Potter League, Executive Director

MISSION As the heart of a compassionate community, the Potter League for Animals enriches lives and promotes the humane treatment of animals. The Potter League shelters unaccompanied companion animals and places them in safe and healthy homes, educates the community to embrace humane principles and provides the best care for their pets.

Further the Potter League provides community support programs which help all pet owners provide better lives for their pets and expands access to essential veterinary care for companion animals. BACKGROUND Founded in 1929 as the Newport County League for Animals, the Potter League for Animals was created to care for animals who were abandoned, injured or suffering and to promote more humane treatment throughout the community.

Nearly a century later, that commitment remains at the heart of its work, even as the field of animal welfare has changed dramatically. Today the Potter League is Rhode Island’s most comprehensive animal care and resource center, providing shelter, veterinary care, behavior and training support, spay and neuter services, humane education and owner assistance programs.

The Animal Care and Adoption Center in Middletown is the only shelter and adoption provider in Newport County. Operating as an open admission shelter with managed intake, it cares for approximately 2,000 dogs, cats, rabbits and small animals each year. Last year the League placed about 1,700 animals in new homes with a 95% live release rate.

It also holds animal control contracts with Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth and Tiverton, ensuring every stray animal in those communities receives excellent care. Key community programs include: The Pet Food Pantry distributes tens of thousands of pounds of food each year to families who need help keeping their pets fed; Pet Safe provides temporary care for animals whose owners are facing a crisis such as hospitalization, housing insecurity or domestic violence; The Potter League Spay/Neuter Clinic in Warwick performs more than 5,000 affordable surgeries a year, reducing overpopulation and improving outcomes for animals throughout Rhode Island; The Community Navigator program is a one of a kind initiative in which animal focused social workers help families navigate complex systems and access support across human services agencies.

Education, collaboration and community partnerships are central to the Potter League’s approach. Above all, its focus is keeping pets and families together in stable, loving homes. AQUIDNECK ISLAND Aquidneck Island is a picturesque and vibrant place to live and work, known for its rich history, stunning coastline and charming communities.

The island includes the City of Newport and the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, each with its own distinct character. Newport, known as the “Sailing Capital of the World,” is renowned for its historic mansions, beaches and lively waterfront, and is home to the Naval War College and the celebrated Newport Jazz and Folk Festivals.

Middletown offers a quieter residential setting with beaches and nature preserves, while Portsmouth, at the island’s northern end, is known for its strong sense of community, excellent schools and active arts scene. The island is home to both a close knit year round community and a large seasonal population, many of whom are deeply engaged in local philanthropy.

The island is easily accessible, with convenient connections to Providence, Boston and New York City. THE OPPORTUNITY In 2029, the Potter League will celebrate its 100 th anniversary. The new Executive Director will have the unique opportunity to lead the organization into its centennial and prepare it for its next century of service.

The League’s strong reputation is the result of generations of dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters, and the next leader will build on that legacy. The Potter League enters this transition from a position of strength and renewed energy. Under interim leadership, morale is improving, staff are engaged and important operational work is already underway.

The organization also recently made a significant investment in its people, with salary increases for all staff. The new Executive Director will build on this momentum by refining systems and operations, establishing clear guidelines that staff can follow consistently and ensuring the organizational structure supports the best possible care for the animals.

With the current strategic plan concluding, developing a new plan will be a major early focus. The Potter League enjoys loyal community support and remarkable event growth: Yappy Hour has grown from $80,000 to nearly $800,000 over several years, and Bark and Boogie raised nearly $500,000 this year. Working with the Director of Philanthropy, and with Board members ready to make introductions, the new leader will deepen relationships with longtime donors, cultivate new supporters among Aquidneck Island’s year round and summer residents, secure commitments ahead of events, follow through on pledges and pursue program specific grants.

The Potter League is financially strong. Approximately $14 million in reserves, replenished each year through bequests and new income, provides a solid foundation, and the 2027 operating budget is $5.5 million. Working with the Director of Finance and Administration, the new Executive Director will ensure timely financial reporting, involve directors and managers in building future budgets so they share ownership of their departments, and ensure municipal animal control contracts reflect the true cost of care.

The priority is clear: strengthen the Potter League at home first. Before expanding its reach, the Potter League will focus on its shelter, its Newport County communities and its relationships across Aquidneck Island. The new Executive Director will be a visible, collaborative presence in the Newport nonprofit community, convening peer executive directors and building partnerships that extend the League’s impact.

With that local foundation firmly in place, the Potter League can then thoughtfully consider wider partnerships across Rhode Island. The Pet Food Pantry shows why partnerships matter. Today staff drive across the state to deliver pet food, a model that stretches a dedicated team thin. By partnering with food banks, human services agencies and other nonprofits that already reach families in need, the Potter League can serve more households more effectively while easing the burden on staff.

