Job Description

POSITION: Senior Director, Animal Flow
STATUS: Permanent; Full-Time
SHIFT: 35 hours per week
LOCATION: Remote (if incumbent is located outside Greater Vancouver Area), Hybrid (if incumbent is based in the Greater Vancouver Area), as the discretion of the employer
CLASSIFICATION: Exempt
WAGE: Salaried
CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled
We welcome diversity, value differences, and foster inclusion in our employment practices. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion by reading our on our website. We invite applications from all qualified individuals who are philosophically aligned with our .
Make a Difference in the Lives of Animals Across B.C.!
About the Role:
Reporting to the Head of Animal Services - Protection & Community, this position is accountable for strategic direction and service delivery of provincial animal flow, foster, transfer, and diversion programs as informed through a vulnerability spectrum lens.
This position leads a team responsible for delivery of Animal Services - Flow programming including further developing and then operationalizing the vulnerability spectrum to inform centralized animal intake, foster, animal transfer, large scale animal intake, components of emergency response, diversion, and liaison with other departments for delivery of programming in conjunction with the strategic plan and established policies and procedures of the BC SPCA. In doing so, this position is responsible for liaising with other Senior Directors across all departments to ensure consistency, as well as building relationships with other parties in the organization, managing program budgets and participating in strategic planning.
This position will continue to evolve as Animal Flow work is implemented.
Key Responsibilities:
Vulnerability Spectrum Development and Operationalization of Animal Flow (Years 1-2, 70%; Years 3-5, 50%)

• Completes next phases of development of the vulnerability spectrum, as identified by the executive leadership team, including identification and procurement of appropriate technology and data required to centralize animal flow.
• Reviews and revises existing animal-related policies and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance with the vulnerability spectrum, ensuring that the passage of such policies and procedures is coordinated through the Policies Forum.
• Develops and executes an implementation plan including hiring and training animal flow decision team, piloting a centralized animal flow process in a region, evaluating pilot success and making adjustments as necessary, and overseeing eventual implementation throughout the province.
• Oversees the existing large-scale animal intake process and creates mechanisms, consistent with the vulnerability spectrum, to ensure decision-makers know how many animals are currently in the system, where (e.g., shelter/foster), and where there is space available.
• Together with the Innovation Forum, investigates the use of technology that may will facilitate animal flow and oversees implementation of technology needs for animal flow and necessary data and reporting to support pathway planning.
• Oversees monitoring the location and status of animals in care and identifies opportunities to reduce unnecessary days in care or the need to implement initiatives to move adoptable animals out more quickly in times of need (e.g. Emergencies or shelter capacity issues).
• Monitors existing Centre and Regional animal waitlists to assist in the development of the vulnerability spectrum and works with the respective Regional and Centre managers to facilitate admission of animals on waitlists.
• Collaborates with the Root Causes team to identify issues that inhibit successful outcomes for vulnerable animals across the province and provides insight to support provincial/regional/local campaigns to address these concerns over the long term.
• Chairs the Animal Flow Forum, ensuring decisions relating to animal flow are made in consultation with Society and province-wide direction.

Foster Program (Years 1-2, 20%, Years 3-5, 10%)

• Works in close collaboration with the Senior Director of Volunteer Resources, implementing an enhanced provincial foster program and structure, in line with the vulnerability spectrum and animal flow plan to support improved care, positive animal outcomes and decreased unnecessary days in care for animals coming into care.
• Develops regionalized approach to the foster program that works closely with Animal Centres, Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Shelter Medicine, and Community Services teams.
• Based on research and analysis of best practices in foster programing, develops a foster program that can support multiple levels of animal and people need, as informed through the vulnerability spectrum.
• Over the 5-year strategic plan, works to consolidate all fostering programs, including emergency, compassionate board, and safekeeper programs into the overall provincial foster program.

Animal Transport (Years 1-2,10%, Years 3-5, 10%)

• Oversees/conducts a comprehensive review of current animal transfer program, including consideration and implementation of a significant volunteer driver program that supports organizational strategic direction to incorporate more volunteers to maximize our impact and vision.
• Enhances animal transfer program to align with vulnerability spectrum plan and support implementation of centralized animal flow.

