Director, Animal Protection

Socket.dev; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 82,000 - 91,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision

401(k) with matching

Flexible spending accounts

Life and disability insurance

Paid Time Off

Paid sick time

Sabbatical

Holiday pay

Employee discounts

Discounted Pet Insurance

Job summary

Humane Colorado in Denver seeks a Director of Animal Protection to provide strategic leadership in advancing animal protection priorities and to cultivate strong partnerships with law enforcement and animal-control agencies. The role also leads education and training on investigations, welfare laws, handling, evidence collection, and best practices.

Responsibilities include developing protocols, budgeting, staff development, and coordinating with Development for fundraising.

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of animal cruelty laws, investigation principles, evidence collection, case preparation, and prosecution.
• Strong understanding of animal behavior, handling, restraint, and welfare assessment (including equines).
• Ability to lead professional training and educational initiatives for law enforcement, animal control officers, and other audiences.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and subject-matter expertise in animal protection and investigations.
• Cultivate relationships with animal control, law enforcement, prosecutors, and veterinary partners.
• Develop and maintain systems, resources, and best practices for external partners and case response.
• Manage staff: recruitment, training, evaluation, and staff safety/compliance.
• Collaborate with internal departments on resources and program planning.
• Oversee budgets and documentation, including case files and data.

Skills

Animal protection leadership

Investigation principles

Evidence collection

Training and education

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Description

Purpose of Position: The Director of Animal Protection provides strategic leadership in advancing Humane Colorado’s animal protection priorities, cultivating strong partnerships with law enforcement and animal control agencies, and representing the organization as a trusted authority in the field. This role also leads the development and delivery of professional education and training on animal cruelty investigations, animal welfare laws, animal handling, evidence collection, case preparation, and investigative best practices.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Program Development

• Provide strategic leadership and subject-matter expertise in animal protection and animal cruelty investigations.
• Cultivate and sustain strong relationships with animal control agencies, law enforcement, prosecutors, veterinarians, judicial partners, and other professional and community stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain systems, resources, protocols, and best practices that strengthen the organization’s ability to support external partners and respond effectively to animal protection cases.
• Manages and develops an effective staff: providing effective communication, leadership, guidance and resources. Determines staff qualifications and competency; recruits, interviews, selects, hires, trains, orients, mentors, evaluates, coaches, counsels, disciplines, and rewards. Establishes and monitors staff safety and regulatory compliance
• Partner with internal departments on resources, equipment, and operational support.
• Contribute to departmental planning, goal setting, performance measurement, and program evaluation.
• Develops and manages departmental budgets and resources.
• Maintain organized, accurate case files, documentation, data, and case-management records, and uphold appropriate standards for documentation and recordkeeping.
• Work in collaboration with the Development and Communications teams to support fundraising efforts and campaigns, such as providing impact stories and reports resulting in financial support.
• Participates in donor events, meetings, and tours.
• Ensure program grant compliance, and quality of services and evaluations.

External Partnerships and Investigative Support

• Consult and advise partners on investigating, documenting, and prosecuting animal cruelty cases.
• Provide expert guidance and leadership during large-scale animal cruelty investigations, impoundments, emergency response situations, and other complex or high-risk cases.
• Facilitate communication and coordination among partner agencies and internal departments to support effective investigations, positive animal welfare outcomes, and timely case resolution.
• Identify and proactively address risks associated with investigations, animal handling, impoundments, emergency response, and community outreach.

Professional Education and Training

• Develop, deliver, and evaluate educational training programs and presentations for partners about animal cruelty laws and best practices.
• Establish and maintain professional training resources and materials that promote consistency, professionalism, and legally sound investigative practices.
• Assess the effectiveness and impact of training initiatives and use feedback, data, and emerging best practices to strengthen programming.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional, and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.

Organizational Key Competencies

• Job Knowledge
• Excellence
• Adapting to Change / Agility
• Dependability
• People Care

Leadership Core Competencies

• Project and Process Management
• Delivering Results
• People Leadership

Position Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership
• Community and Professional Partnerships
• Investigation and Case Management
• Program Development and Evaluation
• Conflict Management
• Complex Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Project Management
• Communication and Public Speaking
• Collaboration and Influence
• Fiscal Responsibility

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Animal Protection Team
• Volunteers

Travel

• This position requires driving a company vehicle
• This position requires up to 20% travel in state

Shift Details: 5x8 hour shifts

Full-Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• 401(k) with matching
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Sabbatical
• Holiday Pay
• Employee discounts
• Discounted Pet Insurance
• and more

Compensation

$82,110 - $90,500 (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Requirements

Position Qualifications

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of animal cruelty laws, investigation principles, evidence collection, case preparation, and prosecution.
• Strong understanding of animal behavior, handling, restraint, and welfare assessment, including experience in in equine handling and husbandry.
• Demonstrated ability to lead professional training and educational initiatives for law enforcement, animal control officers, judicial partners, and other professional audiences.
• Ability to independently manage complex initiatives while maintaining alignment with organizational priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and case-management or database systems.

Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, animal science, animal welfare, law enforcement, law, or a related field required or equivalent experience.
• Work Experience: Five years of progressively responsible professional experience in animal control, animal protection, animal cruelty investigations, law enforcement, animal welfare, or a closely related field which includes:
• Experience leading programs, teams, partnerships, or complex projects involving multiple stakeholders;
• Experience safely handling animals, including equines and assessing animal welfare, husbandry, and handling needs; and
• Five years of experience managing a team.
• Special Training, Certification or Licensure:
• Valid driver’s license with insurable driving record.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a State of Colorado certification as a Cruelty Investigator and commission from the Colorado Department of Agriculture within 120 days of employment.

Desired

• Experience leading or supporting complex animal cruelty investigations and prosecutions.
• Experience developing, delivering, and evaluating professional training or educational programs.
• Experience testifying in court or providing investigative or expert testimony.
• Experience working directly with prosecutors or district attorneys on animal cruelty cases.
• Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certification or other relevant law enforcement certification or training.

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Work is performed in office and occasionally in the field. Exposure to potentially dangerous or life-threatening situations. Requires a high degree of safety and caution when dealing with potentially violent situations. Works in all weather conditions. Exposure to animals requiring medical treatment for diseases, injuries, etc. Frequent walking, standing, bending and stooping. Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs. with reasonable accommodations.

Posting will remain open until filled, with a minimum posting period of 5 days