Summary:

Do the words efficiency and organization appeal to you? Are you a nimble, situational observer, think on your feet, and “make swift decisions” kind of person? Are you comfortable in client and partner interactions, navigating complex situations with compassion and clear communication? Do you enjoy event planning, hosting, and administration? If you have a knack for looking ahead and helping a diverse team operate at peak efficiency, and you have a love for ensuring animals receive the best care possible, read on.

The Equine Transition and Adoption Center (ETAC) Equine Support and Operations Manager will be responsible for helping ensure a smooth, seamless, on-site operation. They will partner with Equine Welfare Department team members, and our on-site adoption partner, to support ETAC workflow, manage operations, and meet with clients and equine care providers.

The Equine Support and Operations Manager will be responsible for helping establish a safe and compassionate environment for transitioning horses, clients, adopters, and team by fostering a positive and productive work environment in accordance with our organizational core values and our Theory of Change. This position will also support general Equine Welfare departmental objectives and processes, as well as those related to ETAC. Overall, this position will support the Equine Training & Behavior Specialist and Equine Marketing & Adoptions Manager in carrying out their roles of training, marketing, and adoption support.

The successful Support and Operations Manager is a person who is on the front end of client safety net calls, equine intakes and support, and events. The Support and Operations Manager is proactive and constantly seeking ways and making recommendations to improve operational efficiency and animal care!

The ASPCA’s Equine Welfare department has an ambitious strategic plan aimed at assuring all equines have good welfare by increasing the access horse owners have to safety net care, including relinquishing their horses for safe rehoming and accessing veterinary and end-of-life care. This also includes working with our network of ASPCA Right Horse Partners to continuously develop, improve and share best practices that allow the equine sheltering field to support and adopt out more equines, reducing cruelty and suffering.

This position is physically based in El Reno, OK. It is open to all candidates who live within a commutable distance to El Reno, OK (just outside Oklahoma City) or who are willing to relocate. This is a full-time position, and the candidate will need to be flexible, as some early mornings, evenings, and weekends will be required. 

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Operations and Administration (35%)

• Manage all ETAC equines in our online data system, including but not limited to tracking lengths of stay, all paperwork, medical and diet information, costs, miscellaneous notes, and more. Work with Information Technology (IT) and Research teams to make appropriate modifications as recommended or needed.
• Direct ASPCA Equine Welfare/ETAC inventories, including recommending and purchasing supplies and monitoring appropriate budgets. Troubleshoot, monitor and order equine welfare departmental supplies, and proactively plan for departmental needs.
• Oversee ETAC barn maintenance, cleanliness, and organization of all on-site ETAC spaces. Ensure orderly, organized supply/storage area, enrichment/tack stall, and office.
• Working both intra- and inter-departmentally, help plan, manage, and implement events on-site and nationally including public-facing events, internal team visits/shadows, and partner hands-on shadowing weeks.
• Support and manage events, including those as well as those we attend. Determine what is needed for events, and ship to various locations.
• Develop ASPCA / equine facility leaseholder disaster/emergency action plan with backups and contingencies. Make the determination and ensure the proper equipment is on-site (e.g. fire extinguishers, diesel generators, tarps, fuel, hoses, etc.). Determine and scrutinize potential evacuation routes, and guide those actions should they become necessary.
• Help guide ETAC processes and practices, and ensure strict controls are in place.
• Assist with other organizational planning to support ETAC goals and community engagement and equine welfare department objectives.

Client and Partner Interactions (35%)

• Manage client-facing interactions for the ASPCA ETAC, and with non-ETAC out-of-state safety-net requests as-needed, as primary point-of-contact to respond to, track, and manage ETAC inquiries (phone, email, in-person). Guide clients to ensure their needs are met, even when services might be beyond ETAC’s scope and operations.
• Attend in-field appointments, handling equines as needed or requested by veterinarian or client. Meet with clients and collaborate with veterinary partner to make compassionate and strategic determinations on intakes and safety-net cases.
• Coordinate transportation of new intakes.
• Assist during adoption appointments, represent ASPCA, compile information on each equine, and organize files and adopter kits for adopters.
• Manage the ASPCA ETAC veterinary relationship, including scheduling veterinary appointments and attending safety net client visits to support the veterinarian. Review veterinary/farrier vendor invoices for accuracy, submit for processing, and upload veterinary spend to data tracking system.
• Manage key relationships by acting as daily, on-site liaison between the leaseholder operations team and the ASPCA team, providing feedback and troubleshooting to ensure the smoothest, most productive on-site operations.
• Manage and oversee ETAC Volunteer Program, including recruitment, orientation, scheduling, recognition, and management of volunteer corps.

