Shelter Supervisor

Our Vision: To be a leader in animal welfare, working for a compassionate society where all animals are respected and valued.

Our Mission: To Improve the Lives of Animals.

Job Summary

Shelter Care Supervisors, under the direction of the Manager, Shelter Care and Training, are responsible for supervising the enrichment and husbandry of all animals in the building and the upkeep of hygiene standards in all animal housing areas. This position directly co-supervises the Animal Care Workers (ACWs), volunteers, and students under the direction of the Manager, Shelter Care and Training.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

• Ensure that appropriate housing protocols for animal health and welfare are maintained.
• To include holding periods, room limitations and allocating space for incoming transfers.
• Supervise the day to day running of all aspects of the Shelter Care department.
• Lead and foster an environment of teamwork and cooperation with the Animal Care Workers (ACWs), volunteers, and students.
• Ensure safe work practices are followed.
• Maintain adherence to policies/protocols related to cleaning and sanitation within the shelter and ensure that current standards are kept up to date.
• Ensure commitment to quality, patient safety, and risk management initiatives in all care team members.
• Ensure all animals/species meet or surpass their daily allotted enrichment needs ; including but not limited to walks/playgroups/group walks/out of enclosure enrichment/puzzle feeders/Open Paw Program
• Facilitate the transfer of animals to and from other shelters/referral clinics .
• Order and oversee the distribution of daily supplies/food for all shelter care areas.
• Liaise with Manager, Shelter Care and Training regarding various issues and new policies for the purpose of communication to all care team members.
• Assist Manager, Shelter Care and Training to assess staff productivity for annual performance reviews.
• Administration of disciplinary action of supervised staff , volunteers, and students when required.
• Ensure all volunteers, students, new hires, and staff receive adequate/ongoing training in all areas of shelter care.
• Maintain a high level of confidentiality in all interactions.
• Demonstrate cooperation with other departments in order to ensure efficiency of care and support for patients.
• Ensure that any building and maintenance related issues are reported to the Facilities Team and/or Manager, Shelter Care and Training.
• Present a positive and professional image of the organization when interacting with employees, clients/customers, visitors, and other external stakeholders .
• Attend and participate in workshops, seminars, and in-service training to further education, skills, and training.
• Be aware of and work within the regulations of all Toronto Humane Society policies and protocols .
• Be available when needed for issues or problems related to job duties and responsibilities including on-call hours if needed.
• Work in compliance with the provisions of the OHSA and its regulations, including understanding and adhering to the requirements of the Health and Safety Manual, and any other rules and regulations established by the Toronto Humane Society.
• Must be able to complete the duties and responsibilities of an Animal Care Worker (ACW) when required by the Toronto Humane Society for daily operation .
• Other Duties as required in the day-to-day operation of the Society.

Qualifications/Requirements

• 2 year’s experience in field and/or supervisory position
• RVT or Certified Trainer considered an asset.
• Strong leadership qualitie s.
• Demonstrated passion for animals and committed to helping others.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage conflicting demands.
• Meticulous records maintenance skills .
• Strong interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to deal with people sensitively, tactfully, diplomatically, and professionally at all times in a diverse environment.
• Ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing .
• Ability to work individually whilst leading a team.
• Ability to remain calm and professional in emotionally charged situations.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
• Ability to adapt to new technology.
• Knowledge of PetPoint an asset.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office an asset .

Work Conditions

• Flexible hours including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Attendance and participation in training .
• Operation of desktop computer and peripherals .
• Interaction with employees, management, volunteers.
• Working in a busy environment with frequent interruptions .
• Occasional overtime .
• May involve the lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling of moderately heavy objects and materials (20 – 50 pounds) and some combination of climbing and balancing to include stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling.
• Performance of essential functions may require exposure to adverse environmental conditions, such as dirt, dust, pollen, odors, wetness, humidity, weather, temperature and noise extremes, hazardous materials, traffic hazards, bright/dim lights, toxic agents, animal/wildlife attacks, animal/human bites, disease, pathogenic substances, or rude/irate customers.

Candidate Potential

At Toronto Humane Society, we value diverse perspectives and recognize that a great candidate may not check every box. If you're passionate about animal welfare and believe you have the potential to excel in this role, we encourage you to apply, even if you may not meet every listed qualification. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are committed to providing a supportive environment for professional growth and development.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Toronto Humane Society is committed to building and sustaining a diverse and equitable workplace where people’s unique backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, respected, and welcome. We recognize that a diverse and empowered workforce helps us better serve our animals, clients, and community and contributes to Toronto Humane Society’s overall growth and success. Therefore, we strongly encourage qualified applications from underrepresented and equity-deserving groups within the animal welfare sector, including Indigenous, Black, racialized, immigrant, 2S/LGBTQ+, and people with disabilities.

Accommodation Needs

Requests for accommodation can be made at any stage of the recruitment process providing the applicant has met the Bona-fide requirements for the open position. Applicants need to make their requirements known when contacted.

Use of AI in Recruitment

To streamline our hiring process, we utilize an applicant tracking system (ATS) to manage and organize applications. While the ATS aids in efficiency, the core evaluation of candidates is carried out by our human resources team. This approach ensures a personalized review that allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the applicant's unique skills and potential.

Next Steps

We thank all applicants for their interest in Toronto Humane Society, however due to the high number of applications we receive, only those selected will be contacted for an interview.