Director of Assistance Dog Programs in Wayland, Michigan at Paws With A Cause

Are you passionate about mission-driven leadership, exceptional client service, and making a lasting impact? Paws With A Cause® is looking for the right individual to guide an incredible team dedicated to creating life-changing partnerships between people and custom-trained assistance dogs. The right person will love working with people, leading a team, and creating a mission-driven culture. PAWS' offers a great Benefits Package including medical, dental, vision, Employer-paid Short-term Disability, and Voluntary Life Insurance; Long-Term Disability, a generous PTO (Paid Time Off) Package, 10 Paid Holidays upon starting, and more! This is a Salary Exempt position ranging from $65-$80k/Annually. Commensurate with experience. Base hours are Mon-Fri 8:00am-4:30p. Apply today!

About Paws With A Cause

Paws With A Cause® (PAWS) exists to create opportunities to live with dignity, companionship and confidence. We do our best work by embodying our core values: adaptability, dedication, innovation, optimism, and gratitude.

PAWS’ Mission: To transform lives and strengthen communities through partnerships with custom-trained working dogs.

Position Summary

The Director of Assistance Dog Programs leads the successful delivery of Assistance Dog programs from client application through team placement, certification, and long-term follow-up. This role is responsible for ensuring exceptional outcomes for clients and dogs by overseeing program operations, staff performance, resource management, stakeholder relationships, and compliance with Assistance Dogs International (ADI) standards. The Director of Assistance Dog Programs promotes a high standard of client service, canine welfare, and program quality while fostering a collaborative, mission-driven culture that supports the organization's goal of creating life-changing partnerships between people and assistance dogs.

Key Accountabilities:

• LMA (Lead, Manage and Accountability)
• Program Quality, Execution, & results
• Program budget and resource management
• Stakeholder relationships
• Assistance Dogs International (ADI) compliance

Measurables: Production numbers for AD placements, placement goal attainment % by trainer; certification success rate, Client satisfaction score, average time from acceptance to placement; FR coverage

Essential Responsibilities

1. Leadership, Management & Accountability (LMA)

• Lead, manage, and hold accountable program managers and staff
• Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing team members
• Conduct regular coaching, 1:1s, and performance reviews
• Build a culture aligned with organizational values

2. Program Quality, Execution & Results

• Monitor key metrics and scorecards, using data to guide decision-making
• Identify gaps and implement improvements
• Manage program growth and scalability, including retirements and successor dog planning
• Prepare reports for executive leadership

3. Budget & Resource Management

• Develop and manage departmental budgets
• Monitor expenses and resource utilization
• Improve efficiency and cost-effectiveness

4. Stakeholder Relationships

• Build relationships with clients, partners, volunteers, and community organizations
• Work closely in collaboration with other interdepartmental teams, including but not limited to: Canine production and Animal Assisted Service departments
• Ensure a positive life cycle for client teams from the client application to team retirement, and address client concerns and interventions cases, as needed
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization within ADI and the larger community
• Support fundraising, marketing, and grant reporting as needed

5. ADI Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all ADI standards across departments
• Participate actively in ADI committees, education opportunities, and forums
• Oversight of placement documents and records
• Support audits and accreditation requirements

6. Public Access and Client Advocacy

• Advocate for Assistance Dog users
• Support ADA education
• Serve as an organizational subject matter expert

7. Strategic Implementation

• Support execution of strategic plan and annual goals
• Translate organizational priorities into departmental objectives
• Recommend program innovations and new service opportunities
• Identify risks and emerging trends

Non-Essential Responsibilities

1. Support other Advancement initiatives as needed and appropriate (E.G., special events)
2. Conduct weekly 1:1 meetings with your direct reports and facilitate inter-departmental meetings as needed
3. Support the strengthening and functionality of the Ideal PAWS Culture for employees, volunteers, and other constituents
4. Other duties as assigned

Supervision Received

Limited Direction - Works from overall policies, goals, and budgetary limits. Virtually self-supervising with direct accountability for final results.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Advanced supervision - Determines work assignments, priorities, and procedures for direct reports; ensuring quality and quantity of work. Holds decision-making authority for employee life-cycle activities including hiring, training, promotions, compensation, performance management, coaching, and terminations.

Education & Experience

1. Minimum of 5 years in nonprofit program management preferred
2. Proven experience managing teams
3. Preference given to experience in health and human services and/or assistance dog/animal assisted services

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

1. Willing to learn or possess a thorough knowledge and understanding of various types of disabilities
2. Possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills, emotional intelligence, and willingness to build positive working relationships, to maintain a positive PAWS’ culture
3. Knowledge of ADA/Disability Rights preferred
4. Experience with Microsoft 365 Dynamics and Microsoft Office Suite Preferred
5. Experience using EOS or willing to learn

Core competencies

• Interpersonal: Ability to develop and maintain relationships with others and adapt to a situation appropriately
• Judgement: Ability to form sound opinions or make decisions by evaluating available information and making sensible conclusions
• Problem Solving: Ability to recognize courses of action which can be taken to handle problems or potential problems, and applying contingency plans to solve those problems
• Management: Ability to achieve desired outcomes by organizing individuals and setting goals and priorities to deliver results
• Leadership: Ability to motivate and guide others to ensure performance in accordance with clear expectations and goals; providing timely guidance and feedback.
• Emotional Intelligence: Ability to identify with or be sensitive to the feelings and experiences of others.

Physical Requirements:

Average Daily Physical Requirements

• Work in stationary position: 2 to 5 hours
• Move about work area: 2 to 5 hours
• Use hands/fingers to handle or feel: More than 5 hours
• Reach with hands and arms: Less than 2 hours
• Ascend/Descend (stairs/ladder/etc.): Less than 2 hours
• Bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl: Less than 2 hours
• Communicate with various parties: More than 5 hours
• Detect flavors or smells: None
• Move containers up to 100 pounds: Less than 2 hours
• Visual acuity: More than 5 hours
• Read and understand written word: More than 5 hours
• Drive/Travel: Less than 2 hours
• Operate computer and general office machines: More than 5 hours
• Operate machines or material handling equipment: None

Average Daily Environmental Conditions

Office Environment: No exposure to extreme heat, cold, noise, chemicals or hazardous equipment. More than 5 hours

Manufacturing Environment: Exposure to dust, oil, various chemicals, solvents, or fumes. None

Medical Environment: Exposure to body fluids, radiation, medical equipment, solvents or chemicals. None

Noise: Exposure to constant or intermittent extreme sounds. Less than 2 hours

Temperature: Exposure to extreme heat or cold, either indoors or outside. Less than 2 hours

Other: Exposure to dog/cat related allergens. More than 5 hours

This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by Leadership to perform other duties as needed. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and does not infringe upon the Company’s at will employment status.