Location: Remote with frequent extended project-based travel and/or temporary long-term relocation (anywhere from a few days to upwards of 18 months)

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $72,000 to $78,000 annually, depending on experience.

Manager interviews will begin the week of September 11th and will be ongoing until the position is filled (recruiter phone screens will occur prior to the manager interview).

Do you want to make history?

Best Friends Animal Society puts our money where our mouth is. In 2016, Best Friends committed to helping every shelter achieve the benchmark 90% save rate by 2025 because we know that no single organization can do it alone. The National Shelter Embed Program is at the forefront of that help, placing Best Friends staff members in agencies across the country to work side by side with agency staff to help them implement proven strategies to take their community to no-kill. These embedded staff members are backed by a diverse array of subject-matter experts and have access to Best Friends resources, empowering them help partner organizations accomplish lifesaving goals that would normally take years in just a matter of months.

The National Shelter Embed team is looking for a dynamic industry expert who is willing to do extended project-based travel and/or temporary long-term relocation, ranging from a few days to upwards of 18 months, to anywhere in the United States. The size, scope and responsibilities of each assignment can vary from pre-embed work to support of a project with a primary embedded staff to being the primary embedded staff. *Best Friends offers travel and/or relocation expenses based on the specific needs of each project.

Our perfect candidate is someone with solid modern animal shelter operational programming experience, including community cat programming experience, and a total chameleon who is willing to jump in and clean kennels with the team, grab a bite to eat and a quick change on the run, and then professionally advocate to key stakeholders. Are YOU that perfect candidate?

Before clicking on the next job ad, STOP. Reach out to us and we are happy to hop on a call to discuss the opportunity should you have any questions before applying!

Essential Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict. Work to build strong relationships with your team and agency staff by creating communication loops to share and receive honest feedback.
• This is a position with extended project-based travel and/or temporary long-term relocation, ranging from a few days to upwards of 18 months, to anywhere in the United States. The size, scope and responsibilities of each assignment can vary from pre-embed work to support of a project with a primary embedded staff to being the primary embedded staff. *Best Friends offers travel and/or relocation expenses based on the specific needs of each project.
• Serve in a leadership position, working collaboratively with agency to create systemic change to achieve and sustain no-kill in the designated community.
• Direct management of lifesaving operations in assigned embed agency; plan, implement, facilitate, monitor, and evaluate all lifesaving programs ongoing for proven strategies and continuing education for attainment of agency and Best Friends goals and to achieve no-kill by scheduled deadline.
• Critically analyze shelter data to better direct resources to more efficiently achieve no-kill and ensure data compliance. Work with Best Friends supervisor to facilitate resources for assigned agency once data has been analyzed and gaps in the agency’s operations budget have been identified that are critical in order to achieve goals.
• Identify areas where additional support is needed to create or improve specific programs and coordinate with Best Friends programs staff to facilitate additional support needed to ensure success and sustainability of project.
• Manage communication within assigned agency to ensure that all staff are communicated with regularly. Provide training to staff and volunteers and ensure the performance of tasks and behaviors are in conjunction with all policies and procedures of the assigned agency. In collaboration with agency leadership, create, update and implement standard operating procedures for all lifesaving areas. This could include timely and proficient performance management and job descriptions for staff and volunteers, in assistance with agency leadership, in all lifesaving areas.
• Manage communications within Best Friends, ensuring everyone is updated on progress and challenges and kept abreast of lifesaving progress to goal. Identify opportunities for marketing, communications and development to showcase progress on local and national platforms. Build relationships in the community and surrounding communities to improve image of the agency, grow partnerships with local organizations, increase brand exposure for Best Friends, and increase opportunities for reduction in shelter killing in neighboring communities.

Skills and experience:

• Solid leadership experience in animal operations with a comprehensive understanding of proven strategies to increase dog and cat lifesaving; 5+ years of experience working for or with an animal welfare organization; experience with or confidence in change management.
• Strengths and experience in utilizing statistical information to inform, develop and implement division and department level strategic plans, including change management strategies and program direction; proven attention to detail with advanced organizational and time management skills.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with nonjudgmental philosophies.
• Excellent leadership skills with the ability to act decisively with a get-it-done attitude in difficult and fast-paced situations; strong interpersonal skills and a proven ability to initiate and influence change; a team player, upbeat, energetic, tactful, and diplomatic, able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with public speaking and presentation experience. Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ positions on issues; experience in supporting, engaging with, and developing relationships with volunteers and donors. Bi-lingual or multi-lingual skills preferred, but not required.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn, comfort learning new systems, including online information systems.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to routinely lift 50 pounds.
• Extended periods of time working on the computer with repetitive typing, arm, and hand motion.
• Ability to be in a shelter environment and work in the presence of both cats and dogs, including organizations where cats and dogs are currently being killed for space.
• Bend, stoop, reach, climb, twist, crawl, stand and walk for an extended period.
• Must be able to work in weather with temperatures varying between extreme hot and extreme cold.
• Able to work varying hours, which may include early morning and/or late evening hours.
• Ability to travel via various forms of transportation.
• Valid driver's license, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel and/or drive on behalf of Best Friends, including overnight stays, when needed.
• Frequent extended travel and on-going temporary relocation is part of this role.

About Best Friends

Best Friends recently received a 2022 Top Workplaces USA award from Energage. Visit the Best Friends Animal Society page on the Energage Top Workplaces award winners’ site here to learn more. Not only do we take pride in cultivating a welcoming and supportive community and culture for our employees, but we also offer competitive benefits that make it easy to see why we were granted such an awesome award! We offer competitive pay including the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on performance. We offer medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short and long-term disability, dependent care reimbursement, pet sitting reimbursement when traveling for work, flexible spending account, and health savings account. We offer generous paid time off up to 9 hours per month for full time employees, nine paid holidays annually, auto insurance discount, and legal and identity theft coverage. For added well-being support, we offer Pawternity Leave for employees to have time to care for their personal pets, mental health support, and an employee assistance program. We also offer a generous 401k savings plan. Do you want to love where you work and make history and end the killing of shelter pets by 2025? Look no further and apply today!

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by Best Friends Animal Society.