Behavioral Center VP

Summary:

Are you a skilled, strong leader with a passion for cultivating a healthy, collaborative team culture? Do you love the idea of bringing animal welfare experts together to help the most at-risk animals in need? If so, the Vice President role at the ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center may be the perfect fit for you!

The Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC), just north of Asheville, NC, is a one-of-a-kind facility dedicated to recovery of fearful, undersocialized dogs, most with cruelty case backgrounds. At the BRC, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior experts work use an intensive rehabilitation program to improve dogs’ quality of life and help prepare them for life in adoptive homes. In addition to this hands-on work, the BRC team partners closely with the ASPCA’s Learning Lab to host learning experiences that promote behavioral healthcare in shelters through education and partnership.

The Vice President of the BRC manages four direct reports, leads a team of 31 total full-time staff, and oversees all operations, including daily care and enrichment, behavioral and medical assessment and treatment, pathway planning, foster and volunteer programs, and animal placement. This role requires a talent for fostering strong team cohesion to achieve mutual goals. To that end, the VP works to ensure excellent communication and cooperation among operations, behavior and medical staff, as well as with several other partnering ASPCA teams.

The ideal candidate for this position has mastered balance in multiple respects: the VP should enjoy working with people and with animals, provide energizing motivation and calm stability for staff, show dedication coupled with a healthy work/life balance, and pay meticulous attention to detail while leading the way forward with the big picture in mind.

This position is located at the Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville, NC. Candidates located elsewhere who will relocate within 3 months after hire will be considered. Relocation assistance will be provided.

Responsibilities:

Program Oversight and Leadership (40%)

• Regularly evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of all BRC protocols to achieve programmatic and organizational goals
• Ensure that all staff are well-trained on BRC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs); lead the review and revision of SOPs on a regular basis and provide team-wide training on updates
• Ensure that the team understands, supports, and adheres to organization-wide protocols and tools, such as the ASPCA’s Employee Handbook and the Behavioral Sciences Team’s behavior alignment tools
• Maintain structured processes for making sound, objective, and timely animal pathway planning and outcome decisions; provide guidance to facilitate complex decision-making and related communication
• Oversee the growth BRC volunteer, foster, and direct adoption programs
• Lead the development of a yearly strategic plan for the BRC, as well as related individual goals for CRC staff members, to support the ASPCA’s short- and long-term goals
• Manage a substantial budget, overseeing exposure tracking systems; provide monthly budget projections for the Finance team; submit yearly BRC operating/capital budget requests to the VP, Rehabilitation Services and the SVP of Policy, Response and Engagement
• Give tours/presentations and provide images and video assets to share BRC work internally and externally; work closely with Media & Communications and Philanthropy
• Maintain relationships with professional partners and community representatives in North Carolina
• Approve media content; represent the team and organization by doing media interviews as needed
• Work with internal experts to oversee BRC facility maintenance, modifications, and repairs

Team Leadership & People Management (40%)

• Foster a healthy team culture aligned with ASPCA Core Values; cultivate an environment in which staff commit to facing challenges as a team, assuming good intent, and helping their team members when in need
• Ensure that staff understand and support the BRC’s role in achieving ASPCA goals; help staff feel connected to the larger, org-wide ASPCA team and to the animal welfare field at large
• Supervise and manage the BRC’s Senior Director of Operations, Senior Director of Veterinary Services, Senior Director of Behavior Rehabilitation, and Administrative Manager; conduct regular one-on-one meetings with direct reports, career counseling sessions, and periodic skip-level meetings; conduct yearly reviews of direct reports to celebrate progress and encourage growth
• Ensure that all BRC supervisors use sound management practices and ASPCA developmental tools; provide coaching for BRC people managers
• Work closely with the Senior Directors and people managers to clearly articulate performance and workplace behavior expectations for all staff; ensure that all are held accountable for meeting expectations and are supported in doing so through timely, productive feedback from supervisors
• Disseminate complex, confidential, and sensitive information, such as humane euthanasia decisions, staff changes, and policy modifications, to the team
• Ensure that BRC team leadership and people managers model mutual respect for all areas of expertise, especially when priorities and perspectives don’t align
• Lead regular team meetings teambuilding opportunities
• Provide comprehensive, ongoing support for staff members to build resilience and combat the stress often experienced by those working in animal welfare; model and support team members in maintaining good work/life balance
• Partner with the ASPCA’s Talent Acquisition on workforce planning and oversee the recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of new team members
• Oversee staff continuing education and professional development

Cross-Team Collaboration and Other Responsibilities (20%)

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with leaders of other ASPCA direct animal care teams, teams who provide centralized expertise/services, and other teams who serve as frequent BRC partners; collaborate to find productive connections among ASPCA teams’ work and participate in org-wide strategic initiatives
• Work closely with the VP of the ASPCA’s Learning Lab and facilitate the critical work of this team by hosting groups of learners at the BRC facility; ensure that all internal and external visitors feel welcome and that the Learning Lab team has needed resources (staff support, space, information, etc.)
• Serve as a Learning Lab subject matter expert, making connections with other animal welfare organizations’ leaders and participating in learning sessions
• Guide the BRC team to support critical research projects, including the Behavioral Sciences Team’s research initiatives
• Take on other duties and projects as assigned by the VP, Rehabilitation Services or SVP, Policy, Response and Engagement

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals
• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes
• Believes in Team – that we are stronger together
• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible
• Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:

• Highly effective people- and team-management abilities; can artfully flex management style to best support diverse individuals
• Exceptional leadership skills: demonstrates the ability to inspire a team and represent that team and the organization with confidence and professionalism when interacting with fellow leads and supervisors, Board members, donors and animal welfare colleagues
• Skilled at supervising, guiding and developing team leaders and people managers
• Excellent communication skills (spoken, telephone and written); able to interact successfully with different personalities and groups; has a talent for honing team communication systems
• Can guide others in effectively navigating conflict resolution; demonstrates skill as a mediator
• Ability to effectively design and lead meetings; can facilitate participation with tact
• Consistently maintains a positive attitude; has an uplifting effect on others
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, potentially stressful environment, working efficiently and calmly; can motivate a team to do the same
• Must be flexible and easily adapt to frequent changes to plans/protocols
• Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate animal advocate and have a genuine interest in leading and interacting with people; a “people person”
• Embodies the “team player” spirit; demonstrated ability to build and maintain a united management team and a collaborative team overall
• Superior problem-solving abilities; relishes a challenge and loves to troubleshoot to find solutions
• Strong organizational and info-tracking skills
• The ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where humane euthanasia is performed on a regular basis
• The willingness and ability to travel 5–10% of work time in a year
• Fluent in Internet usage and in the use of MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint

Education and Work Experience:

• BS, BA or equivalent professional experience required
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience leading a large team and overseeing a multifaceted program
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience managing a substantial, complex budget
• Experience working as a leader in an animal shelter and thorough animal welfare knowledge strongly preferred but not required
• Experience working in an animal shelter supporting operations and administrative responsibilities preferred
• Meeting facilitation skills and experience strongly preferred
• Project management experience preferred
• CAWA designation is a plus
• Experience working with victims of animal cruelty (e.g., dogs from fighting cases, animals from hoarding situations) is a plus

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.   

The target hiring range for this position is $160,000–$175,000.

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

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Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.  A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA.  Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status,  or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.