Emergency Response (As needed)

• Oversees the coordination and maintenance of the BC SPCA's emergency response program.
• Supports the work to engage emergency response plans as necessary by analyzing situations/requests and recommending response levels for approval.

Diversion (In Year 3 and Beyond - 10%)

• Researches and makes recommendations on feasibility and implementation of diversion programs, such as home to home, in line with the long term organizational outlook and vulnerability spectrum work.

Management & Leadership:

• Provides vision, strategic direction and oversight for the animal flow programs across the province. Assigned programs include: Animal Flow Decision Team and Data, Foster, Animal Transfer, Large Scale Animal Intakes (LSAIs) and Emergency Response.
• Acts as a champion for health, safety and wellness within area of responsibility; ensures that all legal requirements in health & safety are met, and appropriate records are maintained.

Collaboration Duties:

• Collaborates with Executive and Senior Directors across the organization to facilitate greater cooperation and continuous improvements for the organization.
• Represents Animal Flow portfolio in the media and with donors and funders, as requested; keeps the Public Engagement & Advancement team updated on matters that could result in direct media; may be required to attend galas and other fundraising events.

• Establishes a strong culture of collaboration and accountability.

Performs other duties as assigned.
What You Bring:
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• University degree in Business, Management or other related discipline plus 8-10 years' related experience, at least 5 of which should be senior leadership level. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable to the Employer.
• Demonstrated strengths in the following leadership areas:

• Thinking strategically and long-term in the best interests of the organization and the mission.
• Establishing strategic and operational objectives, strategies and tactics and monitoring their implementation and effectiveness.
• Implementing processes of continuous improvement (includes navigating approval processes, independent research, iterative and testing cycles, cost/benefit and risk analysis etc.).
• Building and maintaining effective and strategic relationships as well as experience collaborating with multiple parties, potentially with competing interests.
• Cross functional collaboration with multiple departments.
• Project and change management.
• Budget development and monitoring.
• Experience working in the animal welfare sector, with a focus on building animal and people-related programs/systems/infrastructure beyond animal sheltering.
• Managing, coaching, mentoring, nurturing and empowering staff, including managing managers.
• Strong business acumen, with an understanding of the charitable sector and animal welfare sector trends and best practices.
• Demonstrated ability to organize work, meet priorities and to work within a demanding work schedule with minimal supervision.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work with internal and external parties at all levels and from diverse backgrounds in a positive and respectful manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to successfully address and resolve conflict.
• Excellent presentation and public speaking skills.
• Tech savvy with experience championing effective use of technology to elevate an organization's efficiency. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, project-management software, budget management software, and people management software; ability to adapt to new technologies.
• Exceptional analytical and decision-making skills.
• Ability to travel throughout the province as necessary.
• Working knowledge of concepts of equity, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation; able to relate respectfully to a diverse audience.
• Philosophical harmony with the BC SPCA's vision, mission, values and strategic directions

Why Work With Us?
At the BC SPCA, you'll join a passionate team dedicated to protecting vulnerable animals and mobilizing communities, so animals and people thrive together. We offer a supportive, mission-driven work environment, aligned to our values. In addition, we offer:
Benefits and RRSP:

• Minimum 4 weeks for management positions
• 12 sick days
• Competitive extended health benefits (dental, vision, life insurance, LTD and AD&D) on the 1st day of the 4th month of employment.
• Employer RRSP contributions of 7.5% on the 1st day of the 4th month of employment.
• Positive work-place culture of collaboration, innovation and respect.

Perks:

• Flexible work structure (hybrid, 2 days per week at the Provincial Office)

• Free Parking
• Bring your pet to work
• 13 holidays per year
• Discounts and partnerships with various companies
• Staff discounts

• Fast-paced work-place culture of collaboration, passion and respect
• And yes, there are kittens and puppies (and sometimes budgies and rabbits), too!

How to apply:
If you are up for the challenge, and looking for an opportunity to lead (and are legally entitled to work in Canada), we would love to hear from you. Please submit your resume, together with a cover letter telling us why you are excited to join the team. Click on apply now or use the link to apply
We thank you for your interest in the BC SPCA, however; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls, please.
The BC SPCA is a Registered Charity BN 11881 9036 RR0001

Skills Required