Welcome To Canine Adventure Den - Applying For The Dog Daycare and Boarding Manager Position

Full-Time Facility Manager

The Adventure Den

$58,000–$70,000/year + Performance Bonus  |  Dog-Friendly Workplace

Location: East Vancouver, BC

Hours: 5 days/week (includes weekends/holidays)

About This Role

The Adventure Den provides premium dog daycare and overnight boarding for cats and dogs. Our clients trust us to care for their pets like family. We’re looking for an experienced, autonomous leader to take full ownership of our facility — someone who can run the day-to-day operation independently while building a high-performing team underneath them.

Our Purpose

We help pets be a more valued member of their family by providing an amazing care experience while their parents are away.

Our Values

Together — We are in this together. We respect and look out for one another. We know we’re all human, and we can’t do any of this alone.

Inspired — We are passionate about what we do and know that we are connected to something greater than ourselves.

Inventive — We are creators, leaders, and self-starters. We try new things, continuously learn, challenge convention, and we’re not afraid to fail.

Authentic — We are genuine to our brand, purpose, and values. We’re not perfect, and we don’t pretend to be. We are always transparent and do the right thing — even when no one is looking.

Tenacious — We never settle. We get stuff done and we get it done really well. We are determined to do this better.

Playful — Life should be fun. We like to laugh. Let’s play!

What You’ll Own

Location P&L and Financial Performance

• Prepare, review, and present monthly financial reports to ownership
• Track revenue and expenses, analyze fluctuations, and take action to maintain healthy margins
• Plan and manage expenses to target percentages of revenue
• Oversee day-to-day banking reconciliation
• Drive occupancy and utilization through inside sales at front desk and proactive client outreach

Team Leadership and Development

• Recruit, hire, and when necessary, terminate team members
• Build and develop senior team members capable of handling escalated decisions independently — this is a critical first-year priority
• Create and continually update training manuals and operational processes
• Set work schedules and manage labour costs in alignment with budget targets, balancing senior and part-time staffing
• Lead by example with a hands-on, solutions-driven approach
• Provide clear, constructive feedback and be equally open to receiving it
• Foster career growth within the team and create defined development pathways

Customer Experience and Sales

• Lead inside sales — drive bookings for daycare and boarding through genuine relationship-building with clients
• Handle customer concerns in a manner consistent with our values
• Oversee behaviour assessments for prospective guests and manage communications with owners regarding assessment outcomes or behavioural issues
• Review pet vaccine certificates and conduct routine health assessments on all guests

Facility Operations

• Maintain facility standards to a level of excellence — cleanliness, safety, and brand consistency at all times
• Manage supplier relationships and procurement (cleaning products, office supplies, food, and more), consistently sourcing the best value
• Develop, implement, and evaluate operational policies and procedures
• Make veterinary care decisions when a client or emergency contact cannot be reached, escalating to ownership when needed
• Attend monthly management meetings and proactively flag opportunities or risks

On-Call and Emergency Responsibilities

This is a 365-day boarding operation, and emergencies don’t wait for business hours. This role carries on-call responsibility under a tiered escalation system that you will design and implement:

Tier 1 — Handled by Senior Team on Shift: Staff scheduling changes, minor supply issues, routine pet behaviour management. Your first-year goal is to build a senior team capable of handling these situations without your involvement.

Tier 2 — Manager by Phone: Pet injury requiring assessment, client complaints requiring management judgment, moderate facility issues. You direct the response remotely and determine whether on-site presence is needed.

Tier 3 — Manager On-Site: Veterinary emergencies requiring transport decisions, serious safety incidents, critical facility emergencies (e.g., flooding, power loss, security issues). You come in and take charge.

Building the team capability and documentation to support this tiered system is one of your most important deliverables in the first 6–12 months. Until your senior team is ready, you should expect a higher frequency of direct involvement across all tiers.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary: $58,000–$68,000/year depending on experience
• Performance bonus: Up to 10% of base salary, tied to occupancy targets, revenue growth, client retention, and labour cost management
• Health Spending Account
• Free or discounted pet boarding and daycare for your own pets
• Dog-friendly workplace — bring your dog to work

What You Bring

• Proven leadership experience in hospitality, hotel, retail, or a service-based environment
• Demonstrated ability to manage a P&L or location budget
• Track record of building and developing teams
• Strong sales instincts — comfortable driving revenue through client relationships
• Clear, confident communicator who leads with integrity and compassion
• Excellent time management and the ability to prioritize competing demands
• Problem-solver with an entrepreneurial mindset
• A genuine love for animals and alignment with our values

Where This Role Leads

This is a leadership position with real autonomy and a direct line to ownership. As the business grows, so does the scope of this role. Strong performance opens pathways into multi-location oversight, operational leadership across the broader business, or deeper specialization in an area you’re passionate about. We invest in people who invest in us.

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