El Paso County is seeking a visionary and dynamic Animal Welfare Director to lead transformative efforts in animal services. The Animal Welfare Director will lead efforts, in consultation with the Deputy County Administrator, to expand community engagement, develop a new voter-approved animal shelter and clinic, introduce educational initiatives, and build partnerships with non-profits, rescue groups, and veterinary institutions.

The Animal Welfare Director works independently, subject to administrative approval, developing, implementing, maintaining, and managing programs regarding the County’s Animal Welfare Department for the community, including implementation and execution of policies and best practices regarding the Animal Welfare Program and other related matters in the interest of improving efficiency, productivity, cost control, effectiveness, live outcomes and service to the community. The Animal Welfare Director is responsible for scheduling and overseeing the daily operations of the Department to include the clinic and shelter and supervising staff and enforcing state and local laws regarding unlicensed, stray and uncontrolled animals; as well as assisting in animal abuse and neglect cases. The Animal Welfare Director serves as the principal leader, strategist, and advocate for El Paso County’s Animal Welfare Department. Reporting to the Chief Administrator or their designee, the Director plays a pivotal role in shaping the county’s animal welfare initiatives. This position requires innovative leadership to design, implement, and oversee comprehensive programs that improve animal welfare outcomes, enhance public safety, and ensure compliance with state and local regulations.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Animal Science, public administration, business administration, or related field; and six (6) years of experience in a progressively responsible position performing animal welfare, shelter management, public administration, or a related area, including supervisory experience, or related experience that demonstrates high competency in the necessary areas to bring success to this position. Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Certificates and Licenses Required Preferred:
Certifications in animal welfare or humane enforcement (e.g., CAWA). Must have or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a good driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso. In order to access into the County’s network and systems, a personal smart device is required by the hire start date.

Essential Duties
Administrative Duties:
Develops and maintains relationships with municipal Animal Services Departments, animal rescue organizations, veterinarians, other departments, agencies, and community partners to work collaboratively to share services in order to achieve efficiencies and cost savings, enhance adoption and fostering programs, expand resources, increase capacity, and improve service delivery; Provides vision and leadership in managing all aspects of Animal Welfare activities, including shelter design, program development, and interdepartmental coordination;
Recruits, hires, and evaluates staff, utilizing pre-employment integrity interviews to ensure the selection of ethical and effective employees;
Fosters a culture of ethical leadership, teamwork, and professional development by providing management, administration, organizational leadership, and team building; plans, assigns, supervises, trains and evaluates employees;
Develop strategic initiatives and represent the County in professional organizations, civic meetings, and public forums to advocate for animal welfare policies and initiatives;
Directs strategizing, planning, organizing, reviewing, designing, and evaluating of the overall operations and development of the department; utilizing strategic planning as well as performance measures, data and metrics to effectively measure, evaluate, and improve the success of the animal welfare programs and services;
Directs department goals and objectives to be consistent with strategic goals, priorities, policies and procedures established by Commissioners Court; interprets plans, specifications, standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory codes;
Develops specifications for County RFPs and bids related to department needs, works with Purchasing to issue requests, participates in evaluation of responses, and makes recommendations on award of purchases, including options available through the State Co-op and DIR methods;
Manages contract negotiations, vendor relations, and procurement processes; evaluates contract work and invoices for compliance, resolves discrepancies, and recommends modifications; and oversees department operations to ensure service delivery aligns with contract provisions, applicable laws, and standards set by federal, state, and local regulations, Commissioners Court, and the department;
Ensures compliance with all applicable contract provisions, laws, policies, regulations, and applicable standards established by Commissioners Court and the department related to animal welfare, shelter operations, clinic operations, personnel management, and financial stewardship;
Actively participates and collaborates with the County’s leadership team, vendors, and stakeholders to secure funding, grants, and partnerships for shelter construction and program development;
Oversees the analysis of the departmental equipment needs;
Confers with and makes presentations to the Chief Administrator, Commissioners Court, department heads, elected officials, financial and budgetary staff, the general public and affected parties;
Organizes and presents verbal and written research/analytical reports; produces written documents with clearly organized thoughts and comprehends and makes inferences from written materials;
Provides and presents supporting documentation regarding financial viability, economic feasibility, and implementation schedule of proposed projects;
Establishes procedures and ensures compliance with all health, safety, and risk management protocols for staff, volunteers, and shelter animals to assure the highest standards of risk management, employee safety, and risk avoidance;
Leads by example while representing the organization by maintaining personal integrity and professional ethics, emphasizing the hiring of staff with these attributes;
Promotes a work culture that is sensitive and responsive to the needs, interests, and values of the organization and the community;
Communicates ideas and recommendations through verbal and written reports;
Provides progress reports and communicates short- and long-term outcomes;

