Chief Executive Officer

Summary

Description

Description

Humane Colorado is a progressive, dynamic organization with a clear mission: Working with our compassionate community, we will end pet homelessness and animal suffering. We are committed to improving the lives of animals and advocating for their well-being through a holistic approach that incorporates shelter medicine, public outreach, community partnerships, and robust fundraising efforts. 

As the leader of our organization, you will have the opportunity to guide a dedicated team of professionals, drive impactful changes in the animal welfare sector, and lead an organization that is positioned for growth and innovation. 

The Opportunity 

Humane Colorado is seeking a visionary, strategic, and compassionate Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our organization into its next chapter of success. The CEO will be responsible for providing strategic, financial, and operational leadership while advancing our mission of ending pet homelessness and animal suffering. 

As CEO, you will collaborate with the Board of Directors to establish and execute strategic initiatives, develop and maintain relationships with key community partners, and inspire our team of dedicated staff. You will lead with integrity, ensure fiscal responsibility, foster a culture of inclusion, and advocate for animals at the local, state, and national levels. 

This is a unique opportunity for a dynamic leader with a proven track record of success in nonprofit management, financial oversight, and strategic vision. If you are ready to make a lasting impact in the nonprofit sector, we invite you to apply. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and execute a long-term strategy to achieve organizational goals and grow the impact of our programs. 
• Financial Stewardship: Ensure the organization’s financial health, including fundraising, budgeting, and sustainable resource management. 
• Team Building & Culture: Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive culture that empowers staff and volunteers to fulfill their potential. 
• Community Engagement: Strengthen relationships with donors, community partners, and external stakeholders, advocating for animal welfare and Humane Colorado’s mission. 
• Advocacy & Visibility: Serve as a spokesperson for Humane Colorado, raising awareness and influencing policies in the animal welfare sector. 

Qualifications: 

• At least 10 years of senior leadership experience, with a proven track record in nonprofit management, strategic planning, and fundraising. 
• Strong financial management skills, with experience overseeing budgets and securing major funding. 
• Deep commitment to animal welfare, with an understanding of the challenges facing the sector and a passion for Humane Colorado’s mission. 
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to inspire, lead, and engage diverse stakeholders. 
• Experience leading change and innovation, with a history of driving organizational growth and success. 

Why Join Us? 

• Lead an innovative and impactful organization at the forefront of animal welfare. 
• Work with a compassionate, mission-driven team that is committed to creating real change. 
• Competitive salary and benefits, including bonus eligibility, vehicle allowance, health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and sabbatical program. 
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and the community. 

Responsibilities of the position 

Board Engagement 

• Collaborate with the Board of Directors to establish a shared vision that ensures Humane Colorado is at the forefront of addressing animal welfare priorities, and set objectives related to strategic initiatives. 
• Provide the Board of Directors with complete, accurate, and timely reports on revenue results, variances, performance trends, and other factors affecting the organization’s financial position, reputation, strategic initiatives, and services. 
• Maintain regular and ongoing communication to build strong engagement and relationships with the Board of Directors. 

Strategy 

• Lead the development and execution of Humane Colorado’s strategic goals and initiatives, ensuring that programs are impactful, sustainable, and aligned with the organization’s core values. Lead executive management in decisions about programs and services to grow, pursue, or eliminate. 
• Stay abreast of external environment and industry trends that impact the nonprofit and animal welfare sectors and recalibrate organizational strategies, activities and advocacy as appropriate. 

Finance 

• Oversee the organization’s financial structure and position, ensuring: 
• adequate and sound funding for the mission and goals of the organization. 
• the financial health of the organization through careful resource management and investments. 
• operations are managed effectively within the organization’s financial plan. 
• fiscal responsibility and transparency. 
• Work with the staff and the Board of Directors to establish realistic short and long-term financial goals. Oversee the preparation, presentation, and approval of the annual budget, financial reviews and reporting, and periodic forecasts. 

