News, ideas & inspiration from industry leaders
Memo from the President: Available Executive Leadership Positions
February 21, 2026, Jim Tedford
The Association’s President & CEO encourages you to share these opportunities widely
Time sure does fly when you’re having fun! Having been in this field for well over 40 years now, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to me that animal welfare is an aging profession. But when I recently took a look at The Association’s Career Center, I am amazed at the number of high-profile senior leadership positions currently being advertised. We are facing a significant period of leadership transition, as many executive leaders have their eyes on retirement and their boards face activation of succession plans.
We’ve highlighted the executive openings listed below in order to ensure these critical roles receive the visibility they deserve — and attract enthusiastic, qualified candidates ready to lead with impact.
If you’re considering your next step in executive leadership, this may be the moment. And if you’re preparing with an eye to the future, The Association’s learning opportunities and CAWA credentialing program can help demonstrate executive readiness and commitment to operational excellence.
Our profession’s continued advancement depends on strong leaders stepping forward. We hope you’ll share these opportunities widely. And to my colleagues who are moving on to life’s other many adventures and opening up roles for emerging leaders, thank you and congratulations on a job well done.
Jim
Open Positions Listed In The Career Center
Chief Executive Officer, New Hampshire SPCA
Stratham, NH
Vice President of Shelter Operations, Houston SPCA
Houston, TX
Executive Director, Greater Androscoggin Humane Society
Lewiston, ME
Chief Executive Officer, Virginia Beach SPCA
Virginia Beach, VA
Executive Director, Bucks County SPCA
Bucks County, PA
Chief Executive Officer, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando
Orlando, FL
Executive Director, Paws4ever
Mebane, NC
Chief Executive Officer, Maui Humane Society
Pu’unene, Maui, HI
Chief Operating Officer, Richmond Animal League
N. Chesterfield, VA
P.S. If you’d like us to highlight your open positions, please submit them to The Career Center. Members of The Association enjoy the added perk of free job listings. For non-members, the cost is $150 per listing. Considering that two non-member postings add up to more than the price of a one-year membership, joining The Association is a money-saving move.
Photo: New Hampshire SPCA/Facebook
About Jim Tedford
Jim Tedford, CAWA, is President and CEO of The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement.
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I have been in the animal protection movement for fifty years (I started on Feb 1, 1976), and I cannot remember a year when the “problem” of executive recruitment and a shortage of qualified candidates was not raised by somebody.
Jim’s blog lists nine openings for a shelter executive. With approximately 4,100 non-profit animal organizations and a further 1,000 municipal/city animal control operations, that means that around 0.2% of animal shelters are currently seeking an executive director. Perhaps twenty percent of animal shelters have annual operating budgets in the $1 million-plus category. That would still indicate that only 1% (at most) of the larger shelters are currently seeking a chief executive.
I assume that the average chief executive spends around 10 years in the role. Hence, every year, around 500 animal shelters will seek a new chief executive, leading to around 10 new vacancies every week. The current AAWA list of available chief executive openings is right on the money. Meanwhile, AAWA continues to deliver essential training and certification ensuring that there is a continuing supply of suitable candidates!
Hi Jim- your memo from the 21st is something that has really caught my attention- gaps in leadership in our industry. It is my belief that we need more and better leaders but this is an industry that is aging, as you said, and a tough line of work. Too many leaders are leaving the field. I thought you’d be interested to know that I started a podcast for this very reason called Better Leaders in which I’m interviewing animal services leaders from across the country. I just released my first episode, an interview with Spencer Conover, COO, NACA, formerly of Pasco County FLA. On Monday my second interview will come out with Heather Owen from One Tail at a Time in Chicago. My upcoming lineup includes Denise Deisler, Ed Jamison, Josh Fisher, Lawrence Nicolas, Dr. Ellen Jefferson, Tawny Hammond, Jose Ocano, Steven Martinez, and Carolyn Evans. My goal is to understand each person’s approach to leadership and share philosophies, tips, and tricks with our industry.