Operations Director

Operations Director Animal Friends Humane Society Reports To: Board of Trustees Primary Board Liaison: Board President Status: Full-Time, Exempt Position Summary Animal Friends Humane Society is seeking an experienced, hands‑on Operations Director to provide senior leadership for the day‑to‑day operation of the shelter and ensure that programs, employees, resources, facilities, and animal‑care practices operate safely, efficiently, compassionately, and consistently. The Operations Director leads shelter operations, animal care and welfare, staffing and workforce deployment, intake and adoptions, foster and rescue activities, customer care/front desk operations, facility operations, veterinary and medical operations, safety, capacity management, and operational performance. The Operations Director works collaboratively with the Business Director, who leads the organization’s business, financial, administrative, fundraising and development, human‑resources systems, volunteer and event, compliance, and community‑relations functions. Neither Director supervises the other; each has clear areas of accountability and decision‑making authority while working together on matters that affect the organization as a whole. The Operations Director has decision‑making authority within assigned operational responsibilities and is expected to manage routine matters within established authority, act promptly when animal welfare or safety requires it, and escape matters requiring Board governance or approval through the established Board liaison process. The ideal candidate is an experienced animal‑welfare operations leader who combines strong shelter‑management knowledge with hands‑on people leadership, sound judgment, disciplined execution, data‑informed decision‑making, and compassion. This individual must be comfortable making difficult and time‑sensitive decisions in a fast‑paced and emotionally demanding environment.

Key Responsibilities
Daily Shelter Operations Direct and oversee daily shelter operations and maintain an active, visible leadership presence throughout the shelter. Ensure appropriate staffing, resources, workflows, equipment, and facilities are available to operate the shelter safely and effectively. Establish clear operational priorities and coordinate activities across shelter departments to prevent gaps, duplication, and communication failures. Ensure shelter policies, procedures, sanitation standards, safety requirements, and animal‑care protocols are consistently implemented. Oversee customer care/front desk operations and coordination with intake, adoptions, and other shelter functions. Address operational problems promptly and improve workflows and systems within established authority. Animal Care, Welfare & Population Management Provide leadership for high standards of animal health, safety, enrichment, behavior, sanitation, humane treatment, and overall welfare. Monitor shelter population, capacity, available resources, length of stay, and animal flow, and take appropriate operational action. Develop and implement strategies related to intake, adoption, foster care, transfers, rescue partnerships, placement, and length of stay. Use animal‑welfare and outcome data to identify trends, risks, and needed corrective action. Ensure AFHS’s approved multi‑person process for identifying and reviewing potential euthanasia candidates is consistently followed. The Operations Director is accountable for process adherence and operational follow‑through but does not make unilateral euthanasia decisions outside that approved process. Veterinary & Medical Operations Provide administrative leadership and organizational oversight for veterinary and medical operations, including staffing, scheduling, workflow, resources, budget integration, facility needs, and coordination with shelter operations. Ensure the veterinary/medical team has the resources, information, staffing support, and organizational coordination necessary to provide appropriate animal care. Respect and uphold the independent clinical authority of licensed veterinary professionals over diagnosis, treatment, prescribing, and other matters requiring professional veterinary judgment. Ensure clinical and operational leaders coordinate effectively when medical recommendations affect capacity, staffing, placement, resources, or shelter workflow. Monitor medical‑service demand, access, costs, outcomes, and operational impact and address system‑level issues within assigned authority. Staff Leadership & Workforce Management Exercise direct supervisory and personnel authority for employees assigned to Operations, including hiring, onboarding, scheduling, coaching, performance management, development, discipline, and termination within established policies and authority. Provide managers and employees with clear expectations, direction, feedback, coaching, and accountability. Promote a workplace culture based on professionalism,