BrightSide Animal Center (BrightSide) is a high-save shelter dedicated to providing sheltering, placement, and prevention services to reduce animal homelessness and unnecessary euthanasia. As an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, BrightSide has been helping people and animals in Central Oregon for over 30 years.

This is a unique opportunity to be a part of a dynamic leadership team who will lead growth and innovation at BrightSide. We are a passionate, high-performing team who believe that collaboration is key to our success. We do our best work by leveraging each other’s strengths and making sure to create opportunities for the work to be fun and meet our individual goals.

As a Socially Conscious Shelter, BrightSide strives to ensure the best possible outcomes for every homeless animal in our care and community. W e envision a better world for animals and the people who love them, and we’re dedicated to making that vision a reality.

If you have a passion for animals, collaboration, program-building, fundraising, and possess a proven track record of successful leadership, we invite you to apply for the role of Executive Director of BrightSide Animal Center.

Qualifications and Duties

The Executive Director (ED) of BrightSide is in-person/on-site responsible for overseeing the organization’s consistent achievement of its vision, mission, and financial objectives. The ED, with their leadership team, is also responsible for planning, organizing, and supervising all aspects of BrightSide operations, directing the development and implementation of a strategic plan for the long-term growth and success of the agency, and ensuring quality animal care while sustaining the successful lifesaving work of the agency.

The ideal candidate for this position will be:

• Passionate about and have a deep commitment to the mission of BrightSide.
• Experienced and have demonstrated past successes in progressive leadership and fundraising.
• Energetic, self-motivated, team oriented and flexible in a constantly changing environment.

Important areas of demonstrated past experiences and skills include:

• Leadership of organizations in the non-profit sector in strategic planning including establishing and achieving goals.
• Fundraising experience.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal; able to speak to a variety of audiences.
• Management experience both with staff and budgets of equivalent size and complexity.
• Knowledge of animal welfare issues.
• Effectively working with boards of directors.
• Strong organizational skills that ensure smooth operations.
• Desire and ability to absorb and apply new information including a solid commitment to keeping up with the latest industry best practices.
• Interpersonal skills including conflict resolution and sound judgment; possessing patience, tact and the ability to handle and appropriately respond to the expression of a wide range of strong emotions including anger, grief, frustration and joy. Responsibilities
• Strategic Leadership: Working with the board, staff, and community to ensure that the mission and core values of BrightSide are realized, and the organization has sufficient resources to support its work into the future.
• Program Development: Assuring that the organization has a strategy for program evaluation and development which supports the mission. This will include the planning, execution, and assessment of programs which engage the public and provide animal care such as adoptions, outreach, animal welfare education, and other programs designed to meet the needs of animals and the people who care about them.
• Thrift Store Oversight: Overseeing the management of the BrightSide Animal Center Thrift Store to ensure operations are efficient and revenues are maximized in support of BrightSide’s overall mission.
• Can and Bottle Recycling Program: Overseeing the management of the recycling program for cans and bottles to expand and maximize opportunities, ensure operations are efficient, and increase revenue in support of BrightSide’s overall mission
• Animal Care Standards: Overseeing the care for all animals that come under the protection of BrightSide and ensuring their humane treatment. This includes implementing short- and long-term strategies which increase adoptions, improve animal care, provide enrichment and medical rehabilitation, encourage spaying and neutering, help pets stay with their responsible caregivers, and support the enforcement of animal cruelty laws.
• Community and Government Relations: Working with community groups, businesses, governments and other animal welfare organizations within the community to increase support for BrightSide and meet the needs of the animals in the community. This may include developing collaborative programs and services and staying abreast of legislative developments that affect animals.
• Communications: Overseeing marketing and publicity for the organization’s activities, programs, and goals. Working with the news media and the general public to convey the mission and work of BrightSide, engage new supporters and create alternative sources of funding.
• Development: Creating a comprehensive development plan in collaboration with the Development Manager and supporting its execution to ensure adequate resources for the work of BrightSide. Overseeing all development and fundraising efforts.
• Staff Management and Development: Maintaining a climate that attracts, retains, and motivates a diverse staff of top-quality people who support and promote the mission, goals, and core values of BrightSide. Overseeing human resources (both paid staff and volunteers) including recruitment, employment, direction, management, and release of all personnel. Ensuring that job descriptions are maintained, that regular performance evaluations are conducted, that motivation systems are utilized, and that sound human resource practices are in place that abide by local, state, and federal law.
• Budget and Finance: Developing and maintaining sound financial practices, submitting budgets for approval, and monitoring compliance of expenditures within approved budgetary constraints.
• Compliance with Laws, Regulations, Policies, and Guidelines: Ensuring that policies are periodically reviewed, updated and shared with staff to ensure compliance. Understanding and ensuring operational compliance with current federal, state, county, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines that affect operations. Overseeing record-keeping practices for legally compliant animal tracking and veterinary care, adoptions, staff personnel files, budgetary accountability, and all other functions. Maintaining official records and documents.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.

• Experience: Minimum of two years of experience in leadership or senior management positions in non-profit organizations.

• Ability to work with and around animals: This includes working with and around diseased, injured and/or fractious animals, loud noises, chlorine and other chemicals, and inclement weather. Allergic conditions which would be aggravated when handling or working with animals may be a disqualification.

• Physical ability: Position requires lifting up to 50 pounds, bending, stretching, and standing for long periods of time, computer work, writing, and filing. You must have the physical and mental ability to safely perform the full range of duties of the position without creating a hazard to self or others.

• Computer skills: Proficient in basic computer skills and office software.

• Valid Oregon Driver’s License: Attaining (or possession of) a valid Oregon Driver’s License within 30 days of start of employment is a requirement for continued employment. Maintaining a satisfactory driving record and valid Oregon Driver’s License are ongoing conditions of employment.

• Fear Free certification within 30 days of employment.

Nature of Employment

The ED reports to the Board of Directors. It is an exempt position, which requires a minimum of 40 hours per week and may include weekend, night and holiday work. Compensation

The salary range is $80,000 to $90,000. Starting salary is dependent upon experience. Benefits include paid time off, health insurance, and other optional insurance with employee contribution. Relocation costs can be negotiated if needed.

How to Apply

Email your one-page cover letter and resume to: BrightSide Hiring Committee c/o Brad Rafish at brafish@brightsideanimals.org . Acknowledgement will be emailed upon receipt of your cover letter and resume.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Applications received after January 15, 2026 may not be considered.