The purpose and mission of Animal Care Services is advocating animal welfare, adoption, and rescue. The agency does this by protecting and promoting the health, safety, and welfare of pets and livestock in Marion County. The agency is able to do this by cultivating a productive, collaborative, and compliant work environment in order for our workforce to meet the needs of the constituents of Indianapolis and Marion County.

This position is responsible for organizing, managing, staffing, and supervising all aspects of ACS operations while administering the budget. The incumbent in this position will direct the refinement and implementation of a strategic plan for the promotion of animal care, animal control, and reduction of animal deaths resulting from both euthanasia and from diseases contracted or propagated at the IACS facility. Incumbent in this position will establish and ensure policies and procedures for the division are adhered to in an effective manner. The incumbent will utilize independent judgment regularly where there are no available policies and procedures and errors in judgment may cause inconsistencies and inconveniences. Position reports to the Director.

All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. We value diversity in perspectives and experiences among colleagues and the residents of this city of whom we serve.

• Oversees the care of animals that come under the protection of IACS and ensures their humane treatment
• Implements strategies to address pet overpopulation in the city that responsibly reduces intakes, increases adoptions, improves animal care, encourages spaying and neutering, and helps pets stay with their responsible lifelong caretakers
• Ensures responsible pet care through enforcement of public compliance with animal care regulations, including nuisance, business and neighborhood services, and animal cruelty laws
• Plan, organize, coordinate, review, evaluate, and direct the implementation of programs providing animal care services to the general public and other animal welfare agencies within a consolidated city- county governance structure for the nation’s twelfth largest city, and its environment
• Directs, through supervisors, the administration of such programs including, but not limited to, kennel management, adoptions, veterinarian services, animal control, and animal welfare education
• Develop, interpret, and implement policies and procedures relating to animal care programs
• Strive to creatively improve means of service delivery by developing a multi-year plan for the direction of overall animal care activities for the city
• Responsible for the long-term strategy to achieve the mission toward which it must make and be understood publicly as making--consistent and timely progress.
• Maintain working knowledge of significant developments and trends in the animal welfare and animal control fields
• Works with representatives of other animal welfare organizations, non-profit organizations, businesses, and community groups to develop and implement collaborative programs and services
• Provides direction and technical advice and assistance to city agencies, community, and volunteer groups, animal welfare organizations, and the general public
• Oversees marketing and publicity for the organization’s activities, programs, and goals
• Defines the agency’s role in a variety of health, education and Business and Neighborhood Services initiatives, as well as improving overall quality of life in Indianapolis
• Responsible for overseeing the recruitment, employment, direction, management, and discipline of all personnel, both paid team members and volunteers
• Ensures job descriptions are developed and regular performance evaluations are conducted
• Motivational systems are utilized, and sound human resource practices are in place that abide by local, state, and federal law
• Analyzes team member responsibilities and responds to demands for animal care services
• Revises existing programs and services and develops new programs and services to meet changing demands
• Develops and implements programs intended to change and improve employees provision of service to, and interaction with the public
• Communicates agency policy and philosophy concerning provision of service and relationship with the public to agency employees
• Participates in, and leads interagency teams formed to develop programs, policies, and solution to specific problems
• Maintains a climate which attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff of top-quality people by encouraging career development, continuing education, and professional growth for supervisors, employees, and others who support and promote the mission and goals of the agency
• Responsible for developing and maintaining sound financial practices of cash management procedure and inventory control
• Aids in the preparation of financial reports, the annual budget, and summaries, submit budgets for approval and monitor compliance of expenditures within approved budgetary constraints
• Determines staffing needed to provide adequate service delivery throughout the city
• Develops constructive working relationships with union representatives regarding contractual obligations, union grievances, and staff accountability
• Understands and implements operational compliance with current federal, state, county and local laws, regulations and guidelines that affect operations
• Oversees record keeping practices for legally compliant adoptions, staff personnel files, budgetary accountability, and all other functions
• Maintains official records and documents
• Develops detailed familiarity with and educates and exhibits strong compliance with internal policies and procedures, which may be subject to audit both within and from outside the City of Indianapolis.
• Must maintain confidentiality at all times
• This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities that management may deem necessary from time to time

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Accounting Principles, Finance Management, or a related field with five (5) years of experience relevant work experience. A minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory capacity. One (1) year of related work experience may be substituted for each year of education in lieu of a degree. Must possess excellent communication skills both orally and written, with a proven ability to communicate and interact with key stakeholders. Must possess a willingness to work in a collaborative manner with stakeholders to reduce animal intake rate, lower euthanasia rate, and decrease animal neglect and cruelty in the community, and must have a basic knowledge of state and local animal laws and ordinances and search and seizure issues, and must be compassionate and genuinely interested in all animals welfare.Must have an ability to remain calm and effective during crisis events in an emotionally charged environment. Must have proven management skills demonstrating and illustrating the ability to motivate and manage a diverse group of team members. Must have previous experience in an environment in which team members are represented by a union. Must exhibit tact in collaborating with other professionals and team members. Must have knowledge of Microsoft Office. 

Preferred Job Requirements and Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, Accounting Principles, Finance Management, or a related field with five (5) years of experience relevant work experience. A minimum of two (2) years in a supervisory capacity. A minimum of three (3) years of experience in kennel management or management of an animal care facility is preferred or four (4) years in a supervisory position with transferable skills such as law, veterinary medicine, business, public administration, or other related field. Must possess excellent communication skills both orally and written, with a proven ability to communicate and interact with key stakeholders. Must possess a willingness to work in a collaborative manner with stakeholders to reduce animal intake rate, lower euthanasia rate, and decrease animal neglect and cruelty in the community, and must have a basic knowledge of state and local animal laws and ordinances and search and seizure issues, and must be compassionate and genuinely interested in all animals welfare. Must have an ability to remain calm and effective during crisis events in an emotionally charged environment. Must have proven management skills demonstrating and illustrating the ability to motivate and manage a diverse group of team members. Must have previous experience in an environment in which team members are represented by a union. Must exhibit tact in collaborating with other professionals and team members. Must have knowledge of Microsoft Office.