Head of Animal Shelter Operations

Rancho Coastal Humane Society; Encinitas (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas, CA seeks a Head of Animal Shelter Operations to lead Adoption and Foster Services, Behavior and Training, Animal Care, and Medical Programs. You will oversee 4–6 department heads, align daily work, and improve outcomes for animals, clients, and staff.

Responsibilities include strategic planning, budgeting, staffing, training, and reporting to the President and CEO.

Qualifications

• Progressive leadership in animal sheltering or veterinary service operations.
• Experience coaching managers and resolving cross-team issues.
• Ability to use operational data to drive decisions and report risks to leadership.
• Knowledge of humane animal care, shelter flow, adoption, and community services.
• Strong communication, good judgment under pressure, and staff safety focus.
• Budgeting and resource planning across multiple departments.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and hold department heads accountable; set goals and staffing plans.
• Oversee budgets, staffing, access, and service quality for Medical and Community Programs.
• Develop procedures and training to improve consistency and communication across teams.
• Use data (flow, length of stay, capacity, outcomes) to drive priorities and report progress to the CEO.
• Collaborate with volunteers, development, and external partners to support humane placement.

Skills

Executive leadership

Budget management

Operations leadership

Data-driven decision making

Staff development

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Head of Animal Shelter Operations# Head of Animal Shelter OperationsENCINITAS, CA 92024-3710## OverviewSalary Range$120,000.00 - $150,000.00 Salary/yearPosition TypeFull TimeCategoryManagement## Description# **Summary**Reporting to the President and CEO, the Head of Animal Shelter Operations leads coordinated animal operations across Adoption and Foster Services, Behavior and Training, Animal Care, Shelter Medical and Community Medical Programs. The role provides leadership for approximately four to six department heads and their teams, aligns daily work across departments, and improves the experience and outcomes of animals, clients, and staff.This role is accountable for operational leadership of medical services while licensed veterinary professionals retain clinical judgment and oversight of veterinary practice.# **Key Responsibilities*** Lead, coach, and hold accountable department heads; establish goals, staffing plans, performance expectations, succession plans, and clear escalation paths.* Oversee operational planning, staffing, access, budget, and service quality for Shelter Medical and Community Medical Programs with veterinary leaders on capacity, treatment workflows, surgery readiness, isolation, humane euthanasia, and discharge processes.* Build practical procedures and training across all departments; identify recurring barriers and work with managers to improve consistency and communication.* Use animal flow, length of stay, outcomes, capacity, safety, staffing, and service data to set priorities and report progress and risks to the CEO.* Manage approved budgets and resource plans for assigned functions, working with the CEO, HR, and department heads on hiring, development and operational decisions.* Collaborate with volunteer, community impact, development, humane education, and external partners to support humane placement and community services.## Qualifications* Progressive leadership in animal sheltering, animal welfare, veterinary service operations, or a closely-related setting, including management of department leaders or multiple teams. Equivalent experience and education considered.* Veterinary hospital administration or veterinary service operations experience is highly valued; shelter experience is preferred but not required for candidates with strong transferable operational leadership experience.* Knowledge of humane animal care, shelter flow, behavior support, adoption and foster operations, safety, and effective partnership with veterinary professionals.* Demonstrated ability to coach managers, resolve cross-team issues, use operational data, manage budgets, and implement procedures that staff can follow.* Clear communication, sound judgment under pressure, and commitment to animal welfare, staff safety, and respectful service.