Director of Medical Operations, Kitten Nursery

Summary:

Overview:

Join our Kitten Nursery team as a Director, Medical Operations to make a direct and meaningful impact on the vulnerable cats and kittens who need us most. The Director of Medical Operations (Director) leads the medical and direct care components of the ASPCA’s New York City kitten foster program. Based at the Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery on 92nd St. in Manhattan, this role oversees a highly skilled team providing lifesaving care for underage kittens and their mothers in a dedicated nursery environment and in foster homes throughout the five boroughs.

Who We Are

The Kitten Nursery cares for over 800 underage kittens and their mothers in a dedicated nursery environment as well as through a foster program. Once these kittens are healthy and happy 8-week-olds, ready for spay or neuter, they move on to the ASPCA Adoption Center. The Nursery primarily serves nursing cats and kittens that are taken in by Animal Care Centers of New York City (ACC) on a daily basis, but also works with individual rescuers to increase their intake and impact. Caring for newborn cats is a time-consuming and resource-intensive process, as these young animals require round-the-clock attention. Kittens spend the majority of their time in foster homes, with only those requiring close medical monitoring staying on-site at the ASPCA. 

What You’ll Do

• The Director reports directly to the Vice President, Adoption Center & Feline Programs (VP) and has 6 direct reports.
• The Director will lead a team of skilled and compassionate veterinary and sheltering professionals in providing excellent patient and population care for underage kittens handled through the Nursery.
• This position requires a leader who embraces the power of teamwork and collaboration to achieve shared goals, and one who believes in the power of volunteerism to engage a community in the mission of an organization. 
• The Director is responsible for working with the VP to manage the Nursery budget to ensure that we are utilizing our resources responsibly and effectively, while collecting and analyzing data to ensure the team is on track to meet its goals.  

Where and When You’ll Work

• This position is an on-site role and reports to the ASPCA’s 92nd St. location.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 10% annually, as needed.
• This is a full-time exempt position. The incumbent must be flexible with schedule, as some early mornings, evenings and weekends are required based on operational needs in support of a 24/7 program. 

What You’ll Get

Compensation

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 role is $117,000-$124,000 (for a non Licensed Veterinary Technician) annually.
• The target hiring range for this role is $121,000-$129,000 (for a Licensed Veterinary Technician) annually.

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

Operational Planning and Execution

• In partnership with the VP, ensure the Kitten Nursery operates in keeping with the Association of Shelter Veterinarians’ “Guidelines for Standards of Care in Animal Shelters” as guiding principles for animal care 

• Guide the team in identifying and implementing practices that continually improve patient and foster care through operational efficiency and financial stewardship 

• Partner with the VP to manage the Nursery budget, reporting and analytics

• Collect and analyze data to assess and improve team productivity

• Play a leadership role in weekly Nursery Rounds, ensuring all teams are focused on moving animals efficiently into and through foster homes, the Nursery, and the Adoption Center 

• Work with the Adoption Center’s Senior Director, Veterinary Services (SD) to create and implement written materials (protocols, information sheets, data sheets, etc.) and oversee their use by staff and volunteers 

• Engage the Behavior Team to ensure that strategies that meet feline behavior needs are implemented and maintained 

• Partner with the Sr. Mgr., Foster Care & Placement (SM) on foster recruitment, training and campaign efforts to ensure Medical and Foster teams are aligned 

• Partner with the SD and SM to ensure consistency and mutual support between Adoption Center and Kitten Nursery medical and foster teams

• Partner with Director, Administration to ensure regular and timely media access to the Nursery to promote the program and facilitate foster recruitment across New York City 

• Play an integral role on the Adoption Center’s response team to implement and enhance an effective emergency mobilization plan (e.g. storms and large-scale animal intakes) including overnight management presence as needed   

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor 

People Management and Staff Development

• Nurture a culture of learning, including ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment, active participation in goal setting and monitoring, clear expectations, and regular practice of feedback and after actions 

• Establish systems for regular communication and celebration to support a positive work environment 

• Be a consistent and visible presence “on the floor” to answer questions, make timely operational and staffing adjustments, provide and receive feedback, lend a hand, and  ensure deep understanding of and compliance with the Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery’s philosophy and operations 

• Oversee the hiring, on-boarding and training of team members

• Provide training, supervision, modeling, coaching and ongoing guidance for direct reports and the Nursery as a whole 

• Provide regular, timely and direct feedback via one-on-one check in’s and quarterly feedback sessions with direct reports; conduct periodic skip level meetings

• Teach the team about animal welfare, ASPCA policies and philosophy and the reasons behind policies and practice so that they can make good decisions in carrying out their work and can teach volunteers and visitors effectively

• Guide the team in training, supervising and coaching volunteers

• Oversee staffing levels and direct workflow to maximize productivity and maintain adequate staff coverage 

• Serve as a champion in times of change and work with the VP and Leadership Team in identifying ways to improve operational and behavior protocols 

Qualifications

• Proven record of leading an operationally diverse team, while enabling a culture of teamwork and excellent patient care

• Highly motivated self-starter who will provide leadership and lead projects with limited guidance

• Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to synthesize complex information and communicate key messages

• Proven history of building and maintaining positive and productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders

• Demonstrated understanding of operations and animal health and welfare; knowledge of shelter medicine and herd health management preferred

• Excellent 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 reprioritize 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

• Fluent in PetPoint or other animal management softwar