Chief Operations Officer

The Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County

Job Description

The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the shelter including animal sheltering, customer service, volunteers, and community outreach. Through delegation to HSTPC employees, the Chief Operating Officer is responsible for carrying out the operating procedures necessary to implement the policies established by the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, this position is responsible for carrying out the directives contained in the contracts between the municipalities and HSTPC and the requirements of all governing bodies. This person must have strong leadership, communication, customer, and time management skills that promote a positive, professional, and team-oriented work environment. This position is based in Tacoma, Washington.

Responsibilities:
• Overseeing the handling, well-being, and care of all animals admitted to the care of the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County
• Ensure high standards of care for both the physical and mental well-being of all animals in the care of HSTPC and clinics by holding all team members accountable for quality of care.
• Perform regular, scheduled walk-throughs of the shelter to ensure proper and timely care, cleaning, sanitation, feeding, and disposition of animals and to ensure that animals are moving through the system to their intended pathway in a timely manner
• Periodically review and assess policies, processes, programs and work—particularly in light of developments in the animal welfare field—within the organization to make needed changes to meet the needs of the animals and the community.
• Make plans for adjustments to processes and programs based on data and collaborative input to achieve organizational goals, using project management when necessary. Provide reports and analysis of data regularly and as requested by CEO or other Directors, including providing data for grant reporting to Development Director.
• Create processes to ensure an appropriate inventory of supplies and pet food to ensure that staff members have adequate supplies, tools, and equipment to do their jobs
• Plans, organizes, and oversees volunteer program, community services, customer services, and shelter operations to ensure they meet the mission and objectives of the organization.
• Tasked with the continual progressive development of innovative Outreach programs to further the shelter's progress and reach in order to save more lives and engage communities.
• Oversees the volume of transferred animals and coordinates between each department to ensure communication and seamless receiving.
• Assures the proper implementation and administration of all policies, procedures, and programs and coordinates this through the other members of the Executive Management Team.
• Work with HR to ensure that appropriate safety programs and training are in place to comply with appropriate safety standards including OSHA compliance.
• Work with the marketing team to ensure effective promotion for adoptions, spay/neuter, and vaccination events as well as for individual animals and needed equipment/supplies.
• Manage the recruitment, hiring, development, employment, evaluation and discharge of all employees.
• Ensures that appropriate staff training opportunities are available including both in-house training and attendance at local and national workshops.
• Ensures that a weekly meeting of all customer service and shelter operation staff is held to address any issues that have come up and to train on any new procedures.
• Responsible for overseeing the Customer Service Team and ensuring high quality of excellence in customer service.
• Oversees the budgeting process for shelter operations, volunteer programs, and outreach.
• Participate in local, regional and national organizations or committees relating to animal welfare. Present at community meetings as appropriate. Represent HSTPC at the occasional public function and donor events.
• Ensure all complaints made by the public regarding shelter intake, adoptions, operations, and community events are addressed.
• Attends HSTPC Board of Directors meetings, providing information on operations and answering questions.
• Leads the negotiation process with municipalities for animal control contracts. Keeps open lines of communication with animal control leaders and officer, including the initiation of quarterly meetings, shelter training requirements for officers, and responses to general inquiry of animals.
• Maintain the database of animal and customer information.
• Takes on special projects as assigned by the Chief Executive Officer.

Required Qualifications
• At least five years professional experience in animal welfare and in a management role
• Bachelor’s degree (BS or BA) or equivalent experience in a comparable role
• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to establish rapport quickly with persons of diverse backgrounds.
• Maintains a professional stance and encourages professionalism in all operations activities.
• Preserves cordial, productive relationships with all staff and board members while maintaining confidentiality pertaining to privileged administrative and operational information.
• Self-motivated, well organized, goal oriented, and works effectively under pressure.
• Must embrace and effectively communicate the mission and goals of the organization.
• Flexible schedule with the ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Experience with computer databases including but not limited to Chameleon, Microsoft Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams), SharePoint, and Business Central
• Highly organized, and detail-oriented self-starter. Ability to adhere to strict deadlines.

Travel Requirements
This position may require occasional travel in order to attend meetings and other community events.

Typical Physical & Mental Demands
Requires prolonged sitting at a computer station and/or standing with bending, stooping and stretching, crouching and crawling, eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate vehicle, medical equipment, machinery, safety equipment, and office/computer equipment. Will be required to lift items and animals up to 50 lbs. and be physically active on a regular basis with periods of heavy exertion. Will be exposed to disinfectant solutions and subject to bites and scratches while handling animals of questionable temperament. Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with animals, the public, volunteers, and staff. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a fast-paced changing environment and the ability to work long hours including weekends and holidays. Must be comfortable handling dogs, cats, and small companion animals on a regular basis.

Compensation
This is a full time, exempt, salaried position with a salary range of $140,000.00 - $155,000.00. This position is also eligible to participate in the companies medical, dental, vision, plan with 89% of the premiums covered for employees and eligible family members. This position is also eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness as well as three company paid benefits (long-term disability, short-term disability, and $50,000 term life insurance policy).

This is a full time job