Director - Dogtown (Kanab, UT)
Best Friends Animal Society

Job Info

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Location: Kanab, UT (relocation assistance may be available)

Hiring Range: Starting at $92,000 annual salary based on experience + great benefits!

(Recruiter phone interviews will occur prior to the Senior Director interview)

Summary: The Dogtown Director is a key leader, strategically helping the Sanctuary Animal Care team achieve the greatest lifesaving impact and visitor engagement in support of Best Friends Animal Society's no-kill mission and goals. Overseeing one of the largest teams at the Sanctuary the Dogtown Director has responsibility for all activities associated with dog lifesaving. This position is the Sanctuary based resource for Best Friends' regional centers, national programs, and Network Partners relating to canines.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Treat people with kindness and compassion, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on commitments, prioritize personal well-being like you do our mission, and work to build strong relationships with colleagues by participating in communication loops to share and receive honest feedback.
  
• Establish the departmental strategy for maximum lifesaving.
  

• Educate the team and promote lifesaving objectives throughout the department, drive creative and innovative solutions to reducing shelter deaths.
  
• Serve as the Sanctuary based canine representative for the No Kill Utah (NKUT) and Sanctuary 2025 initiatives, maximizing Dogtown's ability to support lifesaving in Utah, Best Friends Lifesaving Centers across the country, and animals, shelters, or states designated by the organization as high priority.
  

• Promote the effective use of volunteers in conjunction with Best Friends volunteer department. Model collaboration and inclusion.
  
• Provide strategic direction, support, mentoring, development, and coaching for Dogtown staff and volunteers, to facilitate maximum lifesaving results, and that each person achieves their fullest potential as contributors to Best Friends mission and goals.
  
• Prepare and manage the department's operational budget
  

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity and positive influence.
  
• Maintain a safe workplace, valuing, and modeling safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and communicating about unsafe practices and conditions.
  
• Promote and model interdepartmental collaboration and support.
  

• Other duties as assigned.
  

Skills and Experience:

• A minimum of 3 years of experience working with dogs in an animal sheltering, animal behavior, or veterinary setting is required.
  
• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle all dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs.
  
• Experience of a minimum of 3 years leading teams and managing people.
  
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with an open adoption process.
  
• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required; strong communications skills, presentation experience with the ability to professionally advocate Best Friends' position on issues.
  
• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; an initiative to assist in any area or process; problem-solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; the flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.
  
• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
  
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.
  
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.
  

Physical and Other Requirements:

• Must be able to:
  
  • Routinely lift 50 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
    
  • Work at a computer or driving a car for extended periods of time with repetitive typing, sitting, arm, and hand motion.
    
  • Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.
    
• Daily exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.
  
• Valid driver's license with ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.
  
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights and holiday work.
  

*During the selection process, candidates may be asked to participate in an onsite working interview.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by Best Friends Animal Society.

Culture Statement and Responsibility

We value attitude over aptitude, and we treat Kindness as a discipline because it is paramount in our culture along with our other Guiding Principles. Culture is how we talk to and treat ourselves and one another, it's how we generate and respond to change, it's how we plan and make decisions, it's how we do what we do.

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