Senior Director of Shelter Medicine

About the role

The Senior Director of Shelter Medicine, Los Angeles (Senior Director, SMLA) supports the ASPCA’s partnership work with Los Angeles City Animal Services (LAAS) as part of a team of two on-site ASPCA staff members with shelter operations and shelter medicine expertise embedded with LAAS shelter personnel. The focus of this work is the implementation of a joint 3-year plan for LAAS shelters, led by LAAS and resourced and directly supported by the ASPCA and Best Friends. This initiative aims to achieve the following goals at LAAS shelters:

• Community engagement intake, including efforts to support community cats
• Pathway planning to ensure animals receive timely, coordinated care and support, and that the shelters operate within capacity for humane care
• Positive outcomes for animals by increasing adoptions, transfers, and other lifesaving placements

The Senior Director, SMLA is part of the Shelter Medicine Services (SMS) team, which provides leadership, consultation, and support to improve the health and welfare of animals in shelters and communities across the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Shelter Medicine Programmatic Support to the Los Angeles Initiative
  • Work collaboratively with LAAS and partners to create systemic change over approximately three years to achieve the goals of the ASPCA’s shelter partnership program.
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of LAAS sheltering and veterinary operations, including strengths and gaps, to support plan implementation.
  • Provide ongoing expert assessment of the plan implementation timeline and sequencing, strategizing with LAAS leadership to remove barriers.
  • Partner with LAAS leadership and staff to develop and implement shelter medicine protocols, coaching, and training for LAAS veterinary and animal care personnel.
  • Oversee and troubleshoot the development and refinement of key shelter medicine practices such as daily rounds and pathway planning.
  • Facilitate the consistent application of shelter medicine guidelines and best practices to ensure high-quality, humane animal care.
  • Model a commitment to continual improvement in animal care, handling, and shelter medicine practices.
  • Build and track training schedules and impact assessments, identifying areas where additional support is needed.
  • Build capacity in veterinarians and veterinary teams to apply shelter medicine principles across various situations.
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders connected to LAAS to strengthen implementation of the initiative.
  • Liaise with the on-site ASPCA Spay Neuter Clinic and LAAS to maximize veterinary interventions for intake prevention and shelter animal spay/neuter.
  • Participate in regular project meetings with LAAS staff and internal ASPCA meetings regarding the Los Angeles Initiative.
  • Support project communications within the ASPCA and identify opportunities to showcase progress on local and national platforms.
  • Partner with the Communications division to develop and review messaging related to shelter medicine practices and the joint 3-year plan.
  • Serve as an organizational spokesperson, providing subject matter expertise for media inquiries and public-facing communications.
• Training, Mentorship, and Educational Resource Development
  • Develop and deliver programs, presentations, and written materials on shelter medicine tailored to LAAS, focusing on preventive medicine, epidemiology, population management, and infectious diseases.
  • Adapt resources for broader use by ASPCA programs, including ASPCApro.
  • Mentor ASPCA shelter medicine residents during onsite rotations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the VP, Shelter Medicine Services and Veterinary Training Programs or Senior Director of the Los Angeles Initiative.

Qualifications

• High level of shelter medicine expertise required.
• Proven leadership skills: ability to inspire, guide, and support teams toward shared goals, demonstrating flexibility, resiliency, and commitment.
• Skillful and diplomatic communicator with strong writing, public speaking, and interpersonal skills.
• Strong desire to continually improve the health and well-being of animals, shelters, and communities.
• Collaborative and resilient spirit with the ability to work effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to develop practical, effective, and efficient solutions to address critical needs in animal care.

Schedule

This position is primarily on-site, with approximately 80% of time spent across the six Los Angeles city shelters. Up to 10% remote work from a home office and up to 10% occasional travel are required. Regular travel between LAAS shelters and remote work locations is necessary. Typical hours align with shelter operational and veterinary staffing schedules, which may vary according to LAAS operations.

Pay

The target hiring range for this role is $208,000 - $220,000 annually. Starting pay depends on factors including education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, and market demands. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience.

Benefits

• Health and Wellness
  • Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Time Off
  • Flexible time off including vacation, sick, and bereavement time.
  • Paid parental leave and 10 company-paid holidays.
  • Paid personal time off for observing days of personal significance.
• Financial and Retirement
  • 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions: dollar-for-dollar match up to 4% and an additional 4% contribution toward retirement annually.
• Professional Development
  • Robust opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching, mentorship, internal mobility, and field support.