Equine Care Management (30%)

• Inspect each ETAC equine daily, noting any irregularities, escalating as necessary.
• Oversee daily enrichment, make recommendations, builds (or purchases) enrichment supplies, and develop and oversee enrichment schedule.
• Oversee turn-out schedule of ETAC equines, groom as needed, note equine behavior, consult with Training and Behavior Specialist, and add to training log.
• Assist veterinarian and farrier on appointments for all ETAC horses and record medical and farrier notes in online tracking tool.
• During inclement weather where operations are severely impacted, report on-site and work with the leaseholder team to ensure ETAC equine needs are met, troubleshooting, escalating emergencies as needed, and safeguarding the care of all animals on property.
• Oversee ASPCA ETAC feed, hay, water, schedules in cooperation with care team. Serve as primary contact and liaison to leaseholder team to ensure care of ETAC equines and immaculate, productive barn operations. Coordinate feed regimens between medical and feed staff, ensuring each equine receives proper feed.
• Maintain, administer, and oversee ETAC equine medications with precision. Consult with Senior Director and veterinary partner on all medications to ensure proper medications and dosages are administered. Note improvements or declines in equine health and escalate as necessary. Record medications in online tracking tool.
• Catch, groom, lead and tack horses, as needed.
• Assist Training and Behavior Specialist in training techniques that may require assistance and in capturing, uploading, and organizing training videos and photos from sessions.
• Assist the Marketing and Adoption Manager in capturing photos and videos of equines for marketing purposes.

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals
• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes
• Believes in Team – that we are stronger together
• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible
• Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:

• Skilled in navigating sensitive and at times ambiguous client interactions with clear and compassionate communication
• Displays care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals, and others, especially during stressful times.
• Strong interpersonal/team communication skills
• Strong organizational skills with excellent attention to detail
• Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to identify and prioritize tasks, projects and process improvement, and navigate through unforeseen circumstances
• Experienced handling equines, including having special skills and a comfort level around nervous, young, or equines whose behavior is unpredictable or unsocialized. Must have the ability to work closely with behaviorally compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where euthanasia is performed.
• Proficient computer skills with the ability to use MS Office and online tracking tools, such as AirTable
• Ability to form authentic, trusting relationships that enhance individual and team performance.
• Barn management, animal shelter, or veterinary clinic experience is beneficial; operations, logistics, and event management experience preferred.
• Possess physical/mental stamina and ability to work through extreme weather conditions.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 25% of the time as needed.
• Is flexible and adaptable
• Is willing and able to attend mandatory staff meetings and training classes that may not occur during regular work hours.
• Must be willing to work during inclement weather including wind, rain, snow, and heat.
• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs., and have the physical capacity to bend, reach overhead, and repetitively use hands to meet the physical demands of this position
• Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history. As part of the driving requirements of this role, must also pass a Department of Transportation Medical Exam with an understand of towing and equine trailering.

  

Language:

• English (Required)
• Spanish is a plus

Education and Work Experience

• High School Diploma (Required)
• Minimum 1-year equine handling experience required
• Client-facing or customer service experience required
• Experience managing/operating a barn or an equine, animal, or farm facility in a professional environment highly preferred; Experience managing an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, or other facility in a professional environment preferred
• Event management or support experience required, experience with externally-facing events strongly preferred
• Inventory management preferred
• Budgeting experience a plus
• Logistics background and experience a plus
• Volunteer management experience a plus

Compensation and Benefits:

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 $57,000 - $61,000 annually

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community:

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please join our Talent Community to stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

  

Language:

English (Required), Spanish

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma (Required)

  

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.  A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA.  Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status,  or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).