Programs Director

Position Summary

The Programs Director oversees and provides strategic leadership for Animal Place's programs, outreach, and communications work, translating organizational priorities into effective programs that advance protections for farmed animals. As a member of the Directors Team, this position works across departments to strengthen the reach and impact of Animal Place. The Programs Director supervises a team of three program staff, most of whom work remotely, and is responsible for setting clear goals, prioritizing resources, and ensuring programs and campaigns achieve meaningful results.

Program Strategy and Implementation

• Provide strategic direction and oversight for programs, policy, outreach, communications, and community engagement, including events, education, and volunteer programs.
• Lead and grow the Food for Thought program, which encourages animal welfare organizations to serve vegan food at their events, expanding its partnerships, reach, and impact as a national network of organizations.
• Identify emerging opportunities for Animal Place to influence policy, public attitudes, institutional practices, and individual action on behalf of farmed animals.
• Track relevant legislation and policy developments and recommend when and how Animal Place should engage.
• Build relationships and partnerships with advocacy organizations, coalitions, policymakers, and community leaders.
• Coordinate supporter participation in lobby days, hearings, petitions, public comments, and other advocacy campaigns.
• Set measurable goals for program reach and impact and use results to strengthen or refine programs within organizational capacity.
• Oversee program planning, budgets, timelines, and resource needs in collaboration with program staff and organizational leadership.

Communication Strategies

• Guide program communications, messaging, digital channels, and supporter-facing content to ensure consistency with Animal Place’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Develop and oversee digital and grassroots advocacy campaigns that mobilize supporters around clear goals and actions.
• Use the stories and experiences of sanctuary residents to illuminate broader issues affecting farmed animals and strengthen advocacy and public engagement.
• Ensure programs and messaging align with Animal Place's mission and strategic priorities.

Leadership

• Serve as an active member of the Directors Team, contributing to organization-wide strategy, planning, and decision-making.
• Provide consistent, compassionate leadership, coaching, and support to direct reports across on-site and remote settings, with clear expectations and accountability.
• Foster strong collaboration and communication across departments.
• Develop annual department goals and work plans aligned with Animal Place's strategic direction.
• Represent Animal Place at conferences, meetings, and events, including formal presentations and speaking engagements.
• Support a positive, collaborative, mission-driven organizational culture.
• Perform other duties and special projects as needed.

Requirements

• A minimum of 7 years of experience in advancing programs, public policy, education, advocacy, community engagement, or a related field, including 2+ years supervising staff.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategy, translate goals into actionable plans, manage competing priorities, and move work from concept through implementation and evaluation.
• Legislative or policy experience and a personal commitment to vegan living is a plus.
• Experience leading remote or distributed teams.
• Commitment to Animal Place’s mission and farmed animal protection.
• Experience in advocacy, public education, and behavior-change strategy, including digital campaigns.
• Experience building partnerships across organizations.
• Experience managing program budgets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to represent Animal Place professionally to partners, policymakers, and the public.
• Strong project management and problem-solving skills.
• Availability for occasional evenings, weekends, and travel.

Schedule

This is a full-time, salaried position. We prefer a candidate who works on-site at our Grass Valley, CA office, with the option of working one to two days a week remotely.

We will also consider fully remote candidates. Because this role supervises a team of both remote and on-site staff, California-based candidates will be prioritized. Remote employees should expect periodic on-site visits, with frequency based on distance from Grass Valley: more frequent visits for California-based staff, and periodic in-person team gatherings for those farther away.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid health insurance premium for the employee, beginning after 90 days. Dependent coverage available at the employee's expense.
• 403(b) with a 3% employer match after one year.
• Vacation, holiday, and sick time.
• $500/year veterinary care stipend.
• $5/day commuter reimbursement for on-site and hybrid staff; travel reimbursement for remote staff's on-site visits.

Start Date

As soon as possible.

How to Apply

Send your resume and a cover letter (no more than two pages) In your cover letter, please address:

1) What draws you to farmed animal protection and to Animal Place in particular.

2) An initiative you led that moved people to take action. What was your approach, and what was the result?

3) How you lead and support a team that works across locations, including staff you see in person only occasionally.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis beginning November 1, 2026.

Final candidates will be subject to a background check and DMV record check after a conditional offer of employment, in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Animal Place is committed to equal employment opportunity. We prohibit unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, reproductive health decision-making, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.