Senior Manager, Placement Programs

ASPCA · Weaverville · $75,000–$79,000 (stated in the posting)

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Summary:

Are you passionate about animal welfare? Do you thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven environment where operations, behavior, and medical teams work together to achieve exceptional outcomes for animals? If so, the Senior Manager, Placement Programs role may be the perfect fit.

Who We Are

Launched in March 2013, the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center is the first and only facility dedicated to the study and rehabilitation of extremely fearful, under socialized dogs, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding situations. In 2017, the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) relocated to a new permanent and expanded facility in Weaverville, North Carolina. The mission of the BRC is to share best practices, develop structured behavior modification programs for other animal welfare organizations and assist with these programs’ implementation. Our ultimate goal is to maximize lifesaving impact through partnership and collaboration with shelter partners across the country. 

What You’ll Do

Under the direction of the Senior Director, Operations, the Senior Manager of Placement Programs will oversee the Coordinator, Adoptions and Placement, and work with departments across the ASPCA to proactively promote, organize and execute the placement of every graduate from the BRC via placement partner and direct placement into adoptive homes. 

One of the most critical functions of this role is to serve as part of a harmonious, united team with shelter operations, shelter medicine, and animal behavior experts. This united team is dedicated to collaborating with each other to provide balanced, integrative care and to ensure all work supports the behavioral health of the dogs in treatment.

• Senior Manager of Placement Programs reports directly to the Senior Director, Operations and has 1 direct report.

Where and When You’ll Work

• This is an in-person position and reports to the Behavior Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville, NC

• Availability to regularly 5 days per week (typically Monday through Friday); Available to work a flexible schedule when operationally needed including days, evenings, weekends, and holidays as program needs require. Ability to be “on-call” on a rotating basis with other facility Senior Directors & Managers. Schedules are subject to change as needed by the ASPCA. 

• This position requires ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time; Including ability to travel at least once per quarter to transport animals or deploy to provide support in the field or temporary shelter environment.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.       

• The target hiring range for this role is $75,000 - $79,000 annually.

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.

• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.

• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.

• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.

Check our website for more information on our benefits offerings. 

Responsibilities:

What You’ll Do

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to: 

Animal Placement Program Development/Management 

• Develop and implement direct adoption program enhancements and SOPs to help move graduates into adoptive homes.  

• Develop and expand adoption and adoption outreach efforts to streamline the direct adoption process to ensure a high-quality experience for both adopters and staff. 

• Collaborate with the Behavior & Operations teams to develop and maintain a working knowledge of graduates. Coordinate with both teams to participate in treatments and playgroup regularly to gain a more comprehensive understanding of each dog and gather engaging photos and videos of graduates. 

• Review graduate medical and behavioral documentation to ensure transparency, objectivity, and alignment with organizational standards and goals. Collaborate with medical and behavioral teams to revise documentation as needed, ensuring consistency, professionalism, and a cohesive brand image for external stakeholders. 

• Assist in scheduling transports with Centralized Placement by working with medical, behavior, operations, and CP to ensure a smooth transition for dogs exiting the BRC. 

• Follow up on graduates who have been placed with a survey to help us gauge the success of the dog, the adopter, and our program. 

• Collaborate with Behavior Branch and Centralized Placement Team to onboard new shelter partners; conducting facility visits when necessary to review and introduce the BRC behavioral program. 

• Develop with the Behavior Branch and CP the development of partner shelter shadowing opportunities as a perk for agencies to better understand our graduates and feel more confident taking them for placement. 

• Prep dogs for transport to placement partners; collecting all documentation and supplies that need to travel with them. 

• Act as a point of contact for the Relocation Team and meeting them to load graduate dogs for transports. 

• In coordination with the Centralized Placement team, transport dogs to partners as necessary, following all transport best practices indicated by the ASPCA Relocation Team. 

• Treat people around you with Kindness and Compassion, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, prioritize your well-being like you do our mission, and work to build strong relationships with your colleagues by participating in communication loops to share and receive honest feedback. You are responsible and accountable for the culture you add to your team dynamic.  

People Management 

• Provide direct oversight to Coordinator, Adoptions and Placement. 

