Animal Welfare Manager

Job Description

Have you been looking for a hands-on management-level position in animal welfare where you can make a real difference for your team and your community?

Do you embrace a dialogic leadership approach and are at your professional best in a flexible, fast-paced, highly collaborative, structured, and supportive environment Is working alongside a positive, professional team that prioritizes pet lifesaving and maintains the highest care standards important to you?

If so, you belong in Burlington as Animal Services’ Animal Welfare Manager!

What you will do

You’ll lead and manage our veterinary care team in implementing policy and initiatives under the direction of the Assistant Animal Services Director.

You’ll manage the coordination and logistics of medical care and surgical operations at the BAS Pet Adoption & Resource Center (PARC) in coordination with our Chief Veterinarian & Surgeon.

You’ll have hands-on, day-to-day management and oversight responsibility as you work alongside your team to support a high-volume workflow.

BAS maintains a comprehensive program of veterinary care, including high-volume sterilization surgery, specialty surgical procedures, advanced medical treatment procedures, and an array of in-house state-of-the-art diagnostics to ensure the physical and behavioral health of all animals housed at the PARC and off-campus.

You will also work collaboratively with other department teams and have opportunities to participate in community events, interact with residents, and use modern shelter medicine strategies and best practices to contribute to positive outcomes and pet lifesaving.

About Us

BAS is a department of the City of Burlington, NC, which serves residents across Alamance County and is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of pets and people through our commitment to pet lifesaving, public service, proactive support, community collaboration, and solutions-oriented, positive outcomes.

Empowering our community through compassion and responsibility, BAS envisions a future where every pet and person thrives together.

We are committed to providing comprehensive care and support through innovative programs, proactive initiatives, and collaboration with our community.

Our vision is to create a community where pets and their families are united and positive outcomes are achieved through our dedication to public service.

BAS is committed to a no-kill philosophy and practice, which means we are transparent and work collaboratively with our community to save every pet that can be saved.

BAS cares for over 6,000 pets annually at the PARC and maintains a 90% or greater level of pet lifesaving. Learn more about us at burlingtonnc.gov / pets.

Examples of Duties

Manages, coordinates, and oversees the veterinary care program at BAS to ensure the physical and behavioral health of all animals housed at the PARC and off-campus, including surgery, medicine, and diagnostics.

Works closely with the Assistant Director (AD) and Chief Veterinarian and Surgeon (CVS) to ensure adherence and alignment with City and Department policy and procedures, regulatory requirements, and industry standards in managing, addressing, and documenting animal health issues.

Manages population health and flow to ensure animal health and behavioral needs are met, balanced capacity for care, effective disease management, and an emphasis on facilitating positive outcomes for pets.

Oversees digital medical records to ensure appropriate, thorough, and professional documentation of all animal health encounters.

Works closely with the CVS and the AD to ensure updates to protocols and procedures, ensure veterinary care is appropriately provided to animals by or under the direction of BAS DVMs, and ensure compliance with department policy, procedures, protocols, and regulatory requirements in all areas of functional responsibility.

Performs and supports veterinary care staff and DVMs in performing diagnostic, medical, and surgical procedures, including but not limited to animal health assessments, administration of treatments, diagnostics, anesthesia, surgical procedures, and euthanasia etc.

Ensures effective management of the foster program, including support of routine and emergency animal health needs, providing fosters with accessible ongoing guidance and support related to issues such as behavior, training, supplies, routine and emergency care, appropriate and timely follow-up care of pets, and after-hours emergency animal health support.

Supervises three full-time veterinary care specialists and two part-time pet care and enrichment specialists, providing orientation, training, coaching, evaluations, and ongoing performance management, and facilitates scheduling to ensure appropriate support for variable workload in area of responsibility as well as assisting with hiring decisions.

Ensures detailed, accurate documentation of controlled drugs and current appropriate licenses are maintained and are in accordance with regulatory requirements.

Oversees CET functions, records, and documentation and assists with and / or provides CET training.

Purchases supplies and / or equipment necessary to support functional area of responsibility in coordination with the AD and / or Business and Development Manager as appropriate.

Performs other related duties as needed.

Qualifications

Thorough knowledge of relevant regulations and industry guidelines, including NC G.S. Chapters : 19A : Protection of Animals,90 Article 11 : Veterinary Practice Act, 130A Article 6 : Rabies, 90 Article 5 Controlled Substances Act, NCAC 52J Animal Welfare Section, 21 NCAC 66 Veterinary Medical Board, NCAC 10A Chapter 15 Radiation Protection, The City of Burlington Code of Ordinances Chapter2 Article VI Personnel System, and The Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters Second Edition, 2022.

Thorough knowledge and skill in collaborative leadership, modern and effective management principles and practices, team development principles, and interpersonal conflict management in professional settings.

Through knowledge and skill in effective oral and written communication practices?as well as establishing and maintaining positive, professional relationships with diverse stakeholders.

Knowledgeable and skilled with using Microsoft Office (particularly Word, Outlook, and Excel), RMS software, and other technologies commonly used in modern professional veterinary and office environments.

Knowledge of the competencies expected of veterinary technicians in veterinary shelter medicine.

Ability to use excellent judgment and appropriately manage emotional stress accompanying exposure to stressful situations such as those involving animal welfare, personnel management, and working in a public setting.

Skilled in adapting to changes in priorities, assignments, and interruptions in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment

Minimum Qualifications :

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor's degree in any major and four years of progressively responsible related work experience.

An equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience that includes an associate degree and at least six years of progressively responsible, directly related work experience.

Valid driver’s license.

Special Requirements :

Euthanasia Technician Certification (EBI) in the State of North Carolina in good standing (or obtained within the first six months of employment).

NC Certified Rabies Vaccinator (or eligible to become certified within the first year of employment)

Fear Free Certification (or obtained within the first six months of employment).

Preferred :

NCVMB License as a registered veterinary technician.

Experience in shelter medicine and high-volume spay / neuter with an emphasis on lifesaving.

Educational background with majors related to veterinary technology or public management.

Oral and written fluency in both English and Spanish languages.

Supplemental Information

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions :

Handle animals that are sick or injured, frightened, dangerous, and who may display unpredictable behavior.

Individual must be able to lift up to 75 lbs.

Stand, sit, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl to perform procedures and handle pets.

Must be able to lift, carry, and restrain pets, and operate vehicles and equipment during the day and at night.

Work requires exposure to potentially hazardous conditions such as aggressive animals, potential exposure to anesthetic gasses, hazardous chemicals, drugs, and zoonotic diseases.

Work in this position is primarily performed indoor.