Vice President Veterinary & Breeding Operations

Overview

At Canine Companions
, we’re dedicated to making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities. As an employee, you’ll help provide independence to individuals, while also giving a dog a meaningful job. Our commitment to our mission is reflected in our equally strong dedication to our employees.

We believe in offering a comprehensive benefits package to ensure the well-being and growth of our team:

• Employer-Paid Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision benefits for staff
• Paid Time Off: 14 paid holidays annually, including an Inclusion Holiday, plus 17 paid days off (PTO) during your first year
• Retirement Savings: Employer-matched 403(b) retirement plan
• Community Engagement: Additional paid hours to volunteer within your community
• Employee Assistance & Wellness Programs: Support for both professional and personal well-being
• Inclusion and Diversity Committee dedicated to ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace by setting actionable goals and evaluating progress

"I love working at a non-profit human services organization that supports people with disabilities- and we get to fulfill our mission through the amazing dogs that we breed, raise and train!"

— Senior Management Team Member

The Vice President Veterinary and Breeding Operations is responsible for overseeing the operational efficiency and logistical execution of the organization’s veterinary hospital, breeding program and canine early development program. This role provides strategic oversight and operational leadership to ensure the supply, health and readiness of service dogs through streamlined processes, effective staffing and robust pipeline management, while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Operational Leadership: Lead and optimize daily operations across veterinary hospital, breeding and canine early development facilities to ensure efficiency, quality and alignment with organizational goals. Develop and implement protocols for live animal logistics, including safe and compliant shipping, intake and transfers. Manage facility workflows, resource allocation and scheduling to support high-volume service dog breeding and care, while creating forward-looking strategic and operational plans to support growth and readiness.
• Pipeline & Logistics Management: Oversee the end-to-end pipeline of service dogs from birth through placement into training, ensuring smooth transitions across breeding, canine early development, transportation, veterinary care and training teams. Collaborate with internal departments to forecast needs and manage capacity planning.
• Staffing & Volunteer Oversight: Supervise director canine early care operations and manager veterinary operations, ensuring appropriate training, performance management and engagement. Develop staffing models and volunteer programs that support operational needs and enhance organizational culture. Coach and develop direct reports to support growth, engagement and successful execution of responsibilities.
• Veterinary Oversight & Coordination: Provide operational support to veterinary teams to ensure delivery of high-quality care. Coordinate with veterinary leadership to align operational practices with clinical priorities and animal welfare standards. Ensure nationwide compliance with veterinary regulations and implement a veterinary network that optimizes in-house and outsourced care.
• Organizational Accountability: Serve fellow staff and organizational partners with professionalism and integrity, ensuring actions and communications align with Canine Companions’ core values.

To be successful in this role, candidates should possess the following:

Must Have:

• Deep understanding of regulatory compliance requirements
• Strong leadership and organizational skills with experience managing teams, complex logistics and staffing models
• Familiarity with live animal shipping protocols and pipeline management in a veterinary or breeding context
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Strong problem-solving abilities
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in…