Job Description

Animal Foster Coordinator

 

Summary: Foster Coordinator orchestrates alternative temporary placement for shelter animals in need of more specialized care, in a home environment. Foster Coordinator oversees all aspects of placement and care: marketing the pets in need of foster homes, ensuring proper and humane care while in the foster home, training and support of foster volunteers, coordinating vaccinations and medical care, and the timely return of foster pets for adoption. Throughout the process the Foster Coordinator will be responsible for communication with other departments, in order to be successful.

Essential Functions:

Specific duties of the Foster Coordinator include, but are not limited to:

• Recruit, train, mentor, supervise, and serve as primary contact for foster volunteers. Establish positive relationships with foster volunteers, while ensuring compliance with all HSNT SOPs and policies.
• Facilitate movement of shelter animals into foster care and oversee continuous care until their scheduled adoption return. This includes coordinating vaccinations, health checks, and spay/neuter surgery.
• Ensure all foster animals have clear, appropriate photos before returning to the shelter for adoption. Update Petango adoption descriptions as well.
• Monitor health and behavior of animals in foster care and report any important findings/issues to medical personnel, behavior personnel or Foster & Volunteer Manager.
• Coordinate with Veterinary Technician and/or Shelter Veterinarian, as appropriate, for foster animals to receive medical checks and treatments.
• Counsel and/or demonstrate the management for basic behavioral issues (with a focus on positive reinforcement techniques).
• Keep all foster materials and programs up to date. Provide appropriate orientation materials, manuals, and handouts to all foster volunteers.
• Develop and maintain specialized foster parent training programs to ensure growth of foster programs. For example, kitten/puppy rearing and socialization, bottle feeding, basic obedience, behavior modification, etc.
• Oversee and provide a response within 24 hrs to all foster communications: email, cell phone, office phone, text. Prioritize response by need (medical, etc.)
• Oversee and provide rapid response to foster animal emergencies. When on-call after hours and overnight, must have a plan in place for quickly and efficiently responding to various foster emergencies.
• Establish and communicate emergency protocols for foster volunteers.
• Post and create engagement in the Foster Hero Facebook Community page.
• Keep all staff up to date on changes to foster programs; provide staff training for foster program procedures as needed.
• Uphold the shelter’s values and mission statement during interactions with the public and other staff.
• Ensure foster animal and foster volunteer information is accurate in PetPoint.
• Manage the foster database using a combination of PetPoint and Google Drive.
• Coordinate with Foster & Volunteer Manager to send out a monthly newsletter to all foster volunteers with updates, events, and other pertinent information
• Attend special events pertinent to foster programs.
• Be an active part of humane euthanisia decisions for foster pets, when needed.
• Establish and update Foster SOPs and policies with Foster & Volunteer manager, to create opportunity for continuous growth.

Knowledge, Skill, and Abilities Needed to Perform the Essential Functions of this Position:

• Working knowledge of breeds, diseases, medical conditions, and animal handling and behavior.
• Ability to handle animals safely and with patience and gentleness.
• Ability to represent the Humane Society of North Texas in a professional manner in all situations with the public, volunteers, and staff.
• Ability to create and sustain positive working relationships within the Humane Society of North Texas, with volunteers, the public, and be a team player.
• Must be patient and work well under stressful conditions.
• Knowledge and ability to accurately work with detailed information in paper and computerized format.
• Must be detail oriented and have strong time management skills.
• Proficient or able to become proficient within 6 weeks: social media platforms, webinar software, ZOOM, Google Suite; Gmail, Google Doc, Google Sheets.
• Experienced working with the public providing excellent customer service.
• Must be able to deal with an often fast-paced and changing workload, which at times can be stressful.

Physical Demands

• Must be able to work standing for 6 or more hours and be able to bend/kneel repeatedly and have a reasonable degree of agility to move through tightly cramped areas in various situations.
• Must be able to work in appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when handling animals. This may include gown, gloves, booties, eyewear.
• By nature of the industry, consistently exposed to animals/animal allergens. There also may be occasional exposure to dead, sick, unruly, and/or dangerous animals, as well as exposure to parasites and infectious diseases.
• While performing the duties of this job, you may be exposed to animal odors or airborne particles.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Must be able to regularly lift and/or move up to 40 pounds without assistance, up to 80 pounds with assistance.

Working Conditions

• The individual performing this job may be required to work more than 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a week.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required by the individual. Other duties than those listed herein may be assigned.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $15.00 - $16.50 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• What are your salary requirements?

Experience:

• Animal handling: 1 year (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

*Please mention you saw this ad on AcademicJobs.*

Apply Now