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Director of Animal Health

Schedule

The working schedule for this position is 5 days, 40 hours a week. This position will float between our Queens and Manhattan locations.

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 30,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals.

We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary

The Director of Animal Health will serve as a critical resource to facilitate the development and achievement of ACC’s strategic plan and goals as it relates to the medical well-being of the animals in our care and those in need in our community. Working with the Director of Shelter Medicine and Director of Community Medicine, all will ensure that programs and services meet or exceed industry standards of care, and through evaluation, emerging knowledge and trends, and staff participation foster a culture of continuous improvement and program excellence and innovation. This position is the voice of the animals – and the organization’s obligation to see that all their needs are met during their stay. We remain committed to progressive sheltering and community medicine models through oversight of our new Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Veterinary Center, opening September 2025. This hospital will provide access to care to families facing euthanasia decisions for financial reasons.

Supporting this responsibility, this position will manage and provide direct supervision to the Senior Manager of Veterinary Operations who will oversee the medical support staff in the shelter, the Practice Manager of The Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Veterinary Center, the Animal Rescue Team Manager and the Animal Health Compliance Coordinator. The Director of Animal Health will identify key performance indicators for each program under their supervision and provide oversight, support, and mentorship to each of their direct reports to empower them to think and act strategically to meet these goals while balancing the needs of other departments. Working with other senior leadership, the Director of Animal Health will ensure that the Veterinary Teams in both shelter, The Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Veterinary Center, and Animal Rescue Teams integrates with all other departments working in harmony to provide all our patients with the timely care that they need throughout their journey to their new home or back with their loving owner.

Through progressive leadership and a balanced human-animal focused approach, the Director of Animal Health sets the tone for a professional but approachable staff where best practices in shelter and community medical care, and field response are considered non-negotiable. They will take creative approaches to leveraging resources both internal and external. The Director of Animal Health must cultivate, foster, and maintain interdepartmental collaboration, respect, and communication between departments so that the organization’s goals are met, and the welfare of our animals is not compromised. The environment will be one of learning and opportunity where employees can develop themselves professionally and realize their personal and professional goals. This growth, in turn, is a way to give back to our animals who will benefit immensely from the professionalization of the department.

Required Qualifications:

+ Degree in Veterinary Technology and licensed or licensed eligible in New York is required.

+ Proven success and 5-7 years managing a veterinary hospital with demonstrated financial competency.

+ Ability to excel in a fast-paced, often high stress environment.

+ Must be forward thinking and anticipate challenges, responding to them quickly and completely.

+ Must be adaptable and receptive to rapidly evolving protocols and able to rally others with an air of excitement and opportunity.

+ Treats animals and people with respect, considering all individuals as potential collaborators with something to offer and open-minded to incorporate other’s view point.

+ Is organized and detail oriented.

+ Is an expert communicator and negotiator, a people person and a team player.

+ Able to maintain composure when faced with emotional situations including medically and behaviorally compromised animals.

+ Must be able to lift at least 50lbs.

Benefits

ACC values work/life balance and offers a generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff trainings to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax-free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Please use this link for more details on our benefits package. (https://flimp.live/ACCNYC-Candidate#welcome)

Essential Job Functions :

+ Mission Execution - Work with all Directors to ensure departmental collaboration, cooperation and integration to meet organizational objectives.

+ Team Development - Lead veterinary and animal rescue teams to achieve performance metrics, to include increasing efficiencies and productivity so that all teams work smarter, not harder. Serve as a thought provoking, solutions-based mentor to encourage team engagement to problem solving.

+ Personnel Management - Coach and provide input on performance and disciplinary best practices in accordance with HR progressive disciplinary actions.

Other Responsibilities :

+ Coach and oversee Veterinary Services and Animal Rescue Team leadership team in daily management of all onsite staff. Sets work ethic and maintains a positive work environment. Leads by example and effectively empowers through delegation and recognition of accomplishments.

+ Direct supervision may include:

+ Hiring, evaluating, mentoring, and disciplinary action.

+ Ensuring that all teams on all sites work within the standard operating guidelines of the organization.

+ Sets performance expectations for all teams.

+ Maintain fiscal solvency of The Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Foundation Vet Center.

+ Establish and maintain relationships with all external stakeholders, including vendors, partner hospitals, and city agencies.

+ Maintain current LVT intern and extern programs.

+ Sit on euthanasia panel discussions and uphold signatory responsibilities.

+ Guide Field Animal Rescue Team on scope of work to include cruelty, neglect, hoarding, and eviction cases.

+ Engages in strategic planning for the department, sets objectives and maintains team accountability.

+ Establish annual goals for performance and methods by which to measure progress.

+ Ensures all team members maintain technical competencies.

+ Model and promote a staff culture that is friendly and outgoing, collaborative, and free of judgement.

+ Timecards and payroll oversight.

+ Ensures organizational compliance with all Federal, State, and Local regulations including the management and record keeping of controlled substances.

+ Uphold all Department of Health requirements with respect to our contract and Scope of Services and develop, update, monitor, and assess all necessary policies and procedures.

+ Fear Free certification within 30 days of hire.

+ Complete other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

+ Animal welfare experience preferred.

+ Has a passion for learning and is knowledgeable in current animal welfare trends.

+ Is vocal and enjoys sharing ideas, willing to engage in friendly, professional debate and idea sharing.

+ Ability to travel throughout the five boroughs regularly and nationally for training opportunities.

Work Environment

At ACC it's all hands-on deck. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. Animal Care Centers houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors, and other airborne particles in abundance. As a senior level executive, expect to be called on nights and weekends on occasion.

Animal Care Centers offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need. The opening of The Emma and Georgina Bloomberg Veterinary Center will expose you to clients in various states of emotional distress. This includes compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.

Reports To: Sr. VP Animal Health & Welfare

Overtime: This position is salaried and is not eligible for overtime.