POSITION: Animal Protection Specialist

STATUS: Permanent; Full-Time with advantages

SHIFT: 35 Hours per week

LOCATION: Primarily remote within BC

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

WAGE: Salaried

CLOSING DATE: Open Until Filled

About the Position:

The Animal Protection Specialist is responsible for delivering specialized insight and recommendations regarding the practical application of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA Act) to BC SPCA staff to support effective enforcement across the province. This position is also responsible for reviewing animal protection enforcement case files to identify any areas of significant risk, trends or opportunities to enhance excellence that could be addressed through additional support and training. In addition, this position provides subject matter expertise in discussions related to training and development as it relates to the BC SPCA’s law enforcement functions.

Where time allows and as appropriate, this position may be required to take on animal protection case files in non-unionized areas.

Primary Key Responsibilities:

- Answers questions about and provides expert guidance on enforcement of the PCA Act, and other applicable laws related to the BC SPCA’s animal protection work across the province of BC.
- This advice is then used to support good decision making and application of process by various Animal Services staff, including but not limited to: Animal Protection Officers and Regional Managers Keeps a central repository of questions to create reports and analyze trends.

- Works with Legal Counsel, Senior Director, Animal Protection Services, and external subject matter experts to develop best practices for delivery of animal protection province-wide.



This includes, but is not limited to, incorporating best practices associated with concepts of one health/one welfare, principled policing and enforcement using a social justice lens in alignment with strategic plan and our foundational principles for equity, diversity and reconciliation.
- Stays up to date on developments in the law and trends in legal decisions in order to be able to share this information and use it to review processes and training needs.
- Maintains and updates a centralized library of standardized operating procedures, training materials, forms, and policies for animal protection investigations.
- Conducts regular case file reviews in Animal Protection areas.

- Provides specific information to Regional Managers to address with their teams, as required.
- Provides trends and areas of opportunity to Legal Counsel, Senior Director - Protection, and Senior Director - Sheltering for further discussion and to improve overall consistency and excellence across the province.

- Assists in risk identification and mitigation through updated policies and procedural reviews.

- Contributes to the creation and regular updating of the departmental risk register.





- Acts as one of the BC SPCA’s points of contact for RCMP/police to provide assistance on how to do Information to Obtain Search Warrants (ITOs) and to consult on cases, as required.

- Depending on level of risk and subject matter, escalates to Legal Counsel – Animal Protection or Senior Director, Animal Protection Services as necessary.

- Reviews and improves document management systems (OneDrive, Shelter Buddy, resource libraries).
- Ensures the BC SPCA’s Court Form database is kept up to date.

Learning Support (30%):

- Leads regular community of practice meetings with Animal Protection staff, focused on sharing of information around best practices and continuous learning.
- Acts as subject matter expert on the development of law enforcement-related training.
- Collaborates with Training & Development Specialist to create any required in-house courses, workshops, and learning materials.
- May deliver live courses, workshops and information sessions, as required either in-person or virtually.

- Develops an annual training calendar for initial and ongoing education for law enforcement staff, including but not limited to:

- Planning and organizing group training opportunities, both in person and virtual – including sourcing and coordinating speakers, logistics, working within budget, and obtaining feedback.
- Coordinating ride-alongs.
- Consulting calendars of external training providers and notifying officers and the BC SPCA broadly of such opportunities for maintaining current qualifications and developing new skills as it relates to law enforcement activities.
- Tracks law enforcement staff training activity and works with People Services to ensure this is reflected in official employment records.

- Support

📌 Animal Protection Specialist (Canada)
🏢 Colonial Group
📍 Canada