Executive Director

Date posted: January 14, 2025

Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

The Finney County Humane Society's (FCHS) current mission is to prevent cruelty to animals, relieve animal suffering, promote the extension of humane education, and aid in finding suitable placement for homeless animals.

In 2017, the City of Garden City asked the FCHS to oversee the day-to-day operations of the police department's animal shelter. The contract with the City and Finney County states that the Society will accept any animals (unless the shelter is at capacity) brought in by animal control, public courtesy, or owner relinquishment.

FCHS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives funding from various sources, including the City of Garden City, Finney County, grants, donations, memberships, memorials and honorariums, kennel sponsorships, and fundraising events.

Over 3,000 animals cross our threshold every year, and all are treated with compassion and respect. If not microchipped or tagged, they receive a rabies shot, are dewormed, have a bath, and are microchipped in addition to any other medical treatment and therapies needed. Early in 2026, the FCHS hired a full-time vet to ensure the animals' health and safety.

This humane care is found in the progressive community of Garden City in southwest Kansas, population 40,000, which is home to a diverse network of cultures with landscaped walking trails, community events, nationally ranked golf courses, festivals, year-round entertainment opportunities, and a welcoming environment for you to call home as our next executive director.

The Society is searching for a person who possesses these attributes and skills:

- Develop a clear understanding and alignment of the FCHS mission and how the strategic plan influences the Society's work.
- Coach the team to lead and manage culture.
- Develop and maintain a positive, performance-minded environment.
- Develop opportunities for work-related education, advancement, and growth
- Innovation.
- Continually challenge the organization’s performance.
- Question: What can be done better?
- Maintain knowledge of industry trends and innovations.
1. Oversee the organization to achieve key performance goals set by the FCHS Board of Directors.
2. Make sure the goals and outcomes align with our mission.
3. Ensure the shelter provides the best possible care and treatment for the animals in our care for the people who support them.
- Oversee all daily administrative operations
- Hire, evaluate, all-level teams
Develop and assign responsibility for critical performance metrics and measures for each of the following areas:
1) Animal Care and Contact: coordinates with the Veterinarian
- Ensure that all program services are provided in an efficient, effective, and professional manner
- Ensure that Board-designated priorities, goals, and objectives are achieved at the highest level of quality possible
2) Operations
- Supervise and guide the staff to ensure the shelter is operating at optimal levels, including but not limited to intake, adoptions, and transporting, in addition to the care, feeding, and enrichment of the animals
- Develop and foster relationships with affiliate organizations in support of specialized programming such as the Trap, Neuter, and Return and the Barn Cat Programs
- Develop, enforce, and clarify organizational policies and procedures and applicable state and federal laws, including safety and permits
3) Medical: coordinates with the Veterinarian
- Assure that all veterinary staff are properly licensed
- Assure medical operations are meeting performance requirements
- Assure clinic operations are complying with all local, state, and federal laws
- Assure that all clinic operations are being performed in alignment with the FCHS mission
4) Fundraising/Communications/Development/Marketing
- Supervise the Marketing Specialist, helping to improve and support the organization's fundraising and development efforts through annual campaigns, special events, capital campaigns, donor cultivation, sponsorships, and bequests coordinated with Board initiatives.
- Research and submit grants that would benefit the shelter or shelter programs.
5) Finance
- Working with the Board treasurer and the organization's bookkeeper, oversee the fiscal affairs of the organization to ensure that assets are properly preserved and utilized, and that adequate control and reporting procedures are in place and followed
- Prepare and direct the budget and financial control program as approved by the Board of Directors
- Working with the Board treasurer and organization bookkeeper, oversee the preparation of monthly and quarterly financial statements, review, and act accordingly
- Must have previous experience working with a board of directors.
- Serve as the liaison between the Board, staff, and volunteers
- Develop, prepare, and deliver a monthly Board packet that provides organizational performance assessment reviews and improvement recommendations
- Summarize relevant industry, organization, and influencer trends and insights that impact the strategic direction of the shelter and society.
- Review and adjust strategy as needed to fulfill FCHS's mission
- Bachelor's Degree and/or five (5) years of equivalent work experience
- Three (3) years of executive organizational leadership and personnel management experience
- Passionate about the humane treatment and care for animals
- Demonstrated public speaking and presentation skills. Proven knowledge of organizational performance management, budgeting, process improvement, trending analysis, and financial analysis
- Ability to interpret statutes and regulations and the implications for the organization's operations
- Ability to prepare and communicate performance reporting and strategic recommendations
- Must be able to lift to 25 pounds
- Have expertise in Microsoft Word, QuickBooks, and Excel
- Close proximity to animals, their noises, odors, dander, waste, and other impacts are to be expected

