Summary:

Are you a friendly, detail-oriented people-person who thrives in creating efficiency? Do you excel at open, effective communications to keep things on track in a fast-paced, dynamic environment? Are you passionate about animal welfare and the goodness of people and do you possess a strong interest in finding opportunities for people to help cats in a real and tangible way?  If so, you should consider the role of Foster Coordinator to be part of a committed Kitten Nursery team working to support kittens and nursing queens in New York City.

The Kitten Nursery cares for hundreds of underage kittens and their mothers in a dedicated nursery environment as well as through an expanding foster program. Once these kittens are healthy and happy 8-week-olds, the Kitten Nursery helps them get ready for adoption through the ASPCA Adoption Center and transfer to partner shelters. 

The Foster Coordinator (the Coordinator) facilities the deep engagement in the mission of the ASPCA through the recruitment, management, support and celebration of hundreds of dedicated foster volunteers. The Coordinator will play a key role in ensuring the health and well-being of the foster population by providing support and training for our foster volunteers as well as logistical needs, including scheduling medical check-up appointments and returns to the Adoption Center. The Coordinator will organize animal intake, movement, scheduling, and transfers to help maximize the efficiency and impact of Nursery operations and ensure positive outcomes for felines in this program.

To succeed in this role, the Coordinator will possess excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and be committed to foster volunteer training, development, coaching and oversight. The Coordinator will champion the feline population enthusiastically to foster volunteers and be fluent in all aspects of feline well-being. Success also hinges on the Coordinator’s ability to partner effectively with medical, behavior, shelter and placement subject matter experts to ensure holistic, interdisciplinary support for foster volunteers and foster animals. In addition, partnership with the Adoption Center Volunteer and Foster teams will be critical, ensuring high standards in client care and service delivery are met for foster volunteers and foster animals across departments and programs.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

• Cultivate positive, trusting and productive relationships between staff and foster volunteers; support colleagues in working and communicating effectively with foster volunteers.
• Provide all foster volunteers with comprehensive training in disease control and prevention in their home, animal handling and safety techniques
• Provide supervision, modeling, coaching and ongoing guidance for foster families.
• Provide exceptional customer service to ASPCA foster volunteers at all times, in all forums.
• Provide foster volunteers with direct, transparent communication about the purpose, expectations and sensitivities related to their role, and actively build foster volunteer understanding that humane euthanasia may ultimately be the appropriate outcome for some animals
• Respond effectively, with compassion and in a timely manner, to emergencies involving foster animals and/or foster volunteers, in line with organizational, departmental and foster program guidelines.
• Ensure sufficient and appropriate supplies are distributed to the foster volunteers
• Manage a “foster on deck” process to find foster placement from the ASPCA’s database of volunteers in a timely manner ensuring efficient flow of animals into care
• Participate in daily Nursery Rounds meetings and, in partnership with the Animal Logistics Manager and Director of Operations, ensure that animals are moving efficiently into and through foster homes, the Nursery, and Adoption Center; make adjustments to operations as needed to improve service and efficiency
• Partner closely with Adoption Center, Kitten Nursery and interdepartmental teams to build and maintain fluency and collaboration across programs.
• Maintain a foster tracking database in Airtable of an average of 200 foster animals at once, monitoring daily animal population in foster, managing casework, and providing daily check ins with foster volunteers
• Work closely with the Adoption Center Animal Welfare, Medical, and Admissions & Placement teams to coordinate appropriate animal selection, intake, and return from foster that meets animals’ needs and ensures humane and efficient animal flow
• Coordinate with the medical and behavior teams to manage a streamlined approach for medical or behavioral support needed for new intakes, animals housed on site, and fosters
• Schedule appropriate services, including recheck examinations, spay/neuter, and hospital appointments, to coincide with foster returns and timely, efficient movement throughout an animal’s stay
• Update PetPoint, Airtable, and volunteer management databases as necessary for movement of animals as well as scheduling of appointments; assist with medical data into records for foster recheck and return appointments
• Notify veterinarians and behavior staff of animal status changes and ensure changes are accurately reflected in PetPoint
• Ensure all animals have received appropriate foster medical discharges and/or adoption medical discharges prior to placement or transfer to the Adoption Center
• Guide Nursery staff in working effectively with foster volunteers
• Alternate leading weekly foster rounds meetings, and participate fully in weekly to bi-weekly team meetings
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

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:

• Knowledge of basic animal care and low stress handling
• Able to understand and communicate using appropriate veterinary medical terminology
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Able to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on Kitten Nursery and patient needs
• Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and tasks
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Must be comfortable sharing difficult information, such as humane euthanasia decisions or constructive feedback to foster volunteers
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Able to maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office; Familiarity with Airtable a plus. Familiarity with PetPoint, Impromed or other shelter and veterinary software systems a plus
• Must be able to bend, stand, lift 40 pounds frequently and engage in repetitive motions throughout a shift
• Must be comfortable working in close proximity to cats and cat litter  

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. 

For hourly roles: the target hiring range for this role is $26.75-27.75 per hour

For more information on our benefits offerings, click here.

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Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

  

Language:

English (Required), Spanish

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma (Required)

  

1-2 years experience in an animal shelter or veterinary practice setting, Fear Free certified or obtained within 60 days of employment, Previous experience working in a kitten nursery and/or with shelter foster programs preferred

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).