Senior Director, Shelter Operations

ASPCA; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 148,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

401(k) plan with employer matching

Paid holidays & time off

Job summary

The ASPCA Los Angeles Initiative seeks a Senior Director of Shelter Operations to lead collaboration with Los Angeles City Animal Services (LAAS) and external partners. You will help implement a joint 3-year plan for LAAS shelters, supported by ASPCA and Best Friends, focusing on intake engagement, pathway planning, and lifesaving placements.

This role requires strong cross-functional collaboration, relationship management, and strategic planning to sustain shelter operations across LA shelters

Qualifications

• Experience in shelter operations and partnership work with municipal shelters.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement shelter operations strategies.

Responsibilities

• Implement programs and processes in support of LA shelter goals.
• Provide shelter operations subject matter expertise on intake, pathway planning, and placements.
• Deliver trainings tailored to LAAS shelter system needs.
• Routinely use data and analysis to inform next steps.
• Provide strategic perspective, project planning, and tactical guidance.

Skills

Leadership & strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analysis

Relationship management

Job description

Summary:

Launched in 2014, the ASPCA Los Angeles Initiative layers policy work, inter-agency partnerships and direct service programs to drive change for animals and the community. The Los Angeles Initiative is comprised of 80 people from more than a dozen departments, including annual grants of approximately $1 million. In addition to policy work, current direct services include kitten intake diversion, foster and adoption; animal relocation; and veterinary services (spay/neuter and primary pet care).

The ASPCA’s Los Angeles work is crucially dependent on seamless collaboration and alignment both within the team and with our community partners, which include municipal shelters, non-profits and policy makers.

The Senior Director of Shelter Operations (SD, Shelter Operations), reporting to the Senior Director of the Los Angeles Initiative, is assigned primarily to support the ASPCA’s partnership work with Los Angeles City Animal Services (LAAS) and as such will work with LAAS leadership on-site at the shelter locations. The focus of this work is the implementation of a joint 3-year plan for LAAS shelters, led by LAAS, and resourced and directly supported by the ASPCA and Best Friends. This work aims to achieve the following goals at LAAS shelters:

• intake community engagement, including efforts to support community cats;
• in-shelter pathway planning to ensure animals receive timely, coordinated care and support, and that the shelters are operating within capacity for humane care; and
• positive outcomes for animals by increasing adoptions, transfers, and other lifesaving placements

Who We Are

The LA Initiative is seated within the Shelter Partnerships Department. The Shelter Partnership Department executes the ASPCA’s strategic approach by leveraging direct care, response work, and public influence to drive systemic changes that include improving animal welfare across our society. Our Shelter Partnership Team’s work focuses on strengthening shelter systems.

The LA Initiative Team leads high-impact partnership efforts with Los Angeles area organizations, driving initiatives that improve shelter operations, enhance animal welfare, and support the achievement of key lifesaving goals. The team's work requires strong cross-functional collaboration, relationship management, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

What You’ll Do

In collaboration with the LAAS General Manager and cross-agency leadership, this position implements programs and processes in service of the above-mentioned goals. This includes providing shelter operations subject matter expertise on shelter programs for community engagement intake, animal pathway planning, and maximizing appropriate animal placements (adoptions, relocations/transfers, etc.).

Working with the Senior Director, Los Angeles Initiative, and the Sr. Dir. Shelter Medicine, LA, other members of the ASPCA’s Los Angeles team and external agency partners, led by LAAS leadership, the Sr. Dir. Ops. will also create and/or deliver trainings tailored to the needs identified within the LAAS shelter system.

The Sr. Dir. Ops., will provide iterative feedback on the workplan and its implementation, and routinely use data and analysis to inform next steps.

This position provides a strategic perspective, thought leadership, project planning skills and tactical guidance relevant to plan implementation.

The Senior Director, Shelter Operations for the Los Angeles Initiative reports directly to the Senior Director, Los Angeles Initiative and has no direct reports.

This position will be part of a team of two on-site ASPCA staff members providing shelter operations and shelter medicine expertise to LAAS leadership.

Where and When You’ll Work

This position is primarily onsite, with approximately 90% of time spent across the six Los Angeles city shelters and about 10% remote work. Regular travel between LAAS shelters and the remote work location is required. This position is currently funded for 3 years

The standard schedule is Monday through Friday and generally aligns with shelter operational hours, though adjustments may be needed based on shelter needs. Scheduling will be coordinated between this role and the supervisor to ensure appropriate coverage, total hours, and a balanced workweek.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

• The target hiring range for this role is $148,000 - $160,000

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays and paid personal time off that allows flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

Community-specific Awareness

• Working with LAAS leadership, achieve a comprehensive understanding of LAAS shelter and veterinary operations, including strengths and gaps, to best support plan implementation.
• Achieve a comprehensive understanding of key partners, including missions, activities and impact, to best support plan implementation.

Development and implementation of Shelter Operations Support Plan

• Serve in a leadership role within the Los Angeles city shelter community for approximately three years, working collaboratively