Senior Director of Animal Wellness

***Application Deadline: July 4, 2024 12pm EST***

Job Description:

Watkins Glen, NY or nearby area within commuting distance, with a hybrid work arrangement

Summary: Farm Sanctuary is seeking a dynamic leader for the newly established role of Senior Director of Animal Wellness Rescue & Transport, and Environment. This position oversees support teams at the sanctuaries in Watkins Glen, NY, and Los Angeles County, CA, ensuring the well-being of our animal residents, developing best practices, and advising rescue and placement operations. 

We are searching for a motivated individual with exceptional leadership, multitasking, mentoring and interpersonal skills. The successful candidate will prioritize the welfare of both sanctuary residents and staff members, fostering a healthy workplace culture. They must excel in building relationships, resolving conflicts, and motivating others while remaining calm under pressure and making difficult decisions in line with Farm Sanctuary's mission.

The overarching goal is to establish Farm Sanctuary as a leader in animal care practices and an ideal workplace for passionate individuals dedicated to animal welfare. Collaborating closely with the People and Culture Department, the Senior Director will develop a comprehensive training program to ensure the highest standards of care for sanctuary residents and provide staff members with opportunities for career advancement. By investing in staff professional growth and development, Farm Sanctuary aims to cultivate a team committed to compassion, integrity, and social justice in animal welfare.

Responsibilities:

Animal care:

• Provide strategic oversight to the wellness, environment, transport and rescue teams
• Develop and execute a formal vision for enhancing the welfare of sanctuary residents, conducting audits of current care practices, and creating action plans to optimize welfare outcomes.
• Work with the People and Culture Department to ensure adherence to all OSHA protocols and regulations and meet the criteria outlined by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuary (GFAS) guidelines to uphold the highest standards of safety, welfare, and compliance within the organization.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop educational and training resources aimed at elevating sanctuary practices and supporting sanctuary development across the movement.
• Coordinate with the Research Department on implementation of enrichment and animal learning programs to promote agency and well-being among sanctuary residents.
• Mentor and manage the Management team to achieve daily workload and mission centric goals cohesively and cross departmentally.

Rescue & Placement:

• Oversee the Rescue and Placement team, providing guidance and support on animal rescue, transportation, and adoption decisions, strategies and initiatives.
• Audit pre-rescue transportation training for staff and ensure compliance with safety regulations during transport operations.
• Establish relationships with other sanctuaries, rescues, shelters, and law enforcement agencies to facilitate collaborative rescue efforts, share best practices, and ensure the safe placement of animals.

Donor Engagement and Communications:

• Support the development and communications departments by helping cultivate relationships with donors, such as providing private tours of the sanctuaries, sharing compelling stories about sanctuary residents, and hosting special events for donors.
• Serve as a primary spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary on the ground, representing the organization in media interviews, public speaking engagements, and written communications.
• Collaborate with the Development Department to identify donor engagement and stewardship opportunities, including participation in fundraising events and initiatives.
• In coordination with the Brand and Content Department, utilize multimedia platforms to effectively communicate Farm Sanctuary's mission, values, and impact to donors and the broader public.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Prepare and manage the annual budget for Animal Care, Rescue & Placement, and Environment & Transport operations, tracking expenses and working with the Development department on fundraising initiatives.
• Identify and create department specific professional development opportunities, partnering with People and Culture.
• Respond to after-hours animal emergencies, as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ideally a minimum of 3 to 5 years of professional experience in a related field, managing and mentoring leaders, and developing leaders.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills. Ability to speak publicly to donors and supporters and act as spokesperson for Farm Sanctuary,  including the use of social media, video content, and written materials
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities.
• Proven history of building and maintaining positive and productive relationships with internal and external constituents.
• Proficiency in animal welfare, transport logistics, fleet management, and environmental management.
• Experience with leading and building cohesive teams, developing protocols for animal care, and managing complex operations.
• Efficient time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and be responsive to shifting priorities
• Ability to quickly, calmly, and efficiently adjust to changes in direction and re-prioritize work
• Displays care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals and others, especially during stressful situations
• Excellent supervisory and team development skills
• High level financial acumen, financial statements, engage in budget and financial analysis, analyze data, and make recommendations as necessary to remain within budget and increase efficiencies.
• Understand federal, state, county, and local laws regarding Animal Shelter administration
• Alignment with Farm Sanctuary’s values of compassion, understanding, integrity, transformation, and freedom.
• Familiarity, commitment to, and experience with the practice of equity and social justice, and the principles embedded in Farm Sanctuary’s mission
• To ensure optimal performance of our remote technology, internet connections are required for all remote positions and are not supplied by the organization.

We embrace candidates from a range of backgrounds and experiences, regardless of whether they satisfy all the specified requirements. We encourage you to apply, even if you have an unconventional or non-traditional background.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Range of sedentary to heavy work. Exerting in excess of 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects.  Prolonged periods of sitting in a stationary position. Must be able to perform repeating motions that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers.
• Must be able to communicate with others to exchange information by means of the spoken word via telephone, video conferencing and other forms of electronic communication utilizing computers and smartphones.
• Worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal. Must be able to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction.
• Must be able to bend, lift, push, stoop, stretch, climb, and crawl and other strenuous  physical activities. Must be able to ascend or descend ladders, stairs, and ramps onsite.
• Exposure to and must be able to operate motor vehicles or heavy equipment.
• Position is subject to environmental conditions. Must be able to regularly perform job responsibilities in a variety of weather conditions; some work is done in an outdoor setting that is not climate controlled with remaining work performed in a remote home office.

Job Specifications:

• Terms of employment: Permanent Full-Time, non-exempt Position
• Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
• Direct reports: Yes
• Pay Range: $120,000 to $128,000
• Location: Hybrid in the surrounding area of Watkins Glen, NY (ability to commute approximately 3 times per week for onsite work) with occasional travel to CA sanctuary
• Travel: Ability to travel occasionally to our Acton, CA Sanctuary and as needed for events, fundraising and training
• Benefits: Competitive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays; generous paid time off; health, dental, vision, and life insurance; 403(b) plan; flexible spending accounts; long-term disability insurance; free access to the CALM meditation app; and access to the Nivati wellness platform

Farm Sanctuary is committed to a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all employees are respected, valued, and feel a sense of belonging. We work hard to provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type. We take our duty seriously to protect employees with regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We believe that our prioritization of diversity, equity, and inclusion is a strength and essential to achieving our mission. A diverse workforce brings many perspectives, ideas, and experiences, leading to more creative and effective solutions to our complex issues. By embracing diversity and creating an inclusive environment, we foster a culture of belonging where innovation and growth can thrive. We are dedicated to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in all aspects of our organization, including hiring and recruitment practices, employee development and training, and interactions with the communities we serve. We believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are core components in fulfilling our mission of rescuing and protecting farmed animals from cruelty, and we are committed to creating a culture of respect, civility, and compassion for all.

The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this position. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Any photos or videos taken in the scope of employment and/or related to Farm Sanctuary are considered work product and intellectual property of Farm Sanctuary.

Our Process:

• Stage 1: 30-minute phone interview with a member of the People & Culture Team
• Stage 2: 45-minute virtual 2nd interview
• Stage 3: 45-minute virtual final interview
• Stage 4: Reference checks
• Stage 5: Job offer