Manager, Animal Adoptions - Animal Welfare Shelter
Humane Colorado, Denver, CO, United States
Description
At Humane Colorado, we believe every animal and every person deserves care, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive together. In 2025, 13,920 animals found new homes or were reunited with their families through our adoption programs, each outcome made possible by thoughtful, compassionate work.
We are seeking a Manager of Animal Adoptions to lead operations at the Leslie A. Malone Center. This role guides a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, ensuring every adoption experience is welcoming, supportive, and grounded in empathy.
The Manager brings both heart and leadership, supporting people through meaningful moments, strengthening adoption practices, and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and care. This is an opportunity to lead with purpose and help shape the future of humane, community-centered adoptions.
Purpose of Position
Directly lead, develop, oversee and evaluate Humane Colorado’s Leslie A. Malone Center adoption programs to ensure an exceptional patron experience and effective processes. Oversee and enhance pet supply retail activities. Create and innovate best practices and, together with the team, develop the future state of the adoptions and retail departments at the Malone Center.
Responsibilities
Lead and direct the adoption functions, including the pet supply retail store, to ensure the highest level of people care is delivered to Humane Colorado’s patrons, staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and vendors.
Ensure patron experiences are always compassionate. Communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, confident, respectful and professional manner. Assist with escalated patron issues when required.
Perform euthanasia and related tasks.
Perform shelter opening and closing duties as needed.
Work with and handle animals of varying species, size and temperament daily in a caring, safe and respectful manner.
Adhere to all Humane Colorado safety, training, handling, and transportation protocols to ensure the shelter environment is safe for animals, the public, volunteers and other employees. Wear required personal protective equipment as defined by organizational policies and procedures.
Collaborate with Humane Colorado team members to balance competing priorities, create organizational alignment, support strategic planning, execute initiatives, and ensure alignment with core values, vision, and mission.
Participate in interdepartmental meetings and discussions to support and develop organizational initiatives.
Design, develop and implement department standards, work processes, systems and procedures. Develop SOPs and ensure they are updated, followed, and communicated. Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements.
Ensure the highest level of people care is delivered to patrons, staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and vendors.
Inform and monitor departmental budgets. Manage resources to maximize value, control expenses and minimize waste.
Manage daily operations by providing leadership and development to staff. Foster achievement of a common vision within and across teams. Provide clear direction and priorities.
Motivate and support staff by removing obstacles, coordinating efforts, and empowering team members. Manage and ensure the effective utilization of volunteers.
Represent Humane Colorado internally and externally with integrity, serving as an ambassador of the organization’s mission and brand. Manage external partnerships and vendors as needed.
Oversee daily financial transactions.
Manage and develop an effective staff, including recruiting, hiring, training, mentoring, evaluating, and supporting team members while ensuring safety and compliance standards are met.
People Care
People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may include contact with the general public and organizational partners. Communication must be clear, cooperative, professional and respectful. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, address conflict directly, and appropriately express concerns.
Competencies
Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.
Resources
Organizational Key Competencies
Integrity and Ethics
Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
Customer and Community Focus
Emotional Intelligence
Excellence
Leadership Key Competencies
Project and Process Management
Delivering Results
Developing Direct Reports
Building and Leading Effective Teams
Position Key Competencies
Analytical thinking
Conflict management
Financial acumen & fiscal responsibility
Innovation
People development
Project management
Strategic thinking
Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
Adoptions and Retail team members
Volunteers
Travel
This position requires up to 5% travel in state
This position may require travel to different work sites
Work Conditions and Physical Requirements
Performs work primarily in an office setting. Potentially prolonged periods of walking or standing. Potentially prolonged periods of sitting and repetitive motion. May work in an area with high noise level. Potentially subject to animal bites and scratches. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Occasional lifting with reasonable accommodation. Will be required to work evenings, weekends and/or holidays as business operations demand.
Full Time Benefits
Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible spending and health savings accounts
Employer-paid life and short-term disability insurance
Generous paid time off and paid holidays
401(k) with employer match
Employee assistance program and wellness resources
Professional development and learning opportunities
Sabbatical leave eligibility
Employee discounts and adoption benefits
Compensation
Compensation:
$62,322-$67,000
annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)
Posting will remain open until filled, with a minimum posting period of 5 days.
Requirements
Position Qualifications Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Ability to utilize effective problem solving/decision making skills
Able to demonstrate exceptional discretion, judgment, impartiality and confidentiality when dealing with personnel issues, financial issues and proprietary information.
Able to demonstrate high degree of independence, initiative and organization.
Able to maintain a professional appearance and exercise sound judgment during all interactions with the public, staff and volunteers.
Able to set goals, prioritize, delegate work and provide feedback to others to complete multiple tasks on or before deadline.
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
Willing to learn new tasks and able to become proficient in a short period.
Required
High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 5 years of related work experience including leading the work of others and progressively complex project or program leadership responsibilities.
At least 3 years’ experience providing customer service.
Desired
Professional experience in an animal welfare organization/animal shelter
Experience creating and managing budgets
Experience leading and managing volunteers
General knowledge of animal sheltering software, Chameleon preferred
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At Humane Colorado, we believe every animal and every person deserves care, dignity, and the opportunity to thrive together. In 2025, 13,920 animals found new homes or were reunited with their families through our adoption programs, each outcome made possible by thoughtful, compassionate work.
