Job Title

Senior Director, Animal Protection Services Job Description Posted Tuesday, January 6, 2026 at 11:00 AM | Expires Friday, January 1, 2027 at 10:59 AM If you are up for the challenge and would like to be considered for this position, we would like to hear from you. The British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BC SPCA) is looking to fill the following career opportunity: POSITION: Senior Director, Animal Protection Services STATUS: Permanent; Full-Time SHIFT: 35 hours per week CLASSIFICATION: Exempt We welcome diversity, value differences, and foster inclusion in our employment practices. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion by reading our Foundational Principles on our website. We invite applications from all qualified individuals who are philosophically aligned with our mission, vision and values . The BC SPCA is a dynamic organization with facilities and services across the province of BC. Join an expanding team in an exciting time of change in an organization that makes a difference! Please read below for additional details and let us know if you have the skills and experience we are looking for by submitting your application. About the Position: Reporting to the Chief Protection and Community Officer, this position is accountable for the strategic direction and service delivery of provincial animal protection programs and the enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act). This position leads a team responsible for the effective delivery of animal protection programs, including ensuring the prompt and effective investigation of complaints of animal cruelty and the evolution of the Societys animal protection work in conjunction with the strategic plan and established policies and procedures of the BC SPCA. In doing so, this position is responsible for liaising with other Senior Directors across all departments to ensure consistency and seamless service integration, as well as building relationships with other parties in the organization, managing program budgets and participating in strategic planning. Some specific duties: Provides vision, strategicdirectionand oversightfor animalprotection programs across the province. Ensures the development and successful implementation of annual plans and budgets for the team based on key metrics,benchmarksand analysis, in order to meet annual targets. Grows a culture of health and safety, innovation,volunteerismand knowledge of industry best practices. Engages in regular reporting,analysisand monitoring of key milestones. Provides active coaching and mentorship to ensureobjectivesand goals are met, celebrating individual and team successes. Conducts regular SMART goal setting and performance reviews. Responsible for the hiring, onboarding, performance management/development, and recognition of team members. Ensures that every team member understands and is in alignment with the BC SPCA core values. Ensures that every staff member is provided with and completes the designated onboarding road map within thetime periodnoted. Supports direct reports indoing the same with their team members. Ensures application of the collective agreement in areas of responsibility where applicable; participates in the resolution of grievances, arbitrations, and preparation for collective bargaining as required. May be required to participate on the Employers bargaining committee. Ensuresopportunities for enhanced volunteerism within area of responsibility and works with Volunteer Resources to ensurehigh levelsof volunteer engagement. As a member of theAnimal ServicesSenior Leadership Team: Participates in departmental strategy development,planningand budgeting. Contributes to the development of departmental risk registry, calendars,trainingand policy development. Leads on departmental initiativesidentifiedby the department head. Contributes to team building and inidentifying,recommendingand planning for the implementation of departmental retention strategies. Collaborates with other Senior Directors and Regional/Senior Managers in Animal Services to plan and host regular training sessions on operational excellence topics, ensuring awareness and understanding of trends, standards, policies, and procedures. This may include inviting Subject Matter Experts from within and external to the department to share knowledge and get feedback. Develops andmaintainsrelationships with senior industry peers and commits to continued education,learningand innovation. Stays current on industry tools and trends, continually learning and implementing new processes to improve our fundraising presence and success. Attends, contributestoand/or leads team, department and organization meetingsasrequired. May berequiredto act on behalf of Department Head or SeniorDirectorpeers during periods of absence, as appointed. Modelssenior-level leadershipbehaviour: Balances organization-wide perspective/priorities with department-level needs/goals. Endorses organizational decisions once made. Prioritizes training related to meeting senior level expectations. Demonstrates a commitment to BC SPCA values, work-life balance, and principles of equity, diversity,inclusionand reconciliation. Acts as a champion for health, safety and wellness within area of responsibility; ensures that all legal requirements in health and safety are met, and appropriate records are maintained. Enforcement of the PCA Act, Animal Seizure Disputes and Alternative Measures Animal Welfare Program (40%): Making recommendations to Police Services regarding SPC appointments and managing the SPC appointment process. Ensuring SPCs adhere to all Police Services and PCA Act regulations and conduct. Following all legal requirements and BC SPCA policies and procedures in conducting any activity related to cruelty investigations. Supporting SPC work including, but not limited to: Notice of Disposition, applications to the Justice of the Peace including Information to Obtain Search Warrants, Search Warrant, and Reports to crown counsel (RTCCs). Managing, tracking and responding to complaints against Special Provincial Constables (SPCs) that are made by the public in accordance with the Police Act regulations. In close collaboration and consultation with in-house legal counsel, makes decisions regarding seized animals when a seizure dispute is received in accordance with section 3.1 PCA Act Review and Appeals. Supports in-house legal counsel in BC Farm Industry Review files as required. Prepares and submits annual reports as required to the Provincial government. Development and oversight of an Animal Welfare Officer and alternative measures program that aligns with the BC SPCAs vision of helping animals and people thrive by providing supports where appropriate to keep animals and people together. Liaises with other agencies and the public on matters pertaining to animal protection investigations; offers expertise to assist statutory authorities, local governments, and First Nations as required. Liaises with statutory authorities, local governments, First Nations, other agencies and the public on matters pertaining to in-field emergency response. Operational Excellence (20%): Sets and maintains high standards of service