Remote Research Operations Director Jobs in California

Summary:

Launched in 2014, the ASPCA Los Angeles Initiative layers policy work, inter-agency partnerships and direct service programs to drive change for animals and the community. The Los Angeles Initiative is comprised of 80 people from more than a dozen departments, including annual grants of approximately $1 million. In addition to policy work, current direct services include kitten intake diversion, foster and adoption; animal relocation; and veterinary services (spay/neuter and primary pet care). 

The ASPCA’s Los Angeles work is crucially dependent on seamless collaboration and alignment both within the team and with our community partners, which include municipal shelters, non-profits and policy makers. 

The Senior Director of Shelter Operations (SD, Shelter Operations), reporting to the Senior Director of the Los Angeles Initiative, is assigned primarily to support the ASPCA’s partnership work with Los Angeles City Animal Services (LAAS) and as such will work with LAAS leadership on-site at the shelter locations. The focus of this work is the implementation of a joint 3-year plan for LAAS shelters, led by LAAS, and resourced and directly supported by the ASPCA and Best Friends. This work aims to achieve the following goals at LAAS shelters:

• intake community engagement, including efforts to support community cats;

• in-shelter pathway planning to ensure animals receive timely, coordinated care and support, and that the shelters are operating within capacity for humane care; and

• positive outcomes for animals by increasing adoptions, transfers, and other lifesaving placements

Who We Are

The LA Initiative is seated within the Shelter Partnerships Department. The Shelter Partnership Department executes the ASPCA’s strategic approach by leveraging direct care, response work, and public influence to drive systemic changes that include improving animal welfare across our society. Our Shelter Partnership Team’s work focuses on strengthening shelter systems.

The LA Initiative Team leads high-impact partnership efforts with Los Angeles area organizations, driving initiatives that improve shelter operations, enhance animal welfare, and support the achievement of key lifesaving goals. The team's work requires strong cross-functional collaboration, relationship management, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

What You’ll Do

In collaboration with the LAAS General Manager and cross-agency leadership, this position implements programs and processes in service of the above-mentioned goals. This includes providing shelter operations subject matter expertise on shelter programs for community engagement intake, animal pathway planning, and maximizing appropriate animal placements (adoptions, relocations/transfers, etc).

Working with the Senior Director, Los Angeles Initiative, and the Sr. Dir. Shelter Medicine, LA, other members of the ASPCA’s Los Angeles team and external agency partners, led by LAAS leadership, the Sr. Dir. Ops. will also create and/or deliver trainings tailored to the needs identified within the LAAS shelter system.

The Sr. Dir. Ops., will provide iterative feedback on the workplan and its implementation, and routinely use data and analysis to inform next steps.

This position provides a strategic perspective, thought leadership, project planning skills and tactical guidance relevant to plan implementation.

The Senior Director, Shelter Operations for the Los Angeles Initiative reports directly to the Senior Director, Los Angeles Initiative and has no direct reports.

This position will be part of a team of two on-site ASPCA staff members providing shelter operations and shelter medicine expertise to LAAS leadership.

Where and When You’ll Work

This position is primarily onsite, with approximately 90% of time spent across the six Los Angeles city shelters and about 10% remote work. Regular travel between LAAS shelters and the remote work location is required. This position is currently funded for 3 years

The standard schedule is Monday through Friday and generally aligns with shelter operational hours, though adjustments may be needed based on shelter needs. Scheduling will be coordinated between this role and the supervisor to ensure appropriate coverage, total hours, and a balanced workweek.

What You’ll Get

Compensation

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. 

• The target hiring range for this role is $148,000 - $160,000

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays and paid personal time off that allows flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings, including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities, including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance. They include, but are not limited to:

Community-specific Awareness

• Working with LAAS leadership, achieve a comprehensive understanding of LAAS shelter and veterinary operations, including strengths and gaps, to best support plan implementation.
• Achieve a comprehensive understanding of key partners, including missions, activities and impact, to best support plan implementation.