• Ensure team adheres to standard operating procedures, protocols, and regulatory requirements, and maintain accurate records of compliance activities    

• Collaborate with BRC leadership to develop, implement, and evaluate employee recognition milestones and engagement initiatives   

• Arrange tasks and resources effectively to optimize workflow and ensure efficiency   

• Set clear, achievable team goals, inspiring and motivating team members to perform at their best   

• Facilitate ample and open communication within and across teams    

• Directly and immediately address conflict and concerns as the arise, ensuring difficult conversations are productive, respectful, and meaningful    

• Monitor and evaluate employee performance, fostering growth by providing coaching, regular and timely feedback, and formal appraisals   

• Work with BRC leadership and the People Team to recruit, hire, and onboard new employees, and contribute to workforce planning   

• Collaborate with BRC leadership and the Learning & Development Team to identify training needs and provide opportunities for professional development   

• Assist Operations Leadership team by participating as Manager on Duty for daily care team, answers questions, making timely operational and staffing adjustments, offer and receive feedback, lend a hand and ensure deep understanding and compliance with the BRC’s daily operations 

Marketing & Outreach 

• Collect compelling and impactful photos, videos and details that work to tell graduate stories and market them for placement and adoption.  

• Develop and/or edit unique, informative web biographies for graduate dogs who are being placed onto the ASPCA website for adoption. 

• Develop detailed, objective animal profiles containing behavioral, medical, photo, and video documentation for the centralized placement team. Identify and communicate each animal's unique traits and management needs to facilitate successful placements with shelter partners while building strong relationships that support future placement opportunities. 

• Collaborate with the Behavior Branch and Media & Communications Team to prepare, update, and maintain adoption profiles. Update M&C on when we can add/remove and update graduates looking for placement. 

• Work with Media & Communications Team to provide marketing support for receiving partner shelters when they take graduate dogs. 

• Stay up to date on new adoption trends, bringing new ideas to the table to support adoption goals.

• Identify and participate in outreach opportunities within the community to reach new audiences and promote the BRC within the community. 

• Actively implement creative ways to maximize the reach and success of the BRCs direct adoption program, reaching adopters in the community who might not otherwise adopt from the ASPCA. 

• Build, develop, and nurture relationships with prospective and current local businesses in the Asheville region that may yield strategic adoption promotion opportunities.  
   

Administration and Planning 

• Create and manage adoption agreements, placement forms and other documentation needed as part of the placement and adoption process. Ensure documents are fully signed and retained appropriately. 

• Create and update placement program documents, protocols and SOPs. 

• Ensure all graduate documents are finalized, placed into graduate folders and folders are prepared for placement. 

• Work with the BRC Medical Branch to ensure that all medical documents are prepared for each graduates’ placement and added to their graduate folder.  

• Verify that all required actions are complete prior to the dog leaving the BRC. 

• Collect and track adoption inquiry data to aid in creating a strategic plan for promoting graduates.  

• Attend Leads & Manager Meetings, All Staff Huddles, Dog Status Updates, Outcomes and other meetings as necessary. 

• Collaborate with Learning Lab and represent the BRC during teaching weeks as necessary to field questions related to the placement process and placement documentation of BRC graduates.  

• Assist in representing the BRC with media opportunities, as necessary. 

• Model the guiding principle that everyone can—and should—actively support the animals’ behavioral and mental health in everything they do. 

• Support all other department activities which will contribute to the advancement and success of the team and the ASPCA as identified by supervisor. 

Qualifications 

• Companion animal behavior and animal welfare knowledge required 

• The ability to work closely with behaviorally compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where euthanasia is performed on a regular basis 

• Proficient in Internet usage and research 

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) required

• Experience with Airtable or similar software a plus

• Familiarity with shelter management software systems a plus; Familiarity with Salesforce, or related software a plus

• Excellent communication skills (spoken, telephone and written) 

• Good team player: a “people person” who enjoys collaboration 

• Superior problem-solving abilities; likes to troubleshoot and find solutions when facing challenges 

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, potentially stressful environment; must be flexible and easily accept frequent changes to plans/protocols 

• Detail oriented, with great organizational skills

• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lb

• Must be willing and able to handle animals in stressful conditions 

• Displays care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals and others, especially during stressful situations 

• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies 

Education and Work Experience

• HS Diploma, GED, or equivalent experience required

• Minimum of 2 years professional experience working in animal shelters required

• Leadership experience (e.g., managing, mentoring, coaching or training others), required

• Experience in an animal shelter adoptions setting preferred 

• Professional experience handling and working with dogs is preferred

• Community outreach and engagement experience is preferred 

• Writing and photography experience is strongly preferred 

• Fear Free® training will be provided and certification will be required within 60 days of hire 

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