Manager, Shelter Veterinary Services - Animal Welfare Organization

Description

Humane Colorado is looking for a hands-on, thoughtful leader who brings both heart and skill to their work. The ideal candidate will have at least five years of professional experience working with animals, including three in a leadership role, and a passion for helping both people and pets thrive. Experience in veterinary or shelter medicine is a plus, but a deep commitment to collaboration, compassion, and growth is essential. In this role you'll help shape a culture of empathy, excellence, and teamwork that truly transforms lives.

Purpose of Position: Manage the delivery of veterinary care to animals sheltered by Humane Colorado. The Humane Colorado shelters provide a safe place for homeless and unwanted pets, and the Manager of Shelter Veterinary Services is responsible for all aspects of daily, shelter veterinary services. The Shelter Veterinary Services Manager supports, coaches, and develops a compassionate, efficient, resilient, adaptive, and highly functioning Shelter Veterinary Services (SVS) team.

Responsibilities

• Manages and develops an effective staff: providing effective communication, leadership, guidance and resources. Determines staff qualifications and competency: recruits, interviews, selects, hires, trains, orients, mentors, evaluates, coaches, counsels, disciplines, and rewards. Establishes and monitors staff safety and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure internal and external client experiences with SVS reflects Humane Colorado’s brand and core values and that client communication and follow-up occurs in timely manner.
• Work closely and collaboratively with the SVS Leadership to effectively manage the support services team, doctors, departmental resources, and workflow.
• Ensure that SVS efficiently moves animals through the system and optimizes length-of-stay whenever possible. Continuously monitor length-of-stay and suggest areas for improvement.
• Design, develop, and implement department standards, work processes, systems, and procedures for accomplishing work. Develop SOPs and ensure they are consistently updated, followed, and communicated with staff and volunteers. Monitor and evaluate program and process effectiveness, including statistical analysis and report creation, and implement improvements. Develop and fulfill realistic and ambitious departmental objectives and plans.
• Identify, implement and maintain continuous improvement for SVS team, operations, and self.
• Collaborate with other departments and organizational leaders in creating organizational alignment and partnership, executing upon organizational initiatives, supporting strategic planning, and ensuring alignment with core values, vision, mission, and the strategic plan.
• Provide oversight and project management for specific limited or ongoing projects and processes as assigned.
• Manage staff schedule and work with leadership to manage daily assignments, ensure completion and the provision of a high standard of care for pets and patrons.
• In partnership with Human Resources, create, implement, and monitor a training program for all team members that develops the skill and expertise staff need to do their work well.
• Manage utilization of department resources to maximize value, control expenses and minimize waste.
• Support the financial functions of the department, including accounts payable, payroll, and daily deposits.
• Assist with developing the annual budget and monitoring the budget including but not limited to reviewing monthly expenses ensuring expenditures stay within the operating budget and explain variances as needed.
• Serve as opening and closing manager when assigned.
• Participate in training day planning, including content development and presentation.
• Follow protocols for daily facility maintenance and partner with facilities team regarding repair and maintenance of equipment, building and grounds.
• Manage vendor and other relationships with the community.
• Represent the organization internally and externally with integrity, serving as an ambassador of Humane Colorado’s mission and brand.
• Oversee care and treatment of foster care animals to ensure proper services and follow-up care are provided and completed efficiently.
• Work in conjunction with leadership team, Volunteer Services team, and associates to manage relationships with foster parents, providing excellent customer service.
• Oversee proper management of inventory including controlled substance ordering, tracking, security, and destruction.
• Perform euthanasia and related tasks.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on safety for the department, responsible for understanding and ensuring compliance with OSHA, DEA and FDA, and applicable state and local agencies.

People Care

People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position interacts with and collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may also include contact with the general public and Humane Colorado business partners. Communication and contact must be clear, understandable, cooperative, professional and respectful in all circumstances. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, directly address conflict, and appropriately express concerns.

Competencies

Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.

Organizational Key Competencies

• Integrity and Ethics
• Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
• Customer and Community Focus
• Emotional Intelligence
• Excellence

Leadership Key Competencies

• Project and Process Management
• Delivering Results
• Developing Direct Reports
• Building and Leading Effective Teams

Position Key Competencies

• Analytical Thinking
• Conflict Management
• Financial Acumen
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Strong Management skills
• Innovation
• People Development
• Project Management
• Strategic Thinking

Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility

• Associate Manager, Shelter Veterinary Services
• Volunteers

Travel

• This position may require travel to different work sites

Full-Time Benefits – Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.

• Benefits (medical, dental, and vision)
• 401(k) with matching
• Flexible spending accounts
• Life and Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Sick Time
• Sabbatical
• Holiday Pay
• Employee discounts
• Discounted Pet Insurance
• and more!

Compensation: Starting at $62,300.00 - $70,000.00 annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Performs work primarily in an office setting. Potentially prolonged periods of sitting and repetitive motion. May work in an area with high noise level. Potentially subject to animal bites and scratches. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Occasional lifting with reasonable accommodation.

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on February 19, 2026.

Requirements

Position Qualifications

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated success in customer service
• Intermediate knowledge of Microsoft Office required
• Must possess excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Demonstrated capability to organize work efficiently, set priorities and establish plans or timetables for achieving goals
• Demonstrated effectiveness as a leader capable of influencing and motivating others to success toward a common goal

Required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• Work Experience: Five years of professional experience working with animals and three years of supervisory experience

Desired

• Degree and/or certification in veterinary related sciences
• Experience working with volunteers and the public
• Experience in veterinary medical field or animal shelter environment
• Experience developing and monitoring budget