Senior Shelter Manager

The Shelter Manager will oversee daily operations at the animal welfare centre and hospital, ensuring the highest standard of care for resident and hospitalized animals (primarily dogs and cats). The manager will lead a team of caregivers, veterinary staff, and volunteers, manage shelter protocols, and uphold regulatory compliance, with a strong focus on animal welfare, public engagement, and organizational efficiency.

Key Responsibilities:

Animal Care & Welfare

• Ensure all animals receive proper nutrition, housing, enrichment, exercise, and medical treatment.
• Work closely with veterinary staff to implement and oversee treatment plans.
• Monitor animal health and welfare and address behavioural or medical issues promptly.

Shelter Operations

• Develop SOPs
• Oversee intake, quarantine, adoption, and release procedures.
• Maintain cleanliness, hygiene, and disease prevention protocols across the facility.
• Develop and update SOPs for shelter and hospital operations.
• Ensure the shelter remains compliant with local animal welfare regulations.

Staff & Volunteer Management

• Hire, train, supervise, and schedule shelter staff and volunteers.
• Foster a supportive, respectful, and productive team culture.
• Conduct performance evaluations and coordinate staff development.

Administrative & Financial Management

• Maintain accurate records of all animals, including medical histories and adoption details.
• Manage budgets, inventory, and procurement of supplies and medications.
• Generate reports on shelter metrics, outcomes, and operational needs.

Community Engagement & Adoption Services

• Promote animal adoption and rehabilitation programs.
• Liaise with adopters, donors, rescuers, and the general public with empathy and professionalism.
• Organize events, outreach programs, and awareness campaigns.
• Manage complaints and resolve conflicts involving community interactions.

Emergency Response

• Coordinate response to animal cruelty, rescue, or emergency medical situations.
• Be available on-call during critical or after-hours emergencies (as needed).

Qualifications & Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science, Animal Welfare, Business Administration, or a related field (preferred but not required if experience is extensive).
• Minimum 35 years of experience in animal shelter management, veterinary practice, or animal welfare organization.
• Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proficient in using shelter management software and basic office applications.
• Deep understanding of animal health, behavior, and shelter medicine.
• Compassionate, emotionally resilient, and dedicated to animal welfare.

Desirable Attributes:

• Clean and Organised
• Fluent in English. Hindi and Konkani is added benefit.
• Experience in donor relations or fundraising.
• Conflict resolution and crisis management skills.
• Certification in animal behaviour, shelter medicine, or nonprofit management (a plus).

Work Conditions:

• May involve long or irregular hours, including weekends and holidays.
• Physically demanding requires handling animals, lifting supplies, and being on your feet.
• Emotional resilience required to deal with difficult situations including abuse.