President / CEO, Pasadena Humane (Pasadena)

MISSION & VISION The mission of Pasadena Humane is to lead the way toward a compassionate and caring community for all animals.

The vision is for companion animals to reside in loving homes and for communities to coexist with wildlife.

CORE VALUES :

• LEARNING : Commitment to best practice and professional development through continuous education.

INTEGRITY :

• Value honest and transparent communication and decision-making using evidence-based practices.

COLLABORATION :

• Value teamwork in the organization and partnerships with the community to deliver exceptional service.

KINDNESS :

• Show compassion, care, respect and empathy to all animals and humans without prejudice or discrimination.
• BACKGROUND Situated in the heart of Pasadena, Pasadena Humane is more than an animal shelter; it is a community-supported animal resource center providing compassion and care for all animals.
• Since 1903, Pasadena Humane has offered lifesaving programs and services for animals and the people who love them in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
• At the Pasadena campus, staff provide shelter, dedicated care, and new beginnings for thousands of the community’s most vulnerable animals every year.
• In addition to pet adoptions and foster, they focus on programs and services aimed at helping people care for and keep their pets, such as free and low-cost spay / neuter and vaccines, a pet food pantry, and an animal support call center.
• In 2023, Pasadena Humane helped more than 47,000 animals through adoptions, wildlife rehabilitation, lost & found, veterinary services, training classes, and surrender prevention assistance.
• As an open-admission shelter committed to socially conscious practices, it accepts all animals from its service area—regardless of age, medical condition, breed, or other factors.
• This inclusive policy ensures care and shelter for thousands of animals who would otherwise have nowhere to go.
• The Helping Paws program assists pet owners in crisis.
• This service aims to keep pets out of the shelter by providing resources such as a pet food bank, wellness services and temporary boarding to pet owners in need. This service was critical during the recent Eaton Fires, allowing families that lost their home in the fire to have a safe place for their pets while they rebuild.
• Pasadena Humane had a total shelter intake of over 7,000 animals in 2023 and 2024, including both companion and wild animals.
• This includes animals taken in for various reasons, such as adoptions, wildlife rehabilitation, and lost and found.
• They place 100% of healthy and safe animals into new homes or back to their natural habitat. Upon arrival, all animals receive a medical and behavioral evaluation.
• Most animals can be placed for adoption, but animals with untreatable health or behavior issues may be humanely euthanized.
• Pasadena Humane has animal control contracts with twelve communities including Pasadena and surrounding cities and counties.
• Animal Control Officers are an integral partner with these communities in that they rescue stray pets, enforce the laws, educate the community about responsible pet ownership in addition to conducting cruelty investigations and claims of animal abuse.
• In addition to the low-cost wellness clinic, dog training classes and an attractive and spacious retail store, Pasadena Humane provides boarding facilities for the community on its property, a service that not only ensures the pet owner of the quality care their animal will receive but also securing revenue for Pasadena Humane. In 2021, wild friends moved into the Sandra J.
• Goodspeed Wildlife Center, which includes an intensive care unit, a separate incubator room to care for orphaned babies, and outdoor space to prepare wildlife for release back into the wild.
• With constant positive attention from both the media as well as social media, Pasadena Humane is the source for animal welfare issues affecting the city and county.
• Pasadena Humane’s reach is far beyond the City of Pasadena, and it will continue to spread both its information and assistance to the animals and people of the region.
• Pasadena Humane is governed by a dedicated, 15-member Board of Directors comprised of business, civic and community leaders. THE OPPORTUNITY Following their heroic and highly effective response to the Eaton Fire in January 2025—where they sheltered and cared for over 1,000 displaced animals—Pasadena Humane has emerged as a vital community lifeline and national beacon for animal welfare.
• Energized by overwhelming community support and momentum, the organization stands on the brink of transformative growth.
• Pasadena Humane seeks a visionary President & CEO to lead it into a bold new chapter.
• This is a rare opportunity to guide an exceptional organization committed to surrender prevention, socially conscious sheltering, and top-tier animal care.
• The next leader will craft and execute a forward-thinking strategic plan that cements Pasadena Humane as a national model in progressive sheltering practices.
• Key opportunities include expanding access to care beyond the shelter through innovative community-based programming, strengthening partnerships across the region, and potentially growing the organization’s physical footprint and low-cost veterinary services to serve more animals and families in need.
• With a strong leadership team, empowered staff, and robust operational foundation in place, the new CEO can focus on expanding community-based care, deepening regional partnerships, and scaling veterinary services and facilities to serve more pets and people.
• Rooted in a culture of learning, integrity, collaboration, and kindness, Pasadena Humane is ready to elevate its impact—and invites a bold, compassionate leader to shape its future.
• THE POSITION Reporting to the Board of Directors, the President / CEO is responsible for the oversight of Pasadena Humane, which includes administration of all programs and services.
• The President / CEO will develop and oversee a budget of $19M.
• Additionally, the President / CEO is responsible for the strategic processes of the organization, managing and developing a talented paid staff of 150 and more than 1250 volunteers.

An exceptional leadership team includes five direct reports :

• Chief Financial & Administrative Officer, Chief Philanthropy Officer, Chief of Marketing & Communications Officer, Chief Programs & Services Officer, and Chief Veterinarian and Animal Care.
• The President / CEO will also partner with a dedicated Board of Directors and will implement Board driven long-range and strategic plans to ensure that the goals and objectives of Pasadena Humane are successfully achieved.
• In addition, the next leader will support and assist the Board in recruitment and engagement efforts with a goal to add diversity that reflects the communities served.
• The President / CEO will lead the design and execution of a new Strategic Plan as well as the development of strategic directions and policy in the fulfillment of the agency’s mission.
• This individual is responsible for the overall management and operation of Pasadena Humane in compliance with Board-adopted policies and with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations and laws.
• The President / CEO provides a leadership role in initiating and maintaining community relationships and securing the operating and investment funds necessary to sustain current and future operations.

Key Responsibilities :

• Lead with Vision : Initially the focus will be on continuity and ensuring sustainability and then drive the organization’s strategic direction, ensuring continued growth.

Champion Animal Welfare :

• Maintain and enhance Pasadena Humane’s lifesaving initiatives, including adoption programs, veterinary care, community outreach, and progressive animal control policies.

Expand Community Engagement :

• Foster strong relationships with government officials, donors, volunteers, and the broader surrounding communities to support Pasadena Humane’s mission.

Ensure Financial Sustainability :

• Oversee fundraising efforts, grant acquisition, and financial stewardship.

Inspire and Empower Staff :

• Sustain a workplace culture that continues to be rooted in the core values of learning, integrity, collaboration, and kindness and fosters professional development.

Build visibility :

• locally, regionally, and nationally, serving as a spokesperson.

Innovate and Adapt :

• Implement forward-thinking strategies that anticipate trends in animal welfare and develop data-driven solutions.
• THE PROFILE Pasadena Humane is seeking a dynamic, visionary, and values-driven President / Chief Executive Officer to lead one of the nation’s most respected animal welfare organizations into its next chapter of impact and innovation.
• This exceptional opportunity calls for a seasoned executive with a deep commitment to the ethical and humane treatment of animals—and the proven ability to inspire, modernize, and unify.
• The ideal candidate will be a compassionate, confident, and approachable leader with high emotional intelligence and strong communication skills.
• Demonstrating unwavering integrity and a trauma-informed leadership approach, this individual will honor the dedication of a resilient staff—especially in the aftermath of the Eaton Fire, where Pasadena Humane sheltered over 1,000 displaced animals—while forgi