Senior Transport Program Manager
Senior Transport Program Manager
Posted on :
01-08-2025
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Job Description
Senior Transport Program Manager
APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austins most dynamic and best-loved nonprofits. The organization is the leader in the no-kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues treats and adopts out 10000 homeless dogs and cats each year providing the safety net for Austins most at-risk shelter pets which helps Austin to be a no-kill city while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots non-traditional community-based animal rescue work. The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and teaches its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive! APA!s national 2020 AmPA! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) project a collaborative movement of more than 10000 animal welfare professionals working in nearly 1900 organizations. HASS is the first-of-its-kind collective of shelters and animal welfare professionals coming together to build community-focused animal services that better meet the needs of people and pets by keeping human-animal families together and keeping pets unnecessarily out of shelters. The Senior Transport Program Manager is based out of the APA! Transport hub location in Elgin TX and is responsible for leading the strategic direction growth and daily operations of our lifesaving animal transport program.
BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW:
The Senior Transport Program Manager leads the strategic direction growth and daily operations of APA!s lifesaving animal transport program. This role is responsible for aligning the transport program with APA!s broader mission to increase the live release rate across Texas while also building a sustainable equitable national model for addition to overseeing the Texas transport operation this position also leads the Direct to Adopt program ensuring both are integrated into APA!s overall lifesaving strategy. This role is responsible for managing daily operations supervising staff and setting clear and ambitious goals. This includes developing structured plans to guide the team regularly tracking progress and ensuring follow-through on key priorities. The role uses data to inform decisions and keeps the team focused on consistent measurable outcomes. This is a high-level leadership role rooted in facilitation and empowerment. Rather than doing all the work independently the Senior Manager sets the tone that APA! is a volunteer-powered organization-every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers pairing up to ensure transport work is accomplished through shared effort and leadership development. This role also requires a high level of responsiveness. Animal transport often involves fast-changing logistics including after-hours flights and weekend needs. While APA! encourages and honors time off when on duty this leader must be highly engaged flexible and ready to support their team with real-time problem solving and guidance.
Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A big part of this role is creating a positive environment for volunteers including supporting their onboarding and ongoing engagement.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Foster and model a volunteer-powered culture across the transport team by ensuring that every staff member is partnered with volunteers on every shift with the goal of empowering volunteers to lead and grow within the program.
- Serve as a facilitator and coach to staff and volunteers ensuring the work is shared not siloed and that volunteers are supported in completing daily tasks.
- Provide responsive leadership for time-sensitive transport operations including after-hours and weekend situations ensuring staff and partner needs are met with urgency and clear communication.
- Provide supervision and support to the Transport Coordinators Senior Transport Driver and Northern Hub Adoption Manager. Ensure clear delegation of responsibilities coaching for growth and regular performance feedback.
- Lead both the strategic development and daily execution of the transport and Direct to Adopt programs to align with APA!s mission and Texas-focused lifesaving goals.
- Set clear measurable goals for the transport program and Direct to Adopt and oversee the development of weekly and monthly plans to drive progress toward these goals.
- Monitor program metrics weekly and monthly to assess progress and impact. Identify trends gaps or roadblocks and lead the development of high-level solutions to improve performance.
- Guide the Elgin and North Carolina transport teams in breaking down goals into actionable steps and empower staff to take ownership and execute independently.
- Lead outreach efforts and build new partnership opportunities while strengthening existing relationships to expand APA!s transport footprint and increase the frequency and scale of operations.
- Maintain a deep understanding of the shelter landscape in Texas and identify transport-based solutions that address systemic barriers in source shelters.
- Serve as a strategic point of contact for source and destination partners cultivating long-term mission-aligned relationships.
- Ensure that both the transport and Direct to Adopt programs are grounded in inclusivity integrity and equity.
- Oversee all staff HR functions within the department including performance evaluations job descriptions disciplinary actions and professional development planning.
- Collaborate across APA! departments-Intake Medical Foster Adoptions Care and others- to ensure seamless integration of transport into broader operations.
- Oversee and ensure compliance with transport protocols health certificate processes and shelter software data entry.
- Ensure the APA! Shelter Hub calendar and transport tracking systems are accurate up-to-date and accessible.
- Supervise all regional and long-distance transport logistics ensuring safe humane and efficient operations.
- Lead contingency planning and guide the team in adapting quickly when transport plans change unexpectedly.
- Ensure support and communication are available to drivers and receiving partners during active transports either directly or through appropriate delegation to trained team members.
- Develop and implement transport program initiatives that increase the number of animals saved and support achievement of annual goals.
