Volunteer & Foster Coordinator

Please make sure to attach your resume to complete your application.

Summary:

The Foster and Volunteer Coordinator facilitates deep engagement in the mission of the ASPCA through recruitment, support and celebration of dedicated foster care providers, placement partners, volunteers and responders at the Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio. At the CRC, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in ASPCA national cruelty cases and disaster responses. This team works closely with the ASPCA’s National Field Response (NFR), Veterinary Forensics, Legal Advocacy& Investigations (LAI), Behavioral Sciences (BST) and Shelter Medicine Services (SMS) teams to ensure well-coordinated operations and high-quality care for animal victims of neglect, abuse and natural disasters. The CRC team also provides care for animals housed in ASPCA temporary field shelters.

The Foster and Volunteer Coordinator (the Coordinator) works under the direction of the Senior Manager, Foster and Placement. Using best practices, innovative programs and measurable outcomes, the Coordinator will support the team responsible for expediting the placement of this unique population of animals. They will support efforts to place animals directly from the CRC through innovative marketing, meet and greets, and adoption events and they will also work with a centralized ASPCA animal placement team to support the processes necessary to ensure placement via relocation to partner shelters and rescue groups. As animals flow through the system, from rescue to outcome, the Coordinator will support the maintenance of precise medical, behavioral and forensic records. Many animals at the CRC are considered evidence in criminal cases and require detailed tracking through every step of their rehabilitation and placement. In addition to supporting the work of the Senior Manager, Foster and Placement, the Coordinator will also be responsible for providing coverage and support to the CRC’s Volunteer Program including but not limited to; approving itineraries, booking travel arrangements, and reviewing timecards to ensure accuracy. Perhaps the most critical function of the Coordinator will be to serve as part of a harmonious, united team of shelter operations, veterinary, and animal behavior experts, all dedicated to collaborating to provide balanced, integrated care.

To succeed in this role, the Coordinator will possess excellent people skills and time management skills in addition to paying meticulous attention to detail. The Coordinator will champion all animal populations enthusiastically and realistically to foster families, potential adopters, and placement partners and be fluent in major aspects of their well-being. The Coordinator will actively build and support volunteer, foster, and responder relationships, ensuring positive experiences for participants of the program.

The application deadline for this position is 5pm EST on May 7th, 2024.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Program Support and Maintenance (85%)

Under the direction of the Senior Manager, Foster and Placement, follow strategy, program plans and tactics to realize key results for foster program

Seek out, learn and implement best practices in the fields related to foster care and volunteer programs

Assist with actively recruiting, training and retaining fosters, volunteers and responders

Establish and maintain regular communications with fosters, volunteers and responders to increase engagement and provide training

Ensure all volunteer applications, documentation and credentials are managed, updated and organized.

Create and manage applications and automations for foster and volunteer databases

Communicate with volunteers via phone and email to provide general updates and respond to inquiries

Support the work of the Senior Manager, Volunteers & Responders as directed

Cultivate positive and productive relationships to support positive animal outcomes

Update robust foster and volunteer manuals reflecting best practices and priorities of the animal population

Establish and maintain regular communications with fosters, volunteers and responders, in conjunction with Senior Managers, to increase engagement and provide training

Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques

Work closely with operations, medical and behavior to assign appropriate foster volunteers to specific animals

Develop innovative methods to market animals for direct adoption

Assist with providing educational programs for foster families and for volunteers

Regularly monitor the metrics, volume and animal flow into and out of foster care; adjust operations as needed to improve service and efficiency

Monitor and support volunteer and responder scheduling

Ensure all foster volunteers receive comprehensive training in disease control and prevention in their home, animal handling and safety techniques

Ensure all foster families are provided direct, transparent communication about the purpose of their foster assignment and that those fostering animals with medical and/or behavioral risks understand that humane euthanasia may be the appropriate outcome for the animal

In conjunction with the Medical, Behavior and Operations teams, establish and increase engagement, provide training and develop ongoing educational programs for volunteer families

Manage a robust cache of supplies utilized by foster families in home and by volunteers in shelter

Ensure needed animal follow-up tests and procedures are completed in a timely manner, in conjunction with Legal Advocacy & Investigations, Forensics and Medical

Attend workshops for animal welfare professionals to expand the sheltering, rehabilitation and recovery work of the ASPCA; share learning with the entire team upon return

Collaborate consistently with other ASPCA departments, prioritizing alignment in operations and practices across departments

Maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with criminal cases

Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Managers

Temporary Sheltering (15%):

Assist with planning and arrangements for placement/foster for temporary sheltering operations in the field

When appropriate, work with local communities affected by disasters to return rescued animals to their owners and find placement for unclaimed animals

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values:

Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals

Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes

Believes in Team – that we are stronger together

Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible

Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:

Demonstrated exceptional client services skills; solution-focused problem-solver

Demonstrated exceptional skills in supporting programs

Excellent people-management skills

Ability to work well with foster families, volunteers and responders

Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals and have a genuine interest in leading others

Maintains a consistently positive attitude; must enjoy working directly with people; respects team members at all levels

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Flexible communicator; ability to interact with diverse personalities and groups

Meticulous organizational skills; pays close attention to detail

Works efficiently and calmly in a quick-paced changing environment

Works well under pressure; willing to work long hours

Adapts to a flexible work schedule and willingness to be on-call for last-minute deployments

Relishes troubleshooting and problem solving

Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

Ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals in an environment where euthanasia is performed

Low stress animal handling and restraint skills preferred

Administrative and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint required

Ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day

Ability to drive a vehicle

Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques

Education:

B.S. or B.A. preferred, High School Diploma or GED required

Language

English (required)

Additional Information

At least one year of work/volunteer experience in an animal welfare setting (i.e. animal shelter, clinic, rescue, etc.) is required; 2+ years of experience is preferred.

Veterinary medical and/or companion animal behavior experience preferred

Animal first aid skills preferred

Fear Free Shelter certification in required within 60 days of hire

Low Stress Handling® University Silver-Level certification is required within six months of hire

Knowledge of and experience working within Incident Command System (ICS) structure preferred; completion of IS-700.b, IS-800.d, IS-100.c, and IS-200.c training courses within 3 months of employment required

Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history; Must possess a valid Ohio driver’s license within 90 days of hire

Ability and willingness to travel up to 30% of the time as needed (Please note, travel requirements may be modified temporarily due in part to COVID-19; this remains a requirement of the position, and we expect normal travel volume to resume as the organization resumes normal operations)

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

The target hiring range for this role is $23.40/hr - $24.84/hr

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

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Qualifications:See above for qualifications details.

Language:English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:High School Diploma

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

Please don’t forget to attach your resume to complete your application.

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