We are seeking a Manager of Animal Adoptions to lead operations at the Leslie A. Malone Center. This role guides a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, ensuring every adoption experience is welcoming, supportive, and grounded in empathy.
The Manager brings both heart and leadership, supporting people through meaningful moments, strengthening adoption practices, and fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and care. This is an opportunity to lead with purpose and help shape the future of humane, community-centered adoptions.
Purpose of Position
Directly lead, develop, oversee and evaluate Humane Colorado’s Leslie A. Malone Center adoption programs to ensure an exceptional patron experience and effective processes. Oversee and enhance pet supply retail activities. Create and innovate best practices and, together with the team, develop the future state of the adoptions and retail departments at the Malone Center.
Responsibilities
Lead and direct the adoption functions, including the pet supply retail store, to ensure the highest level of people care is delivered to Humane Colorado’s patrons, staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and vendors.
Ensure patron experiences are always compassionate. Communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, confident, respectful and professional manner. Assist with escalated patron issues when required.
Perform euthanasia and related tasks.
Perform shelter opening and closing duties as needed.
Work with and handle animals of varying species, size and temperament daily in a caring, safe and respectful manner.
Adhere to all Humane Colorado safety, training, handling, and transportation protocols to ensure the shelter environment is safe for animals, the public, volunteers and other employees. Wear required personal protective equipment as defined by organizational policies and procedures.
Collaborate with Humane Colorado team members to balance competing priorities, create organizational alignment, support strategic planning, execute initiatives, and ensure alignment with core values, vision, and mission.
Participate in interdepartmental meetings and discussions to support and develop organizational initiatives.
Design, develop and implement department standards, work processes, systems and procedures. Develop SOPs and ensure they are updated, followed, and communicated. Monitor and evaluate program effectiveness and implement improvements.
Ensure the highest level of people care is delivered to patrons, staff, volunteers, partners, donors, and vendors.
Inform and monitor departmental budgets. Manage resources to maximize value, control expenses and minimize waste.
Manage daily operations by providing leadership and development to staff. Foster achievement of a common vision within and across teams. Provide clear direction and priorities.
Motivate and support staff by removing obstacles, coordinating efforts, and empowering team members. Manage and ensure the effective utilization of volunteers.
Represent Humane Colorado internally and externally with integrity, serving as an ambassador of the organization’s mission and brand. Manage external partnerships and vendors as needed.
Oversee daily financial transactions.
Manage and develop an effective staff, including recruiting, hiring, training, mentoring, evaluating, and supporting team members while ensuring safety and compliance standards are met.
People Care
People are the key to fulfilling our mission. Making internal and external patrons and their needs a primary focus is expected in all situations. This position collaborates with employees at all levels of the organization. Communication occurs through face to face, telephone, and electronic interactions and may include contact with the general public and organizational partners. Communication must be clear, cooperative, professional and respectful. Employees are expected to actively support a positive team environment, address conflict directly, and appropriately express concerns.
Competencies
Competencies are work behaviors and expectations necessary for successful job performance. They encompass knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and actions. Additional definitions for competencies may be obtained from Human Resources.
Resources
Organizational Key Competencies
Integrity and Ethics
Adapting to Change and Ambiguity
Customer and Community Focus
Emotional Intelligence
Excellence
Leadership Key Competencies
Project and Process Management
Delivering Results
Developing Direct Reports
Building and Leading Effective Teams
Position Key Competencies
Analytical thinking
Conflict management
Financial acumen & fiscal responsibility
Innovation
People development
Project management
Strategic thinking
Supervisory or Managerial Responsibility
Adoptions and Retail team members
Volunteers
Travel
This position requires up to 5% travel in state
This position may require travel to different work sites
Work Conditions and Physical Requirements
Performs work primarily in an office setting. Potentially prolonged periods of walking or standing. Potentially prolonged periods of sitting and repetitive motion. May work in an area with high noise level. Potentially subject to animal bites and scratches. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Occasional lifting with reasonable accommodation. Will be required to work evenings, weekends and/or holidays as business operations demand.
Full Time Benefits
Please visit our website for a comprehensive list of all offered benefits.
Medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible spending and health savings accounts
Employer-paid life and short-term disability insurance
Generous paid time off and paid holidays
401(k) with employer match
Employee assistance program and wellness resources
Professional development and learning opportunities
Sabbatical leave eligibility
Employee discounts and adoption benefits
Compensation
Compensation:
$62,322-$67,000
annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)
Posting will remain open until filled, with a minimum posting period of 5 days.
Requirements
Position Qualifications Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
Ability to utilize effective problem solving/decision making skills
Able to demonstrate exceptional discretion, judgment, impartiality and confidentiality when dealing with personnel issues, financial issues and proprietary information.
Able to demonstrate high degree of independence, initiative and organization.
Able to maintain a professional appearance and exercise sound judgment during all interactions with the public, staff and volunteers.
Able to set goals, prioritize, delegate work and provide feedback to others to complete multiple tasks on or before deadline.
Proficient in Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail
Willing to learn new tasks and able to become proficient in a short period.
Required
High school diploma or equivalent.
At least 5 years of related work experience including leading the work of others and progressively complex project or program leadership responsibilities.
At least 3 years’ experience providing customer service.
Desired
Professional experience in an animal welfare organization/animal shelter
Experience creating and managing budgets
Experience leading and managing volunteers
General knowledge of animal sheltering software, Chameleon preferred
#J-18808-Ljbffr