- Identify standard operating procedure (SOP) needs and lead the development of clear effective documentation for program consistency and training.
- Cultivate a strong dependable volunteer network and build leadership opportunities within the transport program for volunteers.
- Gather and organize stories photos and meaningful data from the program to support APA!s marketing communications and philanthropy efforts.
- In the event of a natural disaster or emergency help lead APA!s lifesaving response including managing logistics coordinating volunteers communicating with affected shelters and providing on-the-ground support as needed.
- Serve as a key driver in expanding APA!/AmPA!s transport program as a national model by focusing on measurable outcomes shelter impact and innovation.
- Job duties may include some or all of the above and other duties as assigned by the manager.
OTHER FUNCTIONS:
- Attend and actively participate in required trainings meetings and organizational updates.
- Maintain open and timely communication with your supervisor or designee and cross-departmental colleagues.
- Partner with the Volunteer team to manage and engage volunteers supporting the transport program.
- Adapt effectively to changing priorities and remain solution-focused in a fast-paced environment.
- Available to work evenings weekends and holidays as needed based on program demands.
- Able to work independently with clear goals and deadlines while also collaborating well within a team.
- Perform additional duties as assigned in support of APA!s mission and department goals.
QUALIFICATIONS SKILLS & EXPECTATIONS:
- Must embody APA!s core values of innovation respect drive resourcefulness and inclusion
- Commitment to APA!s customer experience expectations
- Willing and committed to working well with volunteers and staff in all roles
- Minimum of 35 years in animal sheltering transport logistics or program management including experience supervising staff and working across departments
- At least 2 years of direct animal handling (cats and dogs); veterinary medical experience or knowledge preferred
- Proven ability to set strategic goals interpret and apply data to guide decisions and lead a team to deliver measurable results
- Demonstrated skill in facilitating work through others especially in building strong volunteer engagement and leadership
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills; able to manage multiple complex projects and deadlines in a fast-paced changing environment
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to build trust and collaboration across teams and with external partners
- Committed to APA!s values of lifesaving equity and innovation in animal welfare
- Comfortable driving a transport van and supporting the physical aspects of transport as needed (must have a valid drivers license and clean driving record)
- Flexible responsive and solution-oriented including availability to support time-sensitive needs outside of standard hours such as evening flights or weekend transports
- Perform additional duties as assigned in support of APA!s mission and department goals
- Willingness to work evenings weekends and during emergencies as required by program needs.
PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be able to work around animals (including diseased injured and/or potentially aggressive animals) loud noises chlorine or other chemicals and inclement weather
- Must be able to comfortably interact with cats/dogs of various health levels including zoonotic diseases such as ringworm scabies intestinal parasites etc.
- Must be able to walk big dogs that pull and jump
- Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away
- Ability to hear normal speech at close contact and shouting up to 150 feet away with the ability to hear and discern dog vocalizations both soft and loud
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to focus in a loud and busy environment despite distractions
- Must be able to walk around shelter as needed - uneven ground keeping a safe distance from dogs and handlers
- Will sit stand walk talk hear stoop bend stretch squat kneel grasp grip put fingers together firmly and reach above and below shoulder level lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds and push and pull up to 50 pounds for situations of moving supplies and setting up for events; repetitively use hands to operate computers; flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist.
- If reasonable accommodations are requested reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job absent undue hardship to the organization.
WORK ENVIRONMENT :
- Standard office environment with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals
- May use own transportation to travel and transport
- Occasional after-hours or weekend work will be required to support program needs
- Exposure to unpleasant odors.
- Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste disinfectants and high levels of noise
- Potential for animal bites and scratches and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people
TIME COMMITMENT:
- This is a full-time exempt position with an average of 40 hours per week.
- Shift and schedule flexibility is required as weekly schedule is subject to change
- Able to work evenings weekends and holidays as needed
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: This position reports directly to the Senior Director of Care Operations.
LOCATION(S):
- APA! Elgin Transport Hub - 929 Old McDade Rd Elgin TX 78621
- May travel to offsite locations as needed
BENEFITS:
Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees including subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage subsidized and voluntary life insurance voluntary dental vision and short-term disability options all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan supplemental benefits flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life saving work.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT
Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color LGBTQ people women transgender and gender non-conforming people and people with disabilities to apply.
Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race color religion sex national origin age disability veteran status marital status sexual orientation gender identity or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion respect and integrity community focus and innovation.
APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation please contact Talent Acquisition at at least one week in advance of your interview.
Required Experience:
Manager
Employment Type
Full Time
Key Skills
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