Job Type: Full-time exempt position

Ability to Relocate: Garden City, KS 67846: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Benefits: Health insurance, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, Relocation Assistance, Negotiable

Please email your resume to Debbie Reynolds at dareynolds50@hotmail.com

Part-time Marketing Specialist

A part-time animal shelter marketing position focuses on increasing pet adoptions, promoting fundraising campaigns, and boosting brand visibility through social media management, content creation, and event coordination. Responsibilities include photographing pets, writing compelling bios, managing digital platforms, and building community partnerships to enhance welfare initiatives.

Please submit your resume and portfolio to Debbie Reynolds at director@spiritoftheplainscasa.org

- Social media & Content: Manage, update, and create engaging content for platforms (Facebook, Instagram) to showcase adoptable animals and highlight success stories.
- Newsletter: Developed and distributed.
- Adoption Marketing: Develop, write, and distribute compelling pet profiles, photos, and videos to accelerate adoption rates.
- Fundraising: Oversee marketing efforts for donor cultivation, special events, and digital fundraising campaigns.
- Digital Presence: Maintain the website with current information, ensuring adoption inquiries are easily accessible.
- Community Outreach: Build partnerships with local businesses, media, and volunteers to promote the shelter's mission.
- Experience: Preferred 1-3 years in marketing, communications, or social media management.
- Technical Skills: Proficiency in social media management tools, basic graphic design (e.g., Canva), and photography.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills for creating engaging content.
- Passion: A strong interest in animal protection and welfare issues.
- Part-Time: Flexible hours, often involving weekends or evenings for events.
- Hybrid: Frequently requires on-site presence to photograph animals and attend events.
This position is critical to improving the quality of life for shelter animals by increasing visibility, securing funding, and finding loving homes more quickly.
*This position is a contracted employee role.

Shelter Attendants

The Shelter Attendants provides for the general care and maintenance of shelter animals including feeding, kennel cleaning and disinfection of the Shelter facilities at the Finney County Humane Society.

Salary Level: Part-time under 35 hours per week/ Full-Time over 35 hours per week

Summary of Qualifications

Have a high school diploma or equivalent
Basic computer skills
Able to lift and carry 50 pounds
Able to sustain ten (10) hour work day spent standing, walking, bending, twisting and lifting
Must have a valid KS driver’s license with insurable driving record.

Work Days and Hours: Hours will vary based on weekly schedule.

Conditions of Employment

Conditions of employment include working under adverse conditions such as inclement weather and noise with daily exposure to infectious diseases, parasites and animal waste in a physically and emotionally demanding environment.

How to apply:

Stop by the shelter to complete an application; or submit your resume to fchsrecep@gmail.com. For more information, please call 620-277-3725 and ask for Katrina!

Must be 18 or older!

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

- Provides adequate food and water to shelter animals daily
- Cleans and disinfects shelter kennels and cages daily
- Reports animal health or temperament abnormalities to Shelter Manager
- Maintains a rotation schedule for dogs to have outdoor time.
- Ensures that kennel environment is safe for animals and people
- Washes dishes and distributes clean product and supplies throughout the shelter
- Operates laundry machines and organizes laundry used in the shelter; distributes bedding throughout the shelter
- Cleans crates, cages and animal items/ equipment using sanitizer system
- Janitorial duties as assigned
- Performs special projects as assigned by Shelter Manager.
- Actively supports employees, volunteers and the development of skills related to the advancement of Society goals and mission
- Provides quality service to customers, volunteers and colleagues recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our organization
- Represents FCHS in a professional and courteous manner at all times
- Attends and participates in FCHS training programs as assigned; may attend training opportunities to facility advancement within the organization.
- Follow all established safety procedures and protocols
- Takes immediate action to address any safety concerns or noncompliance of safety rules that could put employee volunteer, customer, animals or organization at risk.
- This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time without notice.