Business Director

Business Director

Animal Friends Humane Society

Reports To: Board of Trustees

Primary Board Liaison: Board President 

Status: Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

Animal Friends Humane Society is seeking an experienced, hands-on Business Director to provide senior leadership for the organization’s business, financial, administrative, fundraising and development, human-resources systems, volunteer and event, compliance, and community-relations functions.

This broad leadership role is responsible for strengthening organizational systems, financial sustainability, fundraising and donor development, people practices, community partnerships, and overall organizational effectiveness.

The Business Director works collaboratively with the Operations Director, who leads the day-to-day operation of the shelter, animal care and welfare, shelter staffing, intake and adoptions, foster and rescue activities, customer care, facilities, safety, and operational performance. Neither Director supervises the other; each has clear areas of accountability and decision-making authority while working together on matters that affect the organization as a whole.

The Business Director has decision-making authority within assigned functions and is expected to manage routine matters within established authority, escalating matters requiring Board governance or approval through the established Board liaison process.

The ideal candidate is an experienced business or nonprofit leader who combines strong financial and organizational acumen with people leadership, fundraising and relationship-development skills, sound judgment, and a genuine commitment to animal welfare.

Key Responsibilities

Business & Organizational Leadership

• Partner with the Board of Trustees on organizational goals, priorities, and long-term strategy, and translate Board-approved priorities into measurable business objectives.
• Strengthen organizational systems, processes, accountability, and long-term sustainability.
• Lead business-related organizational change and continuous-improvement efforts.
• Work collaboratively with the Operations Director so business decisions support effective shelter operations and animal-welfare outcomes.

Financial Management

• Lead development of the annual operating budget in partnership with appropriate staff, the Operations Director, and the Board.
• Monitor financial performance, revenue, expenses, payroll and staffing costs, purchasing, contracts, and organizational resources.
• Provide timely financial reporting and analysis, maintain appropriate financial controls, and support forecasting and long-term financial planning.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen revenue, manage expenses, and improve organizational efficiency.
• Coordinate with accountants, auditors, financial institutions, insurance providers, and other professional partners.

Human Resources & People Systems

• Lead and oversee the organization’s human-resources systems, policies, processes, documentation, and compliance practices.
• Establish consistent practices for recruiting, onboarding, performance management, employee development, compensation and benefits administration, recordkeeping, and separation of employment.
• Provide managers and the Operations Director with HR guidance, tools, documentation, and process support. The Business Director owns the HR process but does not replace the supervisory authority of leaders over their assigned employees.
• Identify organization-wide training, leadership-development, and workforce needs.
• Directly lead and manage employees assigned to the Business Director’s reporting structure and promote a culture of professionalism, teamwork, accountability, respect, compassion, and effective communication.

Fundraising & Resource Development

• Lead the organization’s fundraising and resource-development strategy.
• Build and strengthen relationships with donors, businesses, foundations, sponsors, government and community leaders, and other partners.
• Lead or oversee grant development, submission, administration, and reporting.
• Guide donor cultivation and stewardship strategies in partnership with staff and Board members.
• Develop fundraising campaigns, sponsorship opportunities, special events, and other revenue-generating initiatives, with a focus on diversifying and strengthening organizational revenue.

Volunteer, Events & Community Engagement

• Provide leadership and oversight for the volunteer program and community-engagement activities.
• Directly supervise the Volunteer & Events Coordinator and other assigned development, fundraising, administrative, or business staff.
• Ensure effective systems for volunteer recruitment, onboarding, communication, engagement, recognition, and retention.
• Oversee community events, outreach activities, and engagement opportunities that strengthen AFHS’s mission, visibility, and community support.
• Work closely with the Operations Director to ensure volunteers working within shelter operations receive appropriate operational direction, training, supervision, and animal-welfare guidance.

Community Relations, Administration & Risk Management

• Represent Animal Friends Humane Society professionally within the community and develop strategic partnerships that strengthen the organization.
• Lead and coordinate organizational communications, donor communications, public messaging, and media responses, consulting with the Operations Director when matters involve shelter operations, animal welfare, employees, or operational incidents.
• Oversee business contracts, insurance matters, vendor relationships, administrative systems, and applicable organizational compliance requirements.
• Identify organizational risks and work with appropriate professional advisors when legal, accounting, insurance, employment, or regulatory expertise is needed.
• Protect confidential employee, financial, donor, and organizational information.
  

Leadership & Board Partnership

The Business Director reports directly to the Board of Trustees and works with the Board President as the primary management-to-Board communication liaison. The Business Director and Operations Director serve as collaborative senior leaders with distinct areas of responsibility and authority. They are expected to share information, consult when decisions cross functional boundaries, resolve routine management matters at the management level, and maintain an organization-wide perspective.

The Business Director regularly provides the Board with information and recommendations related to finances, fundraising, HR systems, organizational performance, volunteer engagement, administrative matters, opportunities, and emerging risks.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated senior leadership or management experience across multiple organizational functions, including areas such as human resources, financial management, business operations, fundraising or resource development, and organizational performance.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including budgeting, expense management, financial analysis, and organizational resource planning.
• Demonstrated experience with fundraising, resource development, donor relationships, sponsorships, grants, or other revenue-development activities.
• Experience establishing or administering effective human-resources systems, policies, or management practices.
• Proven ability to lead employees, establish accountability, and manage performance.
• Strong strategic planning, decision-making, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience developing or improving business processes, policies, and organizational systems.
• Sound judgment and the ability to make difficult decisions professionally and compassionately.
• Ability to work effectively with a Board of Trustees, another senior organizational leader, employees, volunteers, donors, community partners, vendors, and the public.
• Commitment to animal welfare and the mission of Animal Friends Humane Society.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriately handle sensitive personnel, financial, donor, and organizational information.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule when organizational needs require it.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, finance, human resources, organizational leadership, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant leadership experience.
• Leadership experience within a nonprofit organization, animal shelter, humane society, veterinary environment, rescue organization, or related organization.
• Experience with nonprofit budgeting, financial management, accounting oversight, or financial reporting.
• Experience with human resources, employee relations, performance-management systems, or organizational development.
• Experience working directly with a nonprofit Board of Trustees.
• Experience developing strategic plans, policies, performance metrics, and organizational processes.
• Knowledge of nonprofit governance and compliance requirements.
• Experience leading across multiple business functions or serving in a senior organizational leadership role with broad enterprise responsibilities.
• Familiarity with animal sheltering and animal-welfare organizations is beneficial but not required.

Work Environment & Schedule

This position operates within an animal shelter environment and may involve exposure to animals, noise, cleaning products, odors, animal waste, and emotionally challenging situations.

The Business Director may occasionally assist with shelter activities for which they are appropriately trained and should be able to perform reasonable physical activities associated with the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

The position requires flexibility to respond to organizational needs outside normal business hours, including occasional evenings, weekends, holidays, emergencies, Board meetings, fundraising activities, and special events.

This posting summarizes the primary responsibilities and qualifications of the role. The full Board-approved position description provides additional detail regarding delegated authority, governance, and cross-functional responsibilities.