The new leader will look at all community programs through this same lens: doing what the Potter League does best, close to home, and partnering wisely to extend its reach. The Animal Care and Adoption Center, built in 2008 on five acres in Middletown, is a beautiful, well used facility that is now at capacity. At the Spay/Neuter Clinic, demand exceeds capacity, and added veterinary staff could nearly double daily appointments.

The Potter League has also explored options such as a mobile veterinary clinic. The new leader, together with community leaders, will evaluate these opportunities, which may lead to the organization’s first capital campaign since the current facility was built. Most important, the new Executive Director will nurture a culture of openness, stability, trust and respect that is already growing stronger.

Many staff members are new to the organization, and they are energized and engaged. The new leader will be a regular presence in the shelter and at the clinic, keep a true open door, explain the “why” behind decisions and help every team member understand their own role and how it connects to the work of their colleagues.

This leader will also strengthen connections between the Middletown and Warwick teams while respecting the clinic’s operational strengths. As the Potter League approaches its centennial, the next leader will rally staff, volunteers and community around this milestone. With a proud history and a reputation earned over nearly a century, the Potter League is looking for an experienced animal welfare executive and hands on operator.

This leader will build on that legacy, bring best practices from the field, and carry the organization’s good name confidently into its next century. THE POSITION Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director oversees all programs, services and operations of the Potter League, leads its strategic planning and manages a staff of approximately 50 full and part time employees and more than 400 volunteers.

Direct reports include the Director of Finance and Administration, Director of Philanthropy, Director of Operations, Director of Marketing and Community Relations and Director of Human Resources. CORE COMPETENCIES LEADERSHIP Provide vision and direction for the Potter League’s programs, policies and growth. Lead the development and implementation of a new strategic plan.

Provide guidance, stability and support to a talented staff, and maintain an open, collaborative partnership with the Board. MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Serve as a hands on leader who is present in the building, knows the staff and strengthens systems across operations, human resources, finance and facilities. Ensure staff are well informed about decisions that affect them and understand the reasoning behind them.

Develop sound management, administrative and fiscal practices, and lead by example so staff feel heard, supported and able to grow in their roles. FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY Oversee the operating budget, business plans and approximately $14 million in reserves to ensure sound fiscal management. Ensure timely and accurate financial reporting, involve directors in the budget process, maintain strong fiscal policies and negotiate fair municipal contracts.

FUND DEVELOPMENT Working with the Director of Philanthropy, strengthen the Potter League’s financial health by personally cultivating and stewarding major donors, modeling donor engagement for the development team and attracting new supporters. Ensure pledges from individuals, corporations and foundations are fulfilled, pursue program specific grants and prepare the organization for a future capital campaign.

PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH Serve as a spokesperson, working closely with the Director of Marketing and Community Relations. Focus first on Aquidneck Island and Newport County, building strong relationships with local nonprofits, municipal leaders, donors and both year round and summer residents. Develop practical partnerships, such as with food banks and human services agencies, that extend the Potter League’s programs efficiently, and broaden collaboration across Rhode Island as that local foundation grows stronger.

PROGRAM AND SERVICES DEVELOPMENT Through the new strategic plan, evaluate all programs with staff to determine their effectiveness, sustainability and community need. Strengthen core shelter and clinic operations first, then establish new initiatives and partnerships where they best serve animals and families. CANDIDATE PROFILE We seek a highly experienced, compassionate leader with a deep commitment to the humane and ethical treatment of animals.

The ideal candidate is a hands on operator: someone who walks the building, knows the staff, builds strong systems and brings people together through open, inclusive leadership. Animal welfare experience is required. Candidates should bring senior leadership experience at a humane society, SPCA, shelter or animal control organization, bringing knowledge of shelter operations, managed intake, transport partnerships and municipal contracts.

Experience reporting to or working closely with a Board of Directors is expected. The person we seek balances creative thinking with management acumen and can strengthen policies and procedures to move the organization to a new level of excellence. The new leader must set clear priorities and follow through. Qualified candidates will have exceptional interpersonal skills, relate well to all constituencies and have a record of building local partnerships and coalitions.

The successful candidate will have significant financial management experience, including a solid understanding of nonprofit business principles and budget management. Demonstrated success in fundraising, particularly cultivating and securing major and planned gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations, is required.

Capital campaign experience is a plus. We seek a warm, credible communicator and community connector who will engage the Newport community, represent the Potter League with the media and respect the many perspectives of those who care about animal welfare. Strong personnel management skills are essential, including the ability to collaborate, listen, show humility, provide feedback, build morale, resolve conflict, delegate, make decisions and roll up one’s sleeves.

The candidate will be motivated by the best interests of the organization and bring high emotional intelligence, along with demonstrated success managing change, planning and forecasting. A minimum of ten years in a senior leadership role is required. A bachelor’s degree is desired and a graduate degree is preferred. CAWA credential is a plus.

SALARY & BENEFITS $200,000 to $250,000, with comprehensive benefits including medical, dental and vision as well as a retirement plan and other benefits. The Potter League for Animals is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity in backgrounds and perspectives and encourage qualified candidates of all identities and experiences to apply.