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Animal Manager Jobs in Rhode Island (NOW HIRING)

Merck & Co.

Responsibilities:- Function as an integral member of the Regional Leadership Team supporting territory managers by demonstrating and conveying the value and benefits of our company's Animal Health ...

Wright's Dairy Farm

Dairy Herd Manager

North Smithfield, RI · On-site

$70K - $80K/yr

Ensure compliance with animal welfare, food safety, and regulatory requirements * Manage inventory of herd health supplies and medications * Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, productivity ...

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All JobsAnimal JobsAnimal Manager JobsAnimal Manager Jobs in Rhode Island

Animal Manager information

See Rhode Island salary details

$24K

$58.3K

$113.6K

How much do animal manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average yearly pay for animal manager in Rhode Island is $58,294.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $41,100.00 and $67,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an animal manager?

An Animal Manager is a professional responsible for overseeing the care, welfare, and management of animals in settings such as zoos, animal shelters, farms, or research facilities. Their duties typically include supervising animal care staff, ensuring proper nutrition and healthcare for animals, maintaining enclosures, and developing enrichment programs. They may also be involved in budgeting, staff training, and ensuring compliance with animal welfare regulations. Animal Managers play a vital role in promoting animal health, safety, and overall well-being.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as an animal manager?

To thrive as an Animal Manager, you need expertise in animal care, husbandry, and behavioral management, often supported by a degree in animal science, biology, or a related field. Familiarity with animal management software, health monitoring systems, and relevant certifications like Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) are typical requirements. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills help manage teams and ensure the well-being of animals. These competencies are vital for maintaining high standards of animal welfare, ensuring operational efficiency, and leading successful animal care programs.

How does an animal manager collaborate with veterinarians and animal care staff to ensure animal well-being?

Animal Managers work closely with veterinarians and animal care staff to develop and implement health care plans, monitor animal behavior, and respond promptly to any signs of illness or distress. Regular team meetings and clear communication are essential to coordinate feeding schedules, enrichment activities, and medical treatments. By fostering a collaborative environment, Animal Managers help ensure that all staff are aligned on best practices and that animal welfare remains the top priority.

What are the most commonly searched types of Animal jobs in Rhode Island?

The most popular types of Animal jobs in Rhode Island are:

What are popular job titles related to Animal Manager jobs in Rhode Island?

For Animal Manager jobs in Rhode Island, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Animal Manager jobs in Rhode Island look for?

The top searched job categories for Animal Manager jobs in Rhode Island are:

What cities in Rhode Island are hiring for Animal Manager jobs?

Cities in Rhode Island with the most Animal Manager job openings:

Animal Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Animal Manager job openings in Rhode Island as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 85% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $58,294 per year, or $28 per hour.

Operations Manager (Communications, Volunteer Management, Animal Care)

West Place Animal Sanctuary

Tiverton, RI • On-site

$40K/yr

Full-time

PTO

Posted 21 hours ago

Posted today

Job description

Operations Manager Position:

Immediate Opening

A COVER LETTER would really help us get to know you well beyond your resume so applicants must send.

Overall Goal:
The Operations Manager is responsible for supervising daily operations at West Place Animal Sanctuary, primarily managing all tasks associated with the volunteer program, feed/supply/medical ordering, inventories and organization, providing support to the animal care manager, and community outreach. The Operations Manager plays a key role in ensuring that the organization’s standards of excellence are met.

Responsibilities:
Volunteer Management:
  • Maintain and grow volunteer base through outreach to individuals, community-based organizations and groups, colleges/universities, and corporations as needed.
  • Work closely to assure that volunteers are retained, through proper training.
  • Maintain process to review applications, check references and interview potential individual volunteers/interns, assess interests/skills of volunteers/interns and match with appropriate activities.
  • Onboard all new volunteers/interns, collecting correct documentation based on department.
  • Identify training opportunities for volunteers and staff; assign and track completion of assigned volunteer training.
  • Maintain weekly volunteer/intern scheduling.
  • Communicate with volunteers/interns to assure attendance during holidays, bad weather, etc.
  • Maintain volunteer/intern database.
  • Provide accurate and timely volunteer/intern data.
  • Engage with existing volunteers/interns daily and provide feedback and additional guidance as needed.
  • Maintain volunteer/intern recognition program and collaborate with leaders of other departments as needed, and plan and execute volunteer/intern appreciation and training activities.
  • Identify high profile volunteers and make connections with the appropriate stakeholders within the organization to promote these volunteers to volunteer supervisors.
  • Monitor, encourage, and manage electronic messaging communications to/from volunteers, including the internal application.

Intern Program Management:
  • Recruit high school, college, and graduate level interns.
  • Respond to internship requests; assess interests/skills of interns and match with appropriate staff or projects.
  • Manage orientation process for new interns.
  • Engage in ongoing feedback and complete school evaluations as required in conjunction with the animal care manager.
  • Update training information as necessary.
  • Communicate trainings, fun facts or educational questions to interns as part of their learning process.

Animal Care Management: (When the ACM or back up ACM is on PTO and unavailable)
  • Acting as animal care manager when needed (training provided).
  • Oversee and manage volunteers performing feeding, cleaning and maintenance of resident living areas.
  • Oversee cleaning, maintenance, and proper storage of sanctuary equipment.
  • Assist with the check-in of new animals and inspection.
  • Overseeing cleanliness, maintenance and daily care of kennel, office and gift shop building.
  • Daily health checks on all animals.
  • Providing supplements, medications, injections, etc. daily.
  • Inform Animal Care Manager of any health issues with the animals.

