Care Center Assistant Manager

About the role

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 20,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals. We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Schedule

The working schedule for this position is Tuesday – Saturday with varying hours. One weekend day is required.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct leadership to a large team, including managing schedules, setting team goals, hiring, training, and evaluating performance and processes to improve daily activities.
• Maintain workplace safety and legal compliance, ensuring standards are met and guidelines are followed.
• Assist in implementation and hold staff accountable to current and new protocols and procedures.
• Provide direct support to the Care Center Manager in tracking inventory, supply orders, timecards, and creating innovative solutions as issues arise in the Care Center.
• Directly supervise staff, including setting work schedules; providing training, resources and support; establishing goals and objectives; and providing frequent feedback on work performance.
• Assist the Care Center Manager in cultivating a positive work environment that fosters professional development, idea exchange, compassion, empathy and respect for people and animals.
• Encourage staff to provide solutions to challenges and participate in the growth and trajectory of the department.
• Implement and monitor Care Center-based programs to meet and exceed standards of humane animal care and overall operations, which may include cleaning kennels and attending directly to animals when staffing requires.
• Develop and foster supportive working relationships among and between different departments, including resolution of conflict.
• Ensure a safe and supportive working environment.
• Provide and encourage professional development for staff through regular check-ins where both parties give and receive feedback on progress and development.
• Set the standard for professionalism, attitude, punctuality, and responsiveness by modeling desired behavior.
• Facilitate communication at all levels.
• Participate in staff hiring, evaluations, and disciplinary actions as needed.
• Assist in ensuring the Care Center follows all legal and government contract guidelines, that safety procedures are followed, and OSHA standards are met at all times.
• Track inventory and monitor supplies, including weekly supply ordering.
• Complete weekly timecards for direct and indirect reports as needed; approve time off and organize coverage.
• Track and provide monthly metrics to measure the effect of each program.
• Respond in a timely manner to emails and other requests as they arise.
• Address programmatic challenges and areas in need of improvement; innovate new approaches to problem areas.
• Assist in monitoring Fear Free standards in the Care Centers and help implement and hold staff accountable to current and new protocols and procedures.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• At least 2 years of experience in leadership capacity and at least 2 years of experience working in animal welfare.
• Previous supervisory experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including conflict resolution skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and team-building qualities.
• Ability to interact with animals in a calm and non-threatening manner.
• Working knowledge of Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint and other Microsoft applications, plus ability to learn new computer programs.
• Ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.
• Fear Free certification within 30 days of hire.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience working with union staff preferred.
• Ability to work flexible hours and days, including nights and weekends, as needed.
• Availability to be on rotating overnight on-call schedule for emergencies and schedule changes.
• Ability to plan and operate within a budget.

Work Environment

At ACC it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. Animal Care Centers houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance. ACC offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need, including compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.

Benefits

• Generous paid-time-off (PTO) package including vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay.
• Open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium, plus 401K and Pension, Life Insurance.
• On-the-job training for 2–4 weeks and periodic all-staff trainings covering safety, DEI, cross-training and other growth opportunities.
• Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) for employees with Federal Direct Loans after 120 qualifying payments.

Pay and Overtime

This is a non-union position and is eligible for overtime.