Development and implementation of Shelter Operations Support Plan

• Serve in a leadership role within the Los Angeles city shelter community for approximately three years, working collaboratively with the LAAS leadership and partner organizations to drive systemic change aligned with the goals of the ASPCA’s shelter partnership program.
• As a member of a cross‑agency leadership team supporting LAAS leadership, provide ongoing expert assessment of implementation timelines and sequencing, ensuring alignment with both priority and feasibility. Partner with LAAS leadership to advance the three‑year plan and remove barriers to implementation whenever possible.
• In collaboration with my supervisor and the cross‑agency team, develop an operations support plan that includes clear metrics, defined success criteria, and interim milestone goals.
• Identify program areas requiring additional support or improvement, and coordinate with ASPCA staff and partner agencies to secure the resources and expertise needed to ensure program success and long‑term sustainability.
• Act as a liaison between the on‑site South Los Angeles/Chesterfield Square ASPCA Spay/Neuter Clinic and LAAS to maximize veterinary intervention opportunities for both intake prevention and shelter animal spay/neuter services.

Provide Training

• Work with supervisor, LAAS supervisors and other partner agencies’ leadership to provide shelter operations and animal welfare training support in alignment with LAAS needs and within ASPCA’s policies.
• Stay informed about existing ASPCA trainings—through ASPCALearn, ASPCApro, and respected partner organizations—to ensure the development of a relevant, streamlined, and cohesive training program.
• Design and deliver trainings on shelter operations, including both shelter‑ and community‑facing programs, with an emphasis on the purpose, process, and impact of program implementation.
• Support LAAS leadership in the editing and refinement of LAAS shelter Standard Operating Procedures to ensure alignment with planned operational changes.
• Collaborate with LAAS and partner leadership to build training schedules, track progress, and assess the impact of training initiatives.

Communications

• Participate in regular meetings with LAAS leadership staff, including providing agenda input based on current plan status and identified priority projects.
• Work with supervisor to support project communications within ASPCA.
• Participate in regular internal meetings regarding the ASPCA’s work in Los Angeles overall.
• With LAAS and other partner leadership, identify opportunities for ASPCA communications, and development teams to showcase progress on local and national platforms, both to share learnings with other animal welfare professionals and to highlight shelter partnerships.
• Partner with the Communications division to develop and review messaging related to shelter operations, the ASPCA’s Los Angeles Initiative, and the implementation of the joint 3-year plan for LAAS shelters to ensure accuracy and alignment with brand and policy.
• Collaborate proactively with the Communications division on emerging issues, public education campaigns, and high‑visibility cases that may require coordinated external communication.
• Serve as an occasional on-camera organizational spokesperson, providing subject matter expertise for media inquiries, interviews, and public-facing communications as needed.

Qualifications

• A solid understanding of – and affinity for – people management, change leadership, program development, process improvement and budget oversight 
• Highly motivated self-starter who is able to provide strategic thought leadership and lead projects with limited guidance 
• Ability to develop and sustain successful, productive relationships with a wide diversity of key contacts
• Strong track record of leading through change 
• Skillful and diplomatic communicator, possessing confidence and composure required to effectively communicate with senior management and influence organizational thinking 
• Excellent supervisory and team development skills 
• Excellent ability to teach and coach   
• Strong analytical skills and fluency with data, including managing large data sets, data analysis and visualization; ability to identify key metrics, communicate persuasively to key stakeholders, and translate into data-driven decision making 
• Critical thinker, proven problem solver and generator of new ideas with strong sense of key business issues, opportunities and liabilities 
• Ability to work well under pressure, adapt to changing circumstances, make decisions quickly and juggle multiple priorities simultaneously 
• Track record of managing/navigating wide-ranging projects and processes and completing them on time 
• Strong sense of integrity and discretion; ability to handle sensitive information and issues while maintaining confidentiality 
• Demonstrated understanding of animal shelters and sheltering, including the challenges they face, and trends in the animal welfare field 
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and project management tools and able to readily create presentations, visuals and timely updates (required)
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies

Language

• English (required)

Education and Work Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of experience leading shelter operations, required
• Minimum of 3 years of experience designing and delivering trainings, virtual and in-person, required
• Minimum 3 years of experience using large data sets to inform shelter operations required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience developing and maintaining partnerships between animal welfare agencies to support community animals required; especially with external organizations strongly preferred
• Minimum of 2 years of experience developing communications for external audience required media experience preferred

Language:

Education and Work Experience:

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community:
If you are interested in joining our team but don't feel this position fits your experience or interests, please check out our other open opportunities or consider joining our Talent Community.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disast