Chief Executive Officer, Montgomery County SPCA
Philadelphia, PA
Full Time
Executive
MISSION & VISION
The Montgomery County SPCA is dedicated to animal protection, humane education, and caring for unwanted, lost, and abused domestic animals. Established in 1909, the organization operates with a commitment to preventing cruelty to animals and promoting their well-being within the community.
BACKGROUND
The Montgomery County SPCA has been a cornerstone of animal welfare in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, for over a century. With three facilities located in Conshohocken, Perkiomenville, and Abington Township, the organization provides comprehensive services, including sheltering, adoption, humane education, and cruelty investigations. The Conshohocken facility houses the administrative offices and is the largest of the organization's shelters. The Perkiomenville location is set on a picturesque farm with a barn that houses retired livestock and a shelter for small animals.
In 2023, MCSPCA served nearly 5,000 animals across its three locations, achieving an 84.5% live release rate. MCSPCA offers a comprehensive approach to animal welfare that includes:
TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITY
MCSPCA stands at a pivotal moment in its distinguished history. Recent community attention to kennel conditions and euthanasia rates led to increased oversight from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office in late 2024. Rather than viewing this intervention as a setback, MCSPCA has embraced it as a catalyst for comprehensive transformation, demonstrating its resilience and commitment to excellence in animal welfare.
In direct response to these challenges, the Board of Directors took decisive action, installing new leadership and creating a Management Oversight Committee to drive operational excellence. The organization is now working proactively with the Attorney General's Office to conduct a thorough operational audit, ensuring transparency and accountability in all aspects of shelter operations. This partnership, coupled with a strategic alliance with the Pennsylvania SPCA to implement industry best practices, reflects MCSPCA's dedication to setting new standards in animal care and welfare.
The organization's substantial endowment and renewed direction position it for transformation into a leading-edge animal welfare organization. Through these partnerships and initiatives, MCSPCA is actively addressing past operational challenges while building stronger relationships with the community it serves.
This period of intentional transformation presents an extraordinary opportunity for an entrepreneurial and visionary leader to shape the future of animal welfare in Montgomery County. The next CEO will leverage MCSPCA's strong foundation, dedicated team, and substantial resources to design and implement an innovative strategic vision that advances the organization's mission and impact. Through dynamic community partnerships, the new leader will rebuild trust and position MCSPCA as a regional leader in animal welfare while expanding access to veterinary care through the potential reopening of a community low-cost clinic.
Central to this role is strengthening the human-animal bond through inclusive programming that serves all pet owners, with particular emphasis on creating targeted initiatives to support historically marginalized and underserved communities. Shifting the focus of the organization to surrender prevention and owner retention is a key goal going forward. The new CEO will have the opportunity to develop comprehensive veterinary services to meet both shelter and community needs while fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and best-in-class animal care.
The ideal candidate will be a builder and problem solver with a fresh perspective and collaborative leadership to guide MCSPCA in this next chapter of growth and innovation. This role offers the unique opportunity to transform an established organization with significant resources into a reliable, trusted organization that is seen as best in class in animal welfare services, building upon recent improvements to create lasting impact in the community.
The Montgomery County SPCA is dedicated to animal protection, humane education, and caring for unwanted, lost, and abused domestic animals. Established in 1909, the organization operates with a commitment to preventing cruelty to animals and promoting their well-being within the community.
BACKGROUND
The Montgomery County SPCA has been a cornerstone of animal welfare in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, for over a century. With three facilities located in Conshohocken, Perkiomenville, and Abington Township, the organization provides comprehensive services, including sheltering, adoption, humane education, and cruelty investigations. The Conshohocken facility houses the administrative offices and is the largest of the organization's shelters. The Perkiomenville location is set on a picturesque farm with a barn that houses retired livestock and a shelter for small animals.
In 2023, MCSPCA served nearly 5,000 animals across its three locations, achieving an 84.5% live release rate. MCSPCA offers a comprehensive approach to animal welfare that includes:
- Open admission sheltering with managed intake processes
- 24-hour emergency veterinary services and ambulance response
- Animal cruelty investigation and enforcement
- Comprehensive adoption programs including foster and rescue partnerships
- On-site veterinary care and spay/neuter services
- Humane education and community outreach
- Specialized programs including kitten fostering and animal reading initiatives
TRANSFORMATION OPPORTUNITY
MCSPCA stands at a pivotal moment in its distinguished history. Recent community attention to kennel conditions and euthanasia rates led to increased oversight from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office in late 2024. Rather than viewing this intervention as a setback, MCSPCA has embraced it as a catalyst for comprehensive transformation, demonstrating its resilience and commitment to excellence in animal welfare.
In direct response to these challenges, the Board of Directors took decisive action, installing new leadership and creating a Management Oversight Committee to drive operational excellence. The organization is now working proactively with the Attorney General's Office to conduct a thorough operational audit, ensuring transparency and accountability in all aspects of shelter operations. This partnership, coupled with a strategic alliance with the Pennsylvania SPCA to implement industry best practices, reflects MCSPCA's dedication to setting new standards in animal care and welfare.
The organization's substantial endowment and renewed direction position it for transformation into a leading-edge animal welfare organization. Through these partnerships and initiatives, MCSPCA is actively addressing past operational challenges while building stronger relationships with the community it serves.
