Animal Services Placement Coordinator

BARROW COUNTY; Georgia; On-site; USD 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Barrow County seeks a Placement Coordinator to develop and manage programs that maximize live release rates for the county animal shelter. You will coordinate adoptions, foster care, volunteers, and rescue transfers to minimize length of stay while ensuring public safety and regulatory compliance.

This safety-sensitive role requires a pre-employment drug test and ongoing random testing per county policy. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential in a public-service environment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; degree preferred in animal science or public administration.
• Two years in animal welfare, shelter ops, or volunteer coordination.
• Valid state driver's license with clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Rescue & Transport Coordination: liaison with local/national rescue partners; coordinate transport logistics, health certificates, and manifests.
• Foster Care System: recruit, onboard, train, and track foster volunteers; manage supplies and medical follow-ups.
• Adoption Operations: coordinate on-site and off-site promotions; streamline adoption process and review applications.
• Volunteer Integration: collaborate with volunteers to align tasks with enrichment, photography, marketing, and adoption-readiness goals.
• Population Review & Animal Flow: daily rounds to identify animals ready for placement or needing intervention.
• Data Management: maintain real-time records in shelter software regarding status, outcomes, and partner agreements.
• Public & Legal Compliance: ensure programs operate within ordinances and regulations; maintain public records documentation.

Skills

Rescue coordination

Volunteer management

Data management

Public compliance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Shelter database systems

Office software (MS/Google)

Job description

The Placement Coordinator performs professional and administrative work to develop, implement, and manage programs that maximize live release rates for the county animal shelter. This role focuses on minimizing the animals' length of stay by coordinating adoptions, foster care, volunteer engagement, and rescue group transfers. The coordinator works under general supervision but must exercise independent judgment to meet county live-release goals while maintaining public safety and regulatory compliance. This job is a safety sensitive position that will require a pre-employment drug test and subsequent random drug and alcohol testing in accordance with Barrow County Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace.

• Program Management & Placement
  • Rescue & Transport Coordination: Serve as the primary liaison for local and national 501(c)(3) rescue partners; coordinate out-of-state transport logistics, health certificates, and manifests.
  • Foster Care System: Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, training, and tracking of foster volunteers; manage the distribution of supplies and schedule medical follow-ups for animals in foster care.
  • Adoption Operations: Coordinate on-site and off-site adoption promotions; streamline the adoption process to reduce administrative barriers for residents. Review adoption applications and verify information provided.
  • Volunteer Integration: Collaborate with the volunteer network to align volunteer tasks directly with enrichment, photography, marketing, and adoption-readiness goals.
• Daily Operations & Animal Flow
  • Population Review: Conduct daily rounds with veterinary and behavioral staff to identify animals ready for placement or those requiring immediate intervention to prevent long-term confinement.
  • Data Management: Maintain precise, real-time records in the county's shelter software regarding animal status, outcomes, and partner agreements.
  • Public and Legal Compliance: Ensure all programs operate within local ordinances, state laws, and Department of Agriculture regulations. Maintain documentation subject to public records requests.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Education: High school diploma or GED required. An Associate's or Bachelor's degree in animal science, public administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience: Two (2) years of experience in animal welfare, shelter operations, or volunteer program coordination; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• License: Must possess and maintain a valid State Driver's License with an acceptable driving record.

Physical Requirements:

• The work is typically performed while intermittently sitting, standing, running, crawling, stooping, walking, bending, or crouching. The employee frequently lifts light and heavy objects, uses tools or equipment requiring a high degree of dexterity, distinguishes between shades of color, utilizes a sense of smell, and climbs objects.
• The work is typically performed in an office, library, computer room, or a very noisy place. The employee is exposed to dust, dirt, grease, contagious or infectious diseases or irritating chemicals, animal and human waste, and organic materials. The work is performed outdoors and occasionally in cold or inclement weather and requires the use of protective devices such as masks, goggles, and gloves.
• Physical Effort: Must be able to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 50 pounds independently. Requires standing, walking, bending, and kneeling for extended periods.

• Shelter Knowledge: Familiarity with the "Five Freedoms" of animal welfare, low-stress animal handling techniques, and standard shelter sanitization protocols.
• Government Literacy: Ability to learn, interpret, and apply county ordinances and state statutes regarding animal control and public safety.
• Technology: Proficiency with standard office software (Microsoft Office, Google Workspace) and dedicated shelter database management systems.
• De-escalation: Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to remain calm, professional, and empathetic when dealing with emotionally charged situations or difficult public interactions.