment, emotional intelligence and the ability to give clear direction while treating people with respect.
• Working knowledge of animal handling, sanitation, disease control, biosecurity and shelter safety practices.
• Ability to organize competing priorities, delegate effectively and follow through.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including addressing conflict professionally.
• Comfort using shelter-management software, Microsoft Office and basic operational systems.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily shelter operations, staffing coverage and workflow across animal care, intake/receiving and adoption functions.
• Ensure consistent humane care, feeding, cleaning, enrichment, housing and movement of animals.
• Supervise staff, schedule, coach, train and manage performance.
• Foster a respectful, team-focused culture with clear communication and accountability.
• Coordinate with veterinary partners for examinations, treatment, surgery scheduling and follow-up care.
• Manage population and capacity-for-care decisions, housing, disease prevention and animal flow.
• Oversee sanitation, biosecurity, quarantine, safety and emergency protocols.
• Maintain accurate shelter records, metrics and timely reporting to leadership.
• Oversee inventory, purchasing, equipment, facility needs and vendor relationships.
• Collaborate with volunteers, fosters, rescue partners and other stakeholders; implement SOPs with improvements as needed.

Skills

Leadership

Staff supervision

Scheduling

Coaching

Training

Communication

Shelter software

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Related college, veterinary technician, animal science, management or leadership education

Tools

Shelter management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Pay: Competitive and based on experience and qualifications

Reports To: SPCA President/Board leadership during the interim structure; ultimately the Shelter Director

About Pearl River County SPCA

Pearl River County SPCA is the only brick-and-mortar animal shelter serving Pearl River County. Our mission is simple: No more homeless pets in Pearl River County. We provide sheltering, adoption, community support and lifesaving services while working with municipal partners, veterinary teams, volunteers, fosters and rescue partners.

The Opportunity

We are seeking a hands-on, steady and highly organized Animal Shelter Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operation of our shelter. This is first and foremost a people-leadership and operations role. The right candidate will create consistency, set clear expectations, support staff, hold the team accountable and keep animal care, workflow, sanitation, safety and communication moving in the same direction.

Shelter work can be fast-paced, physically demanding and emotionally challenging. We need a leader who can remain calm under pressure, solve problems without creating unnecessary friction, communicate directly and respectfully, and build a workplace where employees understand both what is expected and that their work is valued.

What You'll Lead

• Daily shelter operations, staffing coverage and workflow across animal care, intake/receiving and adoption functions.
• Consistent humane care, feeding, cleaning, enrichment, housing and movement of animals through the shelter.
• Staff supervision, scheduling, coaching, training, performance accountability and day-to-day problem solving.
• A respectful, team-focused culture built on clear communication, reliability, ownership and professional conflict resolution.
• Coordination with veterinary partners for examinations, treatment, surgery scheduling, medications, isolation and follow-up care.
• Population management and capacity-for-care decisions, including appropriate housing, disease prevention and animal flow.
• Sanitation, biosecurity, quarantine, safety and emergency protocols.
• Accurate shelter records, operational metrics and timely reporting to leadership.
• Inventory, purchasing, equipment, facility needs, maintenance coordination and vendor relationships.
• Collaboration with volunteers, fosters, rescue partners, animal control/municipal partners and other community stakeholders.
• Consistent implementation of approved shelter policies and SOPs, with recommendations for practical improvements when needed.

What We're Looking For

• Demonstrated experience leading people in a fast-moving operational environment; animal shelter, veterinary, rescue or animal-care experience is strongly preferred.
• At least 2-4 years of relevant animal care or shelter experience preferred, including 1-2 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong judgment, emotional intelligence and the ability to give clear direction while treating people with respect.
• Working knowledge of animal handling, sanitation, disease control, biosecurity and shelter safety practices.
• Ability to organize competing priorities, delegate effectively and follow through.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to address conflict and performance concerns professionally.
• Comfort using shelter-management software, Microsoft Office and other basic operational systems.
• High school diploma or equivalent required; related college, veterinary technician, animal science, management or leadership education is a plus.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Physical & Schedule Requirements

• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds and perform work that may include standing, walking, bending and being on your feet for extended periods.
• Comfort working indoors and outdoors around animals of varied sizes and temperaments, loud noise, strong odors and emotionally difficult situations.
• Availability for a schedule that may include weekends, holidays and response to urgent shelter needs.

Why This Role Matters

The Operations Manager is the daily leadership anchor for the shelter. Success in this position means animals receive consistent care, employees have clear direction and support, problems are addressed promptly, and the shelter operates with professionalism, accountability and compassion.