Property and building management oversight:
  • Learn and Understand the roles that our Greenthumbs and Handypeople perform so that you can maintain and delegate a list of things to do for those volunteers each day.
  • Assist in overseeing that all buildings are maintained, cleaned, repaired as necessary, delegating to Volunteer Handypeople, and Animal Care manager as needed.
  • Monitor electric, heat and AC usage in all buildings and be responsible for conserving.
  • Manage the day-to-day working of organization and cleanliness of the property.

Administration:
  • Responsible for all inventories, staying stocked on all supplies, food, medicine, tools, etc.
  • Responding correctly and promptly to emails.
  • Managing our main phone number and voicemails, with knowledge and professionalism.
  • Assisting the public in answering incoming questions.
  • Update SOP’s, manuals, training tools, and resources related to volunteers, animal care and operations.
  • Assist other employees, visitors, donors, and volunteers in a cheerful and respectful manner as a representative of West Place Animal Sanctuary.
  • Prepare all current and necessary updates to the Operations Training Manual and the Animal Care Training Manual on a daily basis.
  • Responsible for maintaining our databases, including feed, medical supplies, inventory, volunteers.
  • Maintain monthly calendar for shots, deworming, hoof care, etc. in conjunction with the Animal Care Manager.
  • Assist Director level staff with administrative tasks as needed.

Events and Community Outreach:
  • Act as a Tour Guide for three Visitor Weekends each year, and for private tours after training.
  • Booking private tours, and giving tours as well as understanding the gift shop and the systems to check out our guests.
  • Booking group volunteering, plan out projects (training provided) and manage the groups.
  • Booking small weddings on property (training provided).
  • Assisting in content for building our Virtual Tour platform.
  • Booking Corporate Retreats (training provided).
  • Gather social media content for Communications Director.

Please read this entire job post before applying. Applicants must understand the expectations as we are only seeking serious inquiries:
  • We are a non-profit (very different from a for-profit business).
  • We are open 365 days a year.
  • Experience IS required. Please do not apply if you have absolutely no experience for this position.
  • Emergent calls and emails come in every day, even on the holidays and the operations manager needs to assist the public in a timely manner. This will mean taking the work phone home with you after each work day. There are not often late-night emergencies but they do happen.
  • If your scheduled work days fall on a holiday, you are scheduled to work unless you use a PTO day for the holiday (we have volunteers and staff every single day of the year since our farm animal rescues do not know it is a holiday).
  • Please note that this position is full time and also requires weekends, both days.
  • We need a candidate who is reliable, shows up for work every day and does not call out. If you call out, your job must still be done and will have to be turned over to another staff person who already has a full-time job, and they will end up working several more hours in order to cover for you, so the staff must be able to rely on your attendance.
  • You must be willing to talk on the phone. This is mandatory.
  • We are not at a point where we currently offer health insurance or a retirement plan but we are working toward adding this in 2027 if possible so there will be a period of time before these are able to be offered.
  • If you are called for an interview and you ask us to "remind you what the position is" because you did not read/retain this information, we can not move forward with your application. Attention to detail is first and foremost here, and our initial contact with you is of the utmost importance and part of our interview process.
  • If you are offered the position and need to leave your role with us, we request at least one-month's notice AND full training of your successor.

Other Skills and Physical Requirements:
  • Organization, organization, organization.
  • Need to be able to run and oversee the day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month and year-to-year.
  • Extreme Cleanliness of office and workspace - sloppiness is not tolerated.
  • Enthusiasm and outgoing, helpful personality.
  • Volunteer Management experience.
  • Customer Service experience.
  • Operational Management experience.
  • Very Strong communication skills.
  • Critical Thinking skills.
  • Mindfulness.
  • Very strong time management skills.
  • Ability to multi-task on a daily basis.
  • Database management.
  • Proficiency using Word, Excel, Internet, GSuite for non-profits, certain programs and apps such as Discord and AirTable.
  • Commitment to a team approach of working with staff members, volunteers and guests.
  • Strong listening, speaking and writing skills.
  • Able to manage in-person requests and phone/emails.
  • Must be able to be around/handle large animals when necessary.
  • Ability to stand for long periods of time (tours, inventories).
  • Ability to lift up to 30 lbs., more a plus.
  • Preferred experience with repairs.

Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $40,000.00 to start per year based on experience regarding all the above. Yearly reviews and increases, and potential to move up within the organization.

Benefits:
  • 50% Employee discount in our gift shop.
  • Paid time off - 10 days PTO.

Schedule:
  • 8 hour shift (8.5 with .5 hour lunch break, and other necessary/required breaks).
  • Day shift (9-5:30).
  • Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday (off Wednesday and Thursday). Sorry, but this is not negotiable.
  • Holidays necessary if they fall on the above workdays (PTO can be used for holidays as long as your animal care manager and back up animal care manager are working and have enough coverage).

Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Tiverton, RI 02878: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required).

Experience:
  • Operations Management: more than 5 years (Required).
  • Public Relations: experience preferred.
  • Farm Animal Care: 1 year or more preferred or willingness to learn.
  • Administration: required.
  • Repair experience preferred so you understand how to manage handypeople.
  • Landscape experience preferred so you can understand how to manage greenthumbs.

Work Location: In person