Animal Care Manager

Looking to make a difference in the lives of pets and people With an almost year-round beautiful blue sky and a scenic mountain backdrop HSPPR is a nonprofit animal shelter serving El Paso Pueblo and Douglas Counties as well as the City of Centennial. We employ a total of 200 employees. We are an organization that celebrates and prioritizes diversity and inclusion.

Job Summary

The Animal Care Manager is responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of the animal care department to ensure the highest standards of care welfare and safety for animals in the shelter. This role manages daily operations including animal husbandry enrichment programs sanitation and disease prevention protocols. The manager ensures proper procedures for animal housing movement and isolation are followed while maintaining a clean safe and organized shelter environment. Additionally the Animal Care Manager supervises and coordinates the euthanasia program in accordance with humane practices and legal requirements. This position requires strong leadership attention to detail and a commitment to animal welfare.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Animal Care Operations

• Directs staff and ensures that the animal care department operates in a coordinated efficient and effective manner in all aspects ensuring high quality standards of animal care handling and sanitation and that staff performance is consistent with protocols.
• Ensures animals are provided proper husbandry and support in alignment with HSPPR standards of care.
• Ensures all state and local animal care and sheltering requirements are met proper disinfection and disease control food storage food prep and laundry areas are maintained in an organized manner.
• Maintains shelter facility areas in a clean neat and orderly manner. Monitors and reports facility concerns and improvement requests.
• In conjunction with the Director of Shelter Operations and Chief Veterinarian reviews the HSPPR Euthanasia Protocol to keep up to date with current industry best practices and HSPPR philosophy; trains staff in the euthanasia process performs euthanasia as needed.
• Ensures proper care monitoring and documentation of animal confiscated through Animal Law Enforcement.
• Regularly evaluates department policies and procedures and updates as needed.
• Ensures all training manuals checklists procedures and tests stay current and in alignment with best practices.
• Facilitates an environment of compassionate support to pets and pet owners staff and volunteers.

Relationships

• Works to anticipate and resolve conflict and promote open communication between volunteers staff and management. Solicits employee input regarding their work and workplace.
• Works cohesively with all departments of the organization to ensure operational excellence. Provides recommendations of procedural changes for departments and assists in the implementation of necessary changes. Problem solves with staff from other departments regarding kennel and shelter procedures and animal needs.
• Supports staff and volunteers; provide quality services to clients volunteers and employees recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization.

Communication

• Liaison to volunteers provides feedback and answers to FAQs provides problem solving.
• Documents staff and volunteer complaints. Handles complaints and/or concerns with professionalism and good judgment. Involves Director of Shelter Operations COS as necessary.
• Is visible to staff communicates with Director of Shelter Operations COS on significant developments within the department.
• Communicates pertinent information to staff managers and directors and ensures that supervisors are communicating effectively with line staff.
• Communicates and problem solves with other department leaders.
• Informs Director of Shelter Operations COS of developments that may affect HSPPR or the department including department progress media exposure public image client concerns and personnel issues.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Oversees inventory of supplies and ordering for the department.
• Submits department budget requests operates within the parameters of the established budget.
• Manages animal care payroll and budgets to ensure efficiency.
• Maintains control of budget including approving invoices and preparing financial and/or statistical reports as needed.

Performance Management and Supervision

• Hires supervise and evaluate direct reports in the performance of their job responsibilities. Coaches staff by providing ongoing feedback and timely performance evaluations. Sets performance standards; directs and motivates employees. Recognizes good performance and counsel staff to correct problems. Adheres to principles of progressive discipline. Consults with Director of Shelter Operations - COS regarding discipline and terminations.
• Assists in supervising motivating and training assigned staff in volunteer interactions and supervision ensuring effective teamwork organizational performance and innovation.
• Manages all Animal Care staff and is responsible for staff development through coaching evaluating their progress providing feedback on their performance delegating duties providing training and encouraging growth within the organization.
• Utilizes performance-based management when counseling and evaluating staff and sets measurable goals for employee growth. Submits evaluations on time and encourages continuing education for staff as it relates to the organizations needs.

Organizational Development

• Ensures that policies and procedures are followed.
• Develops new ideas with staff.
• Develops and follows timelines for annual plans and projects and is accountable for staffs decisions and actions.
• Supports management and discusses differences privately.

Other:

• Commitment to the mission values goals and success of HSPPR.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Duties

• Supervises Animal Care Supervisors; Animal Care Coordinator Animal Care Specialists Technicians and Assistants.
• Responsible for an overall team of 17-20 employees.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to safely handle and move a variety of animal species with varying temperaments and sizes.
• Regularly sits at computer station.
• Must be able to lift push and pull a minimum of forty pounds with reasonable accommodations.
• Must be able to be on feet for extended periods of time.
• Typically stands bends stoops and crouches.
• Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.

Schedule Requirements

• Tuesday - Saturday. Required to be available as needed to meet the needs of the organization; weekends in addition to occasional early mornings/evenings and holidays.

Education/Experience Necessary

• 2-3 years of supervisory or managerial experience or an equivalent combination of education training and experience.
• Professional experience in and knowledge of animal health care and welfare.
• Euthanasia By Injections (EBI) certification required at time of hire or ability to obtain within 1 year.
• Basic computer skills.
• Strong animal handling skills.
• Ability to use good judgment when dealing with personnel animal or management issues.

**Application Deadline: Friday July 4 2025 or until position filled**

Benefits include:

Health Insurance 401K with employer matching up to 4% of salary Dental and vision* Insurances Supplemental Group Insurance* Short and long term disability Insurance Paid time off Holidays Direct Deposit Personal Pet Perks

(*) Employee pays the full premium

The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer. To learn more about this program go to

The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care our organization and our community.

Core Values Statements-

• Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness respect and compassion.
• Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve.
• Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community and by standing united in our decisions.
• Excellence: We are passionate about our mission and strive for excellence through continual learning innovation and the development of our board staff and volunteers.
• Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people.
• Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do.

As a condition of employment with HSPPR you will be required to authorize HSPPR and ProScreening to conduct a background check before confirming an employment start date. The background check will include a criminal investigation verification of citizenship/immigration status and a motor vehicle record. By applying for this position you acknowledge and agree that any offers of employment will be contingent upon completion of the background check to the satisfaction of HSPPR.