RSPCA Qld presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced manager to lead the animal care, customer service and veterinary team at Dakabin Animal Care Centre. As RSPCA Qld’s largest Council-contracted regional animal care facility in the State, RSPCA Dakabin provides world-class animal sheltering services to close to 5,000 animals per year.

In this fast-paced and challenging role, you will lead and mentor a busy, dynamic team, collaborate across multiple departments and be responsible for the overall operations of the RSPCA Animal Care Centre and Moreton Bay Regional Council Pound. The ability to work autonomously, lead a large team and oversee a volunteer base, whilst being deeply passionate about animal welfare is essential.

You and your team will provide vital help to all creatures great and small by ensuring that the health and welfare needs of all animals in the care of RSPCA Dakabin and the Moreton Bay Regional Council Pound are met and are of the highest standards, as well supporting our personnel.

The successful applicant must be a strong collaborative leader with proven experience in operations, management and implementation of strategic and business plans.

In this role you will:

• Be responsible for the overall operations of the RSPCA Dakabin Animal Care/Shelter Operations
• Ensure RSPCA Five Domains are at the forefront of shelter operations
• Drive a positive culture by role modelling RSPCA value and behaviours and lead a large, dynamic team
• Work in close collaboration with the community outreach and education team to drive community education and fundraising events
• Collaboratively and effectively, communicate with stakeholders across RSPCA and MBRC departments to ensure the best outcomes for the animals in our care whilst maintaining a good working relationship with council
• Financial Management of the shelter including accurate budgetary reporting and meeting financial targets
• Manage shelter capacity through in care inventories by liaising with necessary stakeholders to coordinate the transfer of animals into and out of your facility.
• Liaise with Veterinary and Behaviour teams internally and externally to ensure the wellbeing of all animals in care
• Maintain and supervise all areas of the overall shelter operations, including being responsible for shelter maintenance and operational issues;
• Oversee the animal adoption/intake process and complete the relevant administrative tasks (adoption, returns, private surrender and euthanasia, strays and council seized animals)
• Provide excellent customer service and build positive relationships with internal and external relations (staff, volunteers, council, agencies, contracted vets, contracted behaviour consultants, different departments etc.)
• Liaise with Retail Operations to manage the retail stock for the shelter.
• Liaise with council on capital works planning and facilities management
• Appropriately manage all concerns or complaints that arise as per RSPCA procedures, liaising with Management, Human Resources or Volunteering where relevant.

To be successful in this role, you will:

• Proven leadership and management capabilities, with a deep passion for animal welfare
• Solid understanding of operations and financial management, with strong commercial acumen
• Strong communication skills and the ability to develop authentic relationships
• Exceptional time management and the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment
• A desire to coach and mentor team members to be the best they can be
• Ability to provide conflict resolution and problem solve
• High attention to detail, accurate data entry and records maintenance
• Good computer literacy with experience with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience in animal shelters, veterinary or other animal industry is highly desirable

Experience and qualifications:

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in a leadership and management role
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in an animal husbandry role (highly desirable)
• Physically fit and able to keep up with the physical demands of the job
• A qualification in an animal related industry or business management (highly desirable)

This is a full time hands-on position based at the Dakabin RSPCA Animal Care Centre working 40 hours per week.. Some weekend and afterhours work may be required.