Program Development:

Develop innovative programs that expand services, enhance outcomes, and improve community engagement;
Introduces new programs to address underserved populations and expand outreach in remote or marginalized communities;
Establishes partnerships with non-profits, rescue groups, and veterinary schools to expand resources and improve service delivery;
Schedules program work on a long-term basis;
establishes standards and priorities and ensures they are maintained by others;
Develops progressive sheltering models, including behavior rehabilitation for at-risk animals and enrichment programs to enhance animal well-being;
Expands and enhances volunteer and foster care programs to increase capacity and community involvement;

Animal Welfare Duties:

Develops new policies and programs designed in the interest of improving efficiency, productivity, cost control, and effectiveness for Commissioners Court consideration related to the County’s Animal Welfare department;
Leads the development of educational programs and outreach initiatives to educate the public by explaining state and local laws, codes and regulations relating to the responsible care and control of animals and pets, filing of complaints and authorities of the shelter;
Oversee the tracking, analysis, and reporting on animal welfare and maintenance operations for cost effectiveness;
Monitors trends, plans scenarios and identifies issues that impact County’s animal welfare operations and communicates results to Chief Administrator including any recommended changes to operations;
Oversees fleet operations related to animal welfare, ensuring vehicle maintenance, cost efficiency, and responsiveness;
and monitors and tracks vehicles for damage and reports any damage to risk management; Analyzes allocations for fuel, maintenance, and equipment related expenses;
Prepares special, periodic, monthly, and quarterly reports;

Animal Shelter Duties:

Directs the planning, budgeting, and execution of the construction and establishment of a new, modern animal welfare shelter, ensuring compliance with best practices in animal care, facility design, and operational efficiency, to maximize resources and improve effectiveness;
Directs the operations of a modern animal welfare shelter, ensuring compliance with best practices in animal care, facility design, and operational efficiency;
Identifies design efficiencies between the new clinic and animal shelter to maximize resources and improve operational effectiveness;
Develop and execute a comprehensive transition plan to ensure continuity of services during the move to the new shelter and clinic;
Ensures the shelter design reflects community needs, public engagement areas, and long-term sustainability initiatives such as renewable energy, water conservation, and efficient waste management systems and ensures high standards of veterinary care;
Monitors trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in animal welfare and shelter management, applying innovative solutions to departmental operations; Collaborates closely with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office to ensure proper programming and oversight of inmate shelter support operations;
Develops and oversees a comprehensive pet adoption program to improve live outcomes and reduce euthanasia rates;

Animal Clinic Duties:

Oversee all clinical design and operations of the new shelter and the new animal welfare clinic, ensuring high standards of veterinary care;
Identifies and implements design efficiencies between the clinic and shelter to maximize resources.
Provides oversight of veterinary services; Supports the development of an international veterinarian program in partnership with regional Veterinary programs;
Manage and enhance the County’s spay and neuter programs to reduce pet overpopulation;
Evaluates programs that enhance local veterinary services, including potential veterinary business incubators and partnerships with veterinarians in the U.S. and Mexico; Develops partnerships with non-profit organizations, including international collaborations with partners in Mexico, to expand resources and improve services;

Budget Duties:

Is responsible for making financial recommendations on capital purchases, annual budget and expense allocations;
oversees financial planning for departmental functions and needs in concurrence with Commissioners Court approvals;
Works with the Chief Administrator, Elected Officials and their staff, department staff and other county staff, and shared services partners to establish priorities and set schedules and budgets for timely completion of projects;
Works with Purchasing Department and provides input and makes recommendations to Commissioners Court, Elected Officials and departments on best alternatives for awarding contracts to competing vendors and contractors; negotiates and oversees contracts as assigned;
Assures that department recommendations that have been approved by Commissioners’ Court are carried out or complied with; forecast personnel and financial needs of all activities; keeps abreast of developments that affect the functions performed in each reporting section of the department;
Promotes the County’s public image through participation and membership in civic organizations, professional activities and community forums that are aligned with the County’s mission and vision;
Attends and participates in meetings, training and information sessions;
Commits to obtaining 20 hours of self- professional development activity/s;
Commits to providing and ensuring all members of department staff receive a minimum of 20 hours of professional development activities/training per fiscal year;
Commits to strengthening community partnerships and ensuring the citizens and animals of El Paso County receive exceptional attention and service;