Director of Live Saving Initiatives

Reports to:

Senior Director of Programs & Operations

Schedule

Full Time Tuesday through Saturday (Subject to Change)

Position Overview

The Director of Life Saving Initiatives 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 the effectiveness, growth, and delivery of 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, as well as events, specials, and returns. It manages program performance and data trends, ensuring that all placement-related activities align with organizational goals, policies, and best practices.

Key Responsibilities

  • 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-toadopt 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 training courses.
  • 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.

Minimum Qualifications

    • 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

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