excellence for Animal Protection Services, in accordance with the BC SPCA values and principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and reconciliation. Establishes baseline metrics and ways of measuring service excellence in animal protection work. Determines best practices for motivating, training, and maintaining service standards to both internal and external audiences. Quickly and proactively addresses any concerns, together with the Regional Manager, as necessary. Responsible for ensuring the overall compliance with all BC SPCA standards, policies and procedures, such as animal health, welfare and behaviour, brand, human resources, volunteerism, finance, health and safety, and communications at across the Province, which may include: Identifying compliance risks specific to the animal protection portfolio, through a regular internal audit process, and taking corrective actions, in consultation with the Regional Managers and any related subject matter experts, to mitigate these risks. Ensuring awareness and understanding of standards, policies and procedures across the animal protection portfolio and working with Regional Managers to address any gaps. Supports Regional Managers in: Preparing reports on compliance activities, issues, and resolutions, as required. Investigating and addressing potential compliance violations or incidents, taking corrective action, as necessary. Maintaining detailed and accurate records of compliance activities, assessments, audits, and investigations for future reference. Promoting a culture of accountability throughout the assigned portfolio by ensuring onboarding/training is prioritized to set people up for success. Works with Legal Counsel, Animal Services Specialist and external subject matter expertstodevelop best practices for delivery of animal protection. services.Thisincludes, but is not limited to,incorporating best practices associated withconcepts of one health/one welfare,principled policingandenforcement using a social justice lens in alignment with strategic plan and our foundational principles for equity,diversityand reconciliation. Works with People Services to develop and deliver a comprehensive strategy for building awareness of the unique careers in Animal Protection Services and actively works to create a pipeline and career path for both external and internal candidates to move into these roles. Collaborates with Executive and Senior Directors across the organization tofacilitategreater cooperation and continuous improvements for the organization. Areas for collaboration willlikely include, but are not limited to,contributions to: Operationalizing the strategicplanincluding recommendations around prioritization, goals,KPIsand milestones. Budgeting. Contributing to cross functional initiatives, working groups and committees. Policy development and socialization. Other projects, as assigned. RepresentsAnimal Protection portfolio in the mediaand with donors and funders,asrequested; keeps the Public Engagement & Advancement team updated on matters that could result in direct media; may berequiredto attend galasand other fundraising events. Collaborates with animal flow and community services to support pathway decisions for vulnerable animals that do not require PCA Act intervention. Establishes a strong culture of collaboration and accountability. Buildsrelationships between program teams and locations within theAnimal Servicesdepartmentacross the province, as well as other services across the organization. Facilitates interactions that enhance trust. May Chair and/orparticipateon cross-functional committees andForums. Ensures issues are addressed in a timely manner. Researches, prepares/presents business cases,identifiesservice gaps, implements new/updated programs,policiesand procedures, and uses effective change management techniques to ensure high rates of success in implementation. Performs other duties as assigned. Qualifications you need to have: Post-secondary degree with enforcement and/or social work vocational training (e.g. Justice Institute, RCMP/police training, social work degree), supplemented with additional management/business training, plus 8-10 yearsrelatedexperience, at least 5 of which should be senior leadership level.Or an equivalent combination of education and experience acceptable to the Employer. Either appointed as or eligible to be appointed as a Special Provincial Constable or equivalent knowledge, skills or abilities as determined by the employer. Demonstrated strengths in the following leadership areas: Thinking strategically and long-term in the best interests of the organization and the mission. Establishing strategic and operational objectives, strategies and tactics and monitoring their implementation and effectiveness. Implementing processes of continuous improvement (includes navigating approval processes, independent research, iterative and testing cycles, cost/benefit and risk analysis etc.). Building and maintaining effective and strategic relationships as well as experience collaborating with multiple parties, potentially with competing interests. Trauma-informed practices and working with vulnerable populations. Cross functional collaboration with multiple departments. Project and change management. Budget development and monitoring. Experience working in the animal welfare sector, with a focus on building animal and people-related programs/systems/infrastructure beyond animal sheltering. Experience managing, coaching, mentoring, nurturing and empowering staff, including managing managers. Strong business acumen, with an understanding of the charitable sector and animal welfare sector trends and best practices. Strong business acumen, with an understanding of the charitable sectorand animal welfare sector trends and best practices. Demonstrated ability to organize work, meetprioritiesand to work within a demanding work schedule with minimal supervision. Excellent communication skills and ability to work with internal and externalpartiesat all levels and from diverse backgrounds in a positive and respectful manner. Strong interpersonal skills withanability to successfully address and resolve conflict. Excellent presentation and public speaking skills. Tech savvy with experience championing effective use of technology to elevate an organizations efficiency. Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, project-management software, budget management software, and people management software; ability to adapt tonew technologies. Exceptional analytical and decision-making skills. Ability to travel throughout theprovinceas necessary. Working knowledge of concepts of equity, diversity,inclusionand reconciliation; able to relate respectfully to a diverse audience. Philosophical harmony with the BC SPCAs vision, mission,valuesand strategic directions How to apply: If you are interested in joining our team and are legally entitled to work in Canada, we would like to hear from you. Click on apply now or use the link to apply We thank you for your interest in the BC SPCA, however; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. No telephone calls, please. The BC SPCA is a Registered Charity BN 11881 9036 RR0001 #J-18808-Ljbffr