Director of Lifesaving Operations

SPCA of Texas

Job Description

The Director of Lifesaving Operations supports the Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer in providing strategic and operational leadership across SPCA of Texas programs, ensuring effective daily management, strong team performance, and coordinated service delivery. The role oversees rescue and transport partnerships, adoption programs, community impact services, the Pet Resource Center, foster operations, and feline transport initiatives, with a focus on maintaining and steadily improving the organization’s lifesaving outcomes. This leader ensures programs run efficiently, deliver high-quality care and customer service, and cultivate strong relationships with partners, volunteers, and community stakeholders.

Summary of Essential Job Tasks:

Lead efforts to align, maximize, and streamline operations related to animals moving through on-site and off-site placement efforts safely, efficiently, and with a sense of urgency.
Ensure humane treatment and handling of animals at all on-site and off-site facilities, including monitoring and ensuring sanitation standards are adhered to and treatments are consistent with SPCA of Texas protocols.
Establish departmental goals and key performance indicators related to on-site and off-site pet placement programs, retail, and in-kind donation activities, community impact and pet resource center, and foster programs. Regularly provide and develop relevant daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly reports.
Lead the budget management for all lifesaving programs. Ensure all financial policies and procedures are followed by operations staff. Participate in budgeting process for all departments and adhere to board approved budget. Also conserve and steward finances whenever possible.
Contribute to the leadership of enhancing the financial position of the SPCA of Texas through innovative adoption and sales programs, effective and accurate budgeting, and revenue generation.
Cultivate new and maintain existing vendor relationships for in-kind opportunities.
Cultivate and lead positive working relationships with animal transfer partners across the country and oversee continued safe transfer of animals from the SPCA of Texas to approved partners.
Work collaboratively with the Manager, Community Impact and Animal Care managers to select appropriate animals for outgoing transfer and off-site adoption.
Partner in the hiring, training, and retention of staff in the lifesaving operational arm of the organization. Work to spearhead engagement and motivation of teams while partnering with People and Culture on shaping a healthy working environment.
Lead community cat initiatives including off-site adoption placement through colony and working cat opportunities.
Participate in inter-departmental meetings and discussions to support and develop the SPCA of Texas’ goals and objectives through off-site placement and retail programs.
Respond to customer service concerns and questions in a timely and respectable fashion.
Identify risks to the organization and work with the SPCA of Texas legal, communications, and finance teams to minimize exposure; when necessary, modify processes.
Oversee maintenance of clean and healthy environments for all shelter staff, customers, and visitors. Work collaboratively with Director, Facilities on maintenance and facility needs.
Actively engage with volunteers in such a way that provides supports and proactively improves the volunteer program.
Be an ambassador for the SPCA of Texas, sharing the work and mission with your friends and family and be knowledgeable of the various ways to support our work.

Abilities Requirements:

Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
Able to work successfully in a diverse team environment.
Ability to recruit, train and motivate community-based volunteers.
Demonstrated ability in handling multiple priorities, project management and meeting deadlines; strong planning and organizational skills.
Proven relationship building, persuasion and influence skills.
Strong customer service orientation, with extensive experience in effectively addressing and resolving issues with constituents.
Ability to proactively monitor and adjust activities to respond to changing circumstances and priorities to meet goals, proactively address issues as they arise and mitigate risks associated to events.
Outcome driven; strong project management ability.
Able to work through others to accomplish goals.
Strong market, community and constituent perspective.
Remains composed under stress, handles responses to criticism tactfully and delivers on organizational commitments.
Broad knowledge of the overall structure, programs, and services of the SPCA of Texas including policies and procedures.
Proficient in computer-based information systems.

Applicant Information:

Minimum of five years of program management in the animal welfare field OR similar service field
Strong communication skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office.
Results-oriented, creative, and collaborative work style.
Excellent attention to detail, problem solving, and time management skills.
Ability to professionally advocate for the SPCA of Texas’ mission and positions on issues.
High level of interpersonal skills to handle multiple stakeholders both internally and externally.
Working Conditions:
Candidate may be required to work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week in a fast paced, demanding work atmosphere. Shift times may vary and include weekend hours. Expected to be in the office 5 days a week.
Candidate must provide every animal exceptional care and a loving home.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
This position is regularly required to use hands to fingers, handle, and talk and hear. The incumbent is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, and stoop, kneel or crouch. The position holder must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.
Specific vision abilities required for this position include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to focus.
While performing this job, this position may be exposed to animal odors or airborne particles.
The noise level in the work environment is occasionally high.

Monday through Friday from 9am to 6pm - Scheduling flexibility will be needed