Director of Animal Placement
Reports to:
Sr. Director of Programs and Operations
Schedule
Full Time –Tuesday-Saturday (Subject to change)
Position Overview
The Director of Animal Placement provides strategic leadership and
operational oversight of multiple programs that support SAPA!’s lifesaving mission, including
foster, adoptions, returns, placement, transport, and public intake. This position is responsible
for ensuring program effectiveness, growth, and high-quality customer service across all animal
placement initiatives. The Director works closely with internal teams, fosters, adopters,
community partners, and the public to guide animals successfully through placement pathways.
This role also oversees foster, transport and adoption operations, events, specials, and returns,
manages program performance and data trends, and ensures all placement-related activities
align with organizational goals, policies, and best practices.
Key Responsibilities
As the Director of Animal Placement, you are expected to
communicate professionally and respectfully with staff, adopters, rescues,
fosters, networkers and others from the community.
Minimum Qualifications
• Provide leadership and strategic oversight for the Foster, Adoption, Placement,
Transport, Returns, and Public Intake programs, ensuring quality standards, growth, and
alignment with organizational goals.
• Supervise program managers (Foster, Adoption, Transport) and ensure teams are
customer-service oriented, goal-oriented, well-trained, and operating efficiently.
• Evaluate, develop, and refine program policies, procedures, and workflows to improve
efficiency, outcomes, and lifesaving impact.
• Oversee department KPIs, data tracking, reporting, and trend analysis to inform
strategic and operational decisions.
• Run reports and analyze program data to identify needs, trends, and opportunities for
improvement.
• Provide strategic oversight of foster and adoption initiatives, including foster
recruitment and retention, adoption growth, post-adoption support, and foster-to
adopt programs.
• Ensure all adoptable animals have accurate, appealing bios and photos and are
appropriately promoted.
• Maintain adoption contracts, forms, handouts, and related documentation.
• Assist with foster training initiatives.
• Assist with adoption specials, discount coding, and adoption-related system
management.
• Support and oversee the Returns Program to ensure compliance with program
requirements.
• Oversee found animal reports, including reunification efforts and alternate placement
when needed.
• Assist with overseeing transport program operations, including growth of out-of-state
transports, partnerships, and adherence to quality standards.
• Manage public intake/pass intake programs and ensure appropriate evaluation and
placement of animals.
• Oversee partnerships with municipal shelters besides ACS and rescue partners to ensure
accurate transfers, evaluations, and timely placement.
• Coordinate and oversee scheduling for spay/neuter surgeries for animals in care.
• Participate in occasional media opportunities promoting fostering, and adoption.
• Maintain strong relationships with fosters, volunteers, and community partners to
increase engagement and retention.
• Oversee foster communication platforms such as the Facebook Foster Forum to ensure
timely responses and alignment with organizational values.
• Ensure high-quality communication across departmental email accounts.
• Oversee training initiatives for Animal Placement departments and ensure consistent
foster and adoption procedures.
• Assist with adoption and community events as needed.
• Collaborate with other departments and leadership to support organizational efficiency
and lifesaving efforts.
• Administer vaccines, medications, and microchips as needed.
• Provide coverage for departmental roles as required to maintain operations.
• Attend and actively participate in required meetings and trainings.
• Maintain open, consistent communication with supervisors and colleagues.
• Adapt to changing priorities and perform additional duties as assigned.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Ability to thrive in a high-volume, fast-paced, and high-stress environment.
Skills
Must be open and adaptable to new procedures and ways of working
• Must have experience working with dogs/cats, and be able to handle large
dogs safely
• Experience in dog behavior training is preferable
• Must be proficient with email, word processing, and spreadsheets
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills necessary
• Must be available weekends and holidays
• Customer service experience is required
• Willing and committed to working well with volunteers, fosters, adopters and
staff in all roles
• A passion for San Antonio Pets Alive!’s mission
• Conveys optimism and demonstrates resilience. Adaptable to new procedures
and ways of working. Recovers quickly from set-backs and overcomes obstacles.
Willing to pivot or adjust plan in order to respond to changing priorities or the needs
of the animals
• Dynamic and people centric, you are working with our fosters and customers.
The goal is always to try to get customers to check out and view the animals.
• Must be able to keep information confidential
• Organized and accurate
Personal Attributes
• Must be able to be on your feet for long periods of time and work outdoors in all
types of weather
• Must be able to bend, stoop, kneel, reach above/below the waist, perform
pushing/pulling movements, lift, walk
• Ability to twist upper body while handling animals and/or equipment
• Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds
• Must be able to focus in a loud and busy environment despite distractions
• Must be able to travel to all SAPA! locations as needed
Qualifications & Experience
• Bachelor’s Degree in animal-related field preferred but not required. Knowledge
of animal breeds and behavior helpful.
• Proven ability to manage employee performance, including accountability
measures, improvement plans, disciplinary and corrective actions.
• High School Diploma
• Must have a minimum of one year of experience in animal welfare
• Valid driver’s license satisfactory driving record.