Animal Shelter Director

Always & Furever Little Wichita Barn Director

Position Title

Little Wichita Barn Director

Reports To

Director of Training/Shelter Operations

Direct Reports

• Cat Barn Manager

• Dog Barn Manager

Position Type

Full-time, salaried, exempt position with room for growth as the organization expands.

Position Summary

The Always & Furever Little Wichita Barn Director is responsible for the daily leadership,

coordination, and performance of the Little Wichita Barn shelter location, including oversight of

animal care operations, staffing, protocols, documentation, and mission-driven community

engagement. This position reports to the Director of Training/Shelter Operations and directly

supervises the Cat Barn Manager and Dog Barn Manager.

This is a hands-on leadership role for a small shelter environment serving approximately 10 to 15 dogs

and 30 cats, so the Director must be willing to move between director-level oversight and direct

animal-care support when needed. The role also supports events, fundraising, adoptions, operational

problem-solving, and cross-functional leadership responsibilities that help the shelter run safely,

consistently, and in alignment with Always & Furever’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

Shelter Leadership and Operations

• Oversee the daily operations of the Little Wichita Barn shelter location.

• Supervise and support the Cat Barn Manager and Dog Barn Manager.• Ensure consistent execution of animal care standards, feeding routines, medication

coordination, cleaning, enrichment, and daily operational tasks.

• Monitor shelter flow, staffing coverage, and daily priorities to keep the barn running safely and

efficiently.

• Step in to assist with dogs and cats directly when staffing is short, operational needs increase, or

higher-level support is required.

• Help create and maintain a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and mission

alignment.

Staffing and Team Management

• Help oversee staffing schedules, coverage, and workflow across dog and cat operations.

• Coach, support, and hold team members accountable for job performance, reliability, and

protocol compliance.

• Assist with onboarding, training reinforcement, performance feedback, and ongoing

development of team members.

• Escalate staffing concerns, performance concerns, or operational risks to leadership as

appropriate.

• Support a positive, solutions-oriented work environment while maintaining high standards and

clear expectations.

Animal Care and Behavior Oversight

• Support the Dog Barn Manager and Cat Barn Manager in maintaining safe, humane, and

organized care for all animals at the barn.

• Help monitor animal stress, behavior, compatibility, and welfare within the shelter environment.

• Assist with dog introductions, behavioral observations, and coordination related to training and

placement readiness.

• Help ensure that handling, introductions, movement, and enrichment decisions are made with

animal welfare and safety in mind.

• Reinforce that not every animal is appropriate for every interaction, environment, or event and

help make sound participation decisions accordingly.

Protocols, Compliance, and Documentation• Enforce shelter protocols, safety procedures, sanitation standards, and handling expectations.

• Help ensure accurate and timely documentation related to animal care, behavior notes,

introductions, incidents, treatment coordination, and operational records.

• Track concerns, follow up on incomplete documentation, and reinforce process discipline across

the team.

• Support incident response, internal reporting, and follow-up when issues arise.

• Work with leadership to improve systems, workflows, compliance practices, and operational

consistency.

Adoptions, Events, and Community Engagement

• Support adoption efforts by helping prepare animals, teams, and spaces for successful adopter

interactions.

• Assist with planning and running adoption events, community events, and mission-centered

public engagement opportunities.

• Participate in fundraising activities and help connect shelter operations to donor engagement

and mission visibility.

• Help represent the organization professionally to adopters, donors, volunteers, and community

partners.

• Collaborate with leadership on creative ways to increase adoptions, engagement, visibility, and

support for the animals in care.

Leadership Collaboration

• Work closely with the Director of Training/Shelter Operations on strategic planning, staffing

needs, protocol development, operational improvement, and shelter priorities.

• Partner with leadership on director-level responsibilities including problem-solving, staffing

support, cross-department coordination, operational planning, and organizational growth.

• Help identify needs, risks, and opportunities within the Little Wichita Barn and bring forward

practical solutions.

• Support leadership initiatives and special projects that strengthen rescue operations and long-

term organizational sustainability.

Qualifications• Previous leadership or management experience in animal sheltering, rescue, kennel operations,

veterinary support, animal welfare, or a related field preferred.

• Strong working knowledge of dog and cat behavior, handling, welfare, and stress signals.

• Experience supervising staff, creating accountability, and managing day-to-day operations.

• Ability to stay calm, organized, and solution-focused in a fast-paced rescue environment.

• Strong communication, documentation, and follow-through skills.

• Comfortable balancing administrative leadership with hands-on operational support.

• Ability to work collaboratively with leadership, staff, and volunteers.

• Commitment to the mission of animal rescue and welfare.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strong animal-welfare leader who can manage people, protect standards,

support the mission, and step into the work when needed. This person is organized, emotionally

steady, comfortable making judgment calls, skilled with both dogs and cats, and able to support

leadership-level decisions while keeping day-to-day shelter operations moving.

They should be able to lead with both compassion and structure, communicate clearly, reinforce

expectations, and help the Little Wichita Barn grow in a healthy and sustainable way.

Compensation

Competitive salaried position with room for growth as the organization expands. Health Insurance,

Paid Time Off, 401k Matching.

Additional Position Notes

• Some weekend, evening, and holiday availability may be required based on shelter needs, events,

or staffing coverage.

• Must be able to lift supplies, handle dogs and cats safely, and work in an active animal-care

environment.

• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation preferred.

• Experience with rescue software, shelter documentation systems, or training coordination is a

plus.