Manager of Animal Care, Safety and Compliance
Job Description
Our Purpose
Our purpose was founded in 2005 by pet lovers who couldn't find a suitable place to leave their pets during business trips. What started as a personal quest has grown into the ultimate boarding and daycare resort for dogs and cats. We pride ourselves on providing the highest level of service in the pet care industry. With 15 convenient locations in California, Texas, Illinois, and Colorado, Wag Hotels is the home-away-from-home for spoiled dogs and cats across the US. Wag Hotels provide uncompromising fun, safety, and comfort to pets, as well as, world-class convenience to their parents. Come join our pack!
Our Values
Our People: Passion in Action
- We’re passionate pet lovers- trained professionals dedicated to growing our careers with Wag Hotels.
Our Culture: Growth with Integrity
- We’re collaborative, inclusive and accountable. We stay curious, proactive, and committed to doing what’s right.
Our Clients: Relationships First
- We build trust with pet parents through strong relationships, consistent services and experiences that enrich pets’ lives.
Guest Care: Excellence Every Time
- We never compromise on safety, care, or cleanliness- operating with consistency to serve more guests and grow our people.
Position Overview
This position is responsible for ensuring consistent, high-quality animal care; a safe operating environment for pets, employees and animals; and full compliance with all applicable animal welfare, workplace safety, and regulatory requirements across the organization. This role sets standards, monitors performance, mitigates risk, and partners with operations leaders to embed safety and care excellence into daily execution.
- Reports to: VP of Care
Key Responsibilities
Animal Care & Welfare
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve animal care standards, protocols, and SOPs.
- Ensure consistent execution of feeding, handling, playgroup management, medication administration, and specialized care across all locations.
- Review and analyze pet incidents and near-misses; identify trends.
- Partner with veterinary professionals as needed to align care practices with best-in-class standards.
Safety & Risk Management
- Lead company-wide pet, employee, and facility safety programs.
- Own incident response protocols, investigation processes, documentation, and follow-up.
- Identify operational risks and implement preventive controls to reduce injury, illness, and liability.
- Serve as a subject-matter expert during emergencies, escalations, and critical incidents.
Compliance & Governance
- Ensure compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations related to animal welfare, vaccination requirements, workplace safety (OSHA), and facility operations.
- Maintain policies, training, and documentation required for regulatory readiness and audits.
- Monitor regulatory changes and proactively update standards and procedures.
Training & Capability Building
- Partner with Operations and HR to design and deliver training related to animal handling, safety, and compliance.
- Support managers in reinforcing standards through coaching, audits, and performance feedback.
- Build a culture where safety and animal care are understood as shared, non-negotiable responsibilities.
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Work closely with Operations leaders, HR, Facilities, and Legal to align standards with business objectives.
- Provide clear reporting, insights, and recommendations to executive leadership.
Success Measures
- Reduction in pet and employee incidents
- Consistent execution of care and safety standards across all locations
- Strong regulatory compliance and audit readiness
- Improved staff confidence and competency in animal handling and safety
- Reduced operational and legal risk exposure
What we are Looking For:
Required Experience
- B.S. degree in Animal Science or related field from an accredited university
- 5+ years of experience working hands-on in an animal shelter or pet facility with at least 2 years in a supervisory role.
- Extensive knowledge of animal welfare laws, standards, and trends, with at least 2+ years of oversight or enforcement experience.
- OSHA 300 certification or the ability to complete certification within 6 months of hire
- A valid drivers license
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times
- Must be able to commute to the office at a minimum of 4 days a week, with an optional work from home day once a week
- Ability to travel when needed
- Ability to be around dogs and cats for an extended period of time