This period of intentional transformation presents an extraordinary opportunity for an entrepreneurial and visionary leader to shape the future of animal welfare in Montgomery County. The next CEO will leverage MCSPCA's strong foundation, dedicated team, and substantial resources to design and implement an innovative strategic vision that advances the organization's mission and impact. Through dynamic community partnerships, the new leader will rebuild trust and position MCSPCA as a regional leader in animal welfare while expanding access to veterinary care through the potential reopening of a community low-cost clinic.
Central to this role is strengthening the human-animal bond through inclusive programming that serves all pet owners, with particular emphasis on creating targeted initiatives to support historically marginalized and underserved communities. Shifting the focus of the organization to surrender prevention and owner retention is a key goal going forward. The new CEO will have the opportunity to develop comprehensive veterinary services to meet both shelter and community needs while fostering a culture of excellence, continuous improvement, and best-in-class animal care.
The ideal candidate will be a builder and problem solver with a fresh perspective and collaborative leadership to guide MCSPCA in this next chapter of growth and innovation. This role offers the unique opportunity to transform an established organization with significant resources into a reliable, trusted organization that is seen as best in class in animal welfare services, building upon recent improvements to create lasting impact in the community.
Key Objectives:
THE POSITION
- Strategic Planning: Develop and execute a forward-thinking strategic plan that leverages the organization's financial resources to achieve its mission effectively.
- Assess and Revitalize Programs: Evaluate existing programs and services to ensure they meet the current needs of the community and align with best practices in animal welfare.
- Enhance Community Engagement: Rebuild trust and foster positive relationships with volunteers, staff, donors, and the broader community.
- Strengthen Operational Excellence: Address recent concerns by implementing robust policies and procedures that ensure the highest standards of animal care and organizational transparency.
THE POSITION
The next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Montgomery County SPCA will be an entrepreneurial leader with change management experience who will guide the organization through a pivotal period of transformation and growth. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the CEO will balance the operational demands of the shelter with the broader mission of advancing animal welfare in the community and beyond. Working with the Board, staff, and volunteers, the next leader will build a culture that strives to keep animals with their owners by providing needed resources that make it possible for families to stay together. Ensuring that staff understands the vision and direction of MCSPCA, while emphasizing the importance of their professional growth, is vital.
The CEO will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for MCSPCA's staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission.
Key responsibilities include leadership and management, financial oversight, fundraising, public relations, and program development. The CEO will lead by example and maintain the highest professional standards and practices for MCSPCA.
CORE COMPETENCIES
THE PROFILEThe CEO will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for MCSPCA's staff, programs, expansion, and execution of its mission.
Key responsibilities include leadership and management, financial oversight, fundraising, public relations, and program development. The CEO will lead by example and maintain the highest professional standards and practices for MCSPCA.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Leadership: Provide visionary and strategic leadership to the organization, fostering a culture of collaboration, transparency, and accountability.
- Financial Acumen: Oversee financial operations, including budgeting, reporting, and compliance, ensuring the organization's sustainability, fiscal health and integrity.
- Fundraising Expertise: Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies to diversify revenue streams and strengthen donor relationships.
- Community Relations: Serve as the primary spokesperson for the organization, effectively communicating its mission and programs to various stakeholders.
- Operational Management: Ensure the efficient and effective day-to-day operations of the organization, including program management, human resources, and facility maintenance.
We seek a resilient, persistent and highly experienced leader and manager with demonstrated vision and passion for the humane and ethical treatment of animals. A successful track record of strong, innovative and inclusive leadership, which will facilitate open communication to harmonize staff, the Board and the other constituents with whom they will interface, is sought.
Personnel management skills that include an ability to listen, provide feedback, build morale, delegate, “roll up one’s sleeves” and make decisions are essential.
The candidate should be motivated by the best interests of the organization and will bring high emotional intelligence to effectively continue the organization’s transition to a highly effective operation. Demonstrated success managing change, planning, forecasting and determining courses of action is needed.
Specific Qualifications:
Competitive candidates will have proven experience in a senior leadership role within a nonprofit organization, preferably in animal welfare or a related field. Other qualifications include:
- Understanding of and commitment to supporting the human-animal bond, open admission sheltering, surrender prevention and owner retention.
- Demonstrated success in financial management, including budgeting and financial reporting.
- Excellent public speaking and written communication skills.
- Strong organizational abilities, including planning, delegating, and task facilitation.
- Exceptional interpersonal and management skills with demonstrated success building motivated teams.
- Fundraising experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders is preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; advanced degree preferred.
ABOUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Montgomery County offers an exceptional quality of life as Philadelphia's premier suburb. With a population of 856,553 and a AAA credit rating from Standard & Poor's, the county boasts a strong economic base with major business centers. Residents enjoy rich recreational amenities including seven parks, five historic sites, and 60 miles of trails, all while maintaining easy access to Philadelphia's cultural and professional opportunities.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications and nominations are being received by Noetic Search. PFor more information, visit Noetic’s website or montgomerycountyspca.org.
SALARY & BENEFITS
$225,000 - $250,000 plus comprehensive health insurance, 403b and discretionary bonus plan.
Montgomery County SPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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