Vice President of Operations

Cleveland APL; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) seeks an experienced operational leader to serve as its next Vice President of Operations. This senior executive role guides shelter operations, veterinary services, community initiatives, humane law enforcement, facilities, and IT to advance the organization’s mission.

Reporting to the President & CEO, the VP will build strong leaders, drive data-driven improvement, ensure exceptional animal welfare, and strengthen partnerships with staff,

Qualifications

• Senior executive leadership experience in animal welfare or related nonprofit sector preferred.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational development skills.
• Proven ability to manage budgets, programs, and personnel effectively.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and public speaking abilities.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across shelter operations, veterinary services, community initiatives, humane law enforcement, facilities, and IT.
• Lead organizational change and continuous improvement while upholding high animal welfare standards.
• Develop leaders, strengthen systems and accountability, and use data to guide decisions.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and government officials.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Financial oversight

Data-driven decisions

Change management

Team development

Stakeholder relationships

Public speaking

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

The Cleveland Animal Protective League (APL) is seeking an experienced operational leader to serve as its next Vice President of Operations. This is a senior executive role within a respected, nonprofit humane organization known for the quality of its animal care, the integrity of its humane investigations, and its commitment to helping pets and families stay together.

Reporting to the President & CEO and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the Vice President of Operations will provide leadership across many of the areas at the heart of APL’s mission, including shelter operations, veterinary services, community initiatives, humane law enforcement, facilities, and information technology.

The Cleveland APL operates a 39,000-square-foot animal care and resource center and has an annual operating budget of approximately $13.5 million, 110 employees, 1,500 active volunteers, and recently completed a substantial facility renovation. Its work extends far beyond traditional sheltering through an integrated model that includes humane animal care and adoptions, a robust foster network, shelter-based and community veterinary services, spay/neuter and Trap-Neuter-Return programs, Project CARE, humane investigations with full police authority, and legislative advocacy.

The ideal candidate will bring strong shelter operations and field service experience, whether through animal control, humane law enforcement, cruelty response, or related work. They will be a strategic operator and collaborative executive who can develop strong leaders, strengthen systems and accountability, use data to guide decisions, and lead continuous improvement while maintaining exceptional standards of animal welfare and service.

The next Vice President of Operations will join a strong, experienced leadership team and help APL continue to strengthen the systems, people, and practices behind exceptional animal care, effective humane law enforcement, and responsive services for pets and the people who care for them.

• Bachelor’s degree strongly desired
• Minimum of five years of executive leadership experience at a comparable animal shelter or animal welfare organization, or eight or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience with demonstrated success in operations management, organizational leadership, strategic planning, personnel management, financial oversight, and program development,
• along with the professional and leadership qualities required to step into an executive-level leadership position
• Nonprofit leadership experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated leadership, organizational management, and strategic planning skills
• Ability to think strategically while effectively managing day-to-day operational priorities
• Strong financial management, budgeting, and resource allocation skills
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, and data-driven decision-making abilities
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, mentoring, and team development skills
• Proven ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives
• Outstanding project management, organizational, and time management skills, with the ability
• to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, presentation, and public speaking skills
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with employees, volunteers, donors, community partners, government officials, and the public
• High level of professionalism, integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and emotional intelligence
• Demonstrated commitment to exceptional animal welfare, outstanding customer service, ethical leadership, and advancing APL’s mission
• Certification through the Association for Animal Welfare Advancement (AAWA) as a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) is desirable
• Ability to meet operational and organizational scheduling needs, including
• occasional evenings, weekends, or emergency response when necessary
• Valid Ohio driver’s license with an insurable driving record
• Fear Free Certification required within six months of hire if not already certified