Philanthropy 

• Drive the development and execution of a robust, diversified fundraising and revenue generation strategy to meet the financial goals of the organization. 
• Foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization to secure financial resources, ensuring both immediate and long-term sustainability. 
• Cultivate long-term relationships with key donors, leaders, and partners, actively soliciting and securing gifts to meet Humane Colorado’s short- and long-term financial goals. Participate in donor events, meetings and tours. 

Operations 

• Lead with innovation; champion organizational change; drive sustainable growth; and maintain operational effectiveness. Align structures, systems, and processes to meet evolving community needs and opportunities, ensuring the organization remains adaptable, impactful, and aligned to its mission. 
• Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, as well as compliance with program grant requirements, quality of service standards, and other organizational obligations.  

Advocacy 

• Develop government, community and business partnerships to improve animal welfare and related animal services. 
• Serve as an influential voice and recognized leader in the national animal welfare industry. Maintain active memberships in professional and humane organizations. 

Community Engagement 

• Serve as a champion and key spokesperson promoting the organization’s mission and enhancing the organization’s visibility with external audiences to advocate for and secure support and resources to achieve Humane Colorado’s mission and goals. 

Leadership  

• Build a competent, cohesive, and effective executive leadership team. Hire, lead, coach, advise, and mentor the executive leadership team to collaboratively drive and achieve established organizational culture, priorities, and metrics of success. 
• Ensure a talent management process is in place to build a deep pipeline of high performing talent. This includes identifying future leadership needs, developing high-potential leaders, and optimizing the organizational structure to build long-term organizational capability. 
• Model and maintain an effective and respectful working environment, fostering a culture of inclusion, and exemplary animal, patron and donor care. 
• Focus team members on common goals, empowering professional growth and development, and creating an organizational commitment to accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. 
• Assume other responsibilities upon mutual agreement with the Board of Directors. 

Compensation: Starting at $228,000 – $275,000.00 annually (starting pay commensurate with market, experience, and equity)

Work Conditions and Physical Requirements

Performs work primarily in an office setting. Potentially prolonged periods of sitting and repetitive motion. May work in an area with high noise level. Potentially subject to animal bites and scratches. Exposure to cleaning chemicals, fumes, dust, animal dander, and feces. Occasional lifting with reasonable accommodation.

We will begin reviewing applications as they are received and anticipate closing the application period on June 13, 2025.

Requirements

 Knowledge/Skills/Abilities 

• Familiarity with and understanding of key animal welfare issues. 
• Excellence in organizational management with the ability to effectively coach and manage a staff of senior level executives. 
• Demonstrated commitment to staff development, with success in attracting, inspiring, promoting, and retaining high-performing diverse teams of staff and volunteers. 
• Analytic and decisive decision maker with the ability to prioritize and communicate to staff key objectives and tactics necessary to achieve organizational goals.  
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and public relations skills, with the ability to inspire, instill trust, motivate, persuade, and effectively relate to diverse individuals, groups and organizations. 
• Skilled in strategic planning and the operational implementation of plans. 
• Relationship management with volunteer boards, management committees, and other volunteer groups. 
• Proven track record in fundraising or business development and relationship management with donors, boards, and foundations.  
• Competence in financial management in complex multi-site business operations, budget oversight, and ensuring accountability and transparency. 
• Exceptional skill in networking, building and sustaining strategic relationships with governments, professional associations, donors, partners, and the community. 
• Demonstrated history of commitment to the community by involvement in roles on committees or as a board member of community organizations. 
• Commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion (DEAI) with the ability to develop an inclusive organizational culture and compassionately serve the needs of diverse communities.  

Required 

• Education: BS/BA degree or equivalent experience 
• Work Experience: 
• 10+ years of leadership experience, including leadership or board service in a non-profit organization. 
• Experience in budgeting and fiscal management.  
• Fundraising or business development experience with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders. 

Desired 

• Advanced degree, such as MBA, Non-Profit Administration, Public Administration, DVM  
• Certified Animal Welfare Administrator (CAWA) 
• Proven success in developing and leading high-performing teams, strategic planning, board development and engagement, and community engagement. 

Salary Description
$228,000-$275,000.00/annually