Senior Director, Black Beauty Ranch

Scion Executive Search has been retained to identify the incoming Senior Director, Black Beauty Ranch on behalf of our incredible client, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS); an organization dedicated to ending all forms of animal cruelty and achieving the vision behind their name: a humane society. As a national nonprofit organization, the Humane Society of the United States is committed to fighting the big fights to end suffering for all animals!

Reporting to the Chief Animal Rescue, Care and Sanctuary Officer, this full-time opportunity is for immediate hire and is based in Murchison, TX.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Black Beauty Ranch, a world-renowned sanctuary in the United States, seeks a highly experienced and mission-driven Senior Director to lead their senior staff and to shape and guide the sanctuary’s delivery of high-quality animal care services to nearly 650 domestic and exotic animals. Since 1979, Black Beauty Ranch has saved animals from law enforcement seizures, cruelty and neglect cases, biomedical research, animals in entertainment, and the exotic pet trade—helping to heal and provide the best protection and care through lifelong sanctuary. With over 1,500 acres and 40 species, Black Beauty Ranch strives to create for each animal an environment as close to the wild as possible.

Black Beauty Ranch’s Senior Director oversees the direction and implementation of operations, programs, animal and veterinary care, and financial stewardship of the sanctuary and works with animal care staff to maintain consistently high-quality, high-impact services. Working with the Chief Animal Rescue, Care and Sanctuary Officer, the Senior Director leads strategic planning to ensure that the sanctuary operates at the optimal level for all animals it serves. The Senior Director supervises and coordinates a team of directors and managers to implement the sanctuary’s priorities and strategic vision. The Senior Director plans, develops, establishes, and enforces policies and procedures of operations and ensures that staff has access to training, supervision, guidance, and mentoring.

This is an incredible opportunity for a visionary leader who brings the experience, ability, and passion to guide HSUS’ Black Beauty Ranch team and has the drive to lead the sanctuary’s impactful work for the health and well-being of its residents. The Senior Director joins Black Beauty Ranch at an exciting period of transition and has the potential to lead staff in shaping the sanctuary’s structure and facilities to address the needs of the animals and team. Black Beauty Ranch seeks a bold, clear, and creative leader who will use all available support services from HSUS, operating procedures, infrastructure, and workflow processes to develop and enhance Black Beauty Ranch’s strategy. The Senior Director is also responsible for ensuring ongoing assessment of the quality and impact of Black Beauty’s strategy and animal care services.

Reporting to and working with the Chief Animal Rescue Care and Sanctuary Officer, this position is responsible for establishing and implementing the programmatic vision for the sanctuary’s animal care work as well as consistently recognizing and implementing the various and interrelated tools a quality, impactful sanctuary must employ: quality animal care and programs, meaningful community engagement, strong team and organizational culture, compliance with regulations, and strategic use of media.

ABOUT THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES:

Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States is the nation’s most effective animal protection organization. Together with millions of supporters, their deep roster of world-class animal and industry experts take on the fur trade, puppy mills, factory farms, cosmetics animal testing, inhumane hunting practices, cruelty and neglect, pet homelessness, and more.

They’re animal caregivers and plant-based chefs, technology specialists and maintenance technicians, scientists and veterinarians, communications strategists and accountants, attorneys and policy experts, graphic designers and project managers, and more—fighting for all animals.

To learn more about the Humane Society of the United States and its impact, please visit https://www.humanesociety.org/.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Sanctuary Strategy and Financial Stewardship

• Oversee the direction of the sanctuary’s strategic plan and help coordinate the daily operations in alignment with HSUS’ mission.
• Develop, lead, and ensure high-quality and high-impact animal care, service delivery, and management.
• Champion the strategic use of funding and processes to ensure effective facilities management strategies across the sanctuary.

Animal Care Program and Facility Management

• Oversee the programmatic work of the sanctuary, through regular consultation with directors and managers.
• Approve, oversee and, where appropriate, participate in animal care and management.
• In collaboration with the Chief Animal Rescue, Care and Sanctuary Officer, assist with streamlining operations including integrating new facilities and enhancing existing infrastructure to ensure compatibility with service delivery and greater consistency and efficiency.
• Develop and implement best practices and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance and proactively identify and mitigate risk.
• Monitor, coordinate, and enforce systems, policies, procedures, and safety standards.

Team Leadership and Culture

• Supervise and provide support to staff and ensure that staff at every level at the sanctuary have adequate supervision and opportunities to grow professionally.
• Directly supervise a team of 5 that includes Directors, Managers, and Senior Coordinators.
• Inspire and enhance an organizational culture that values collaboration, transparency, respect, trust, and accountability.
• Foster a team with robust retention and recruitment strategies for all of Black Beauty Ranch’s current and prospective staff.
• Establish and achieve strategic goals by planning, monitoring, and appraising team performance.

Organizational Strategy and Advocacy

• Support HSUS’ advocacy work and incorporate best practices to make Black Beauty Ranch a model among sanctuaries.
• Represent the work and vision of HSUS to partners, stakeholders, the public, and the national animal welfare community.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Nonprofit Management, Biology, or another related field.
• Master’s degree in a related field is highly preferred.
• GFAS-accredited sanctuary and/or AZA-accredited animal care center management/oversight experience.
• Experience with animal species residing at or a focus of Black Beauty Ranch is highly desirable.
• 5+ years of management experience in an animal care setting with the ability to motivate, advise, coach, and give constructive feedback to staff at all levels.
• A genuine passion and deep commitment to the mission of HSUS.
• Clearly stated vision for the delivery of animal care services, leadership and mentoring of staff, collaborative communications, and donor relations.
• Demonstrated experience implementing effective facilities management strategies and delivering results, establishing realistic objectives, and evaluating progress.
• Significant experience managing and conducting all aspects of new and existing animal facilities development including conception, design, planning, plan review, construction review, major maintenance, and modifications.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent conflict resolution skills.
• The ability to partner with a team of professionals across departments.
• Demonstrated skills in managing, leading, and motivating a high-performing team.
• Experience sitting on boards of sanctuaries or zoos preferred.
• Willingness to attend conferences with ~5% travel that involves overnights.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

This role offers a base salary range starting at $130,000 DOE. HSUS also provides employees with a generous benefits package that includes paid vacation, holidays, and sick time as well as medical, dental, vision, pet care reimbursement, pawternity leave, and education reimbursement. The 401(k) has a match program that offers a dollar-for-dollar match of up to 6%!

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