Foster Coordinator (1884)

COMPANION ANIMAL ALLIANCE; Baton Rouge (LA); On-site; USD 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

COMPANION ANIMAL ALLIANCE in Baton Rouge seeks a Foster Program Coordinator to coordinate and facilitate the placement of animals into foster care. You will work with multiple departments to identify animals suitable for fostering and recruit foster homes.

Responsibilities include managing foster placements based on behavior and medical needs, coordinating daily fostering activities, communicating with foster parents, and maintaining thorough records in Adopt-A-Pet and internal systems to ensure

Qualifications

• Follow the mission of CAA.
• Enjoy working with animals and have a genuine concern for their care and well-being.
• Familiar with shelter SOPs and Employee Manual.
• Self-starter.
• Knowledge of breeds, diseases, medical conditions, and animal handling/behavior.
• Ability to handle animals safely and with patience.
• Represent CAA professionally to the public, volunteers and staff.
• Create positive working relationships within CAA and with volunteers.
• Be patient, courteous and work well under stressful conditions.
• Read, write and communicate effectively.
• Learn and adapt to changes in programs and procedures.
• Familiarity with basic word processing systems and medical data management.
• Assist with or perform humane euthanasia.

Responsibilities

• Recruit and maintain a dynamic network of foster homes for shelter animals.
• Oversee the placement of animals into foster care based on behavioral, medical, space, and emergency needs.
• Coordinate daily activities related to fostering, including foster appointments, health checks, reminders, and pick-ups/returns.
• Observe and assess the shelter population and conduct meet and greets to match fosters.
• Coordinate foster-related outreach via social media and email to generate interest.
• Provide excellent customer service to foster parents, coworkers, volunteers, and shelter visitors.
• Answer calls and emails from potential foster parents promptly and informatively.
• Communicate with foster parents about available animals and assist with selection.
• Maintain detailed records for all foster parents and foster animals through data entry.
• Update animal pictures and biographies on Adopt-A-Pet, Petfinder, and in-house cards.
• Assist with care for animals going into or currently in foster care and handle animals safely.

Skills

Animal handling

Communication

Customer service

Organizational skills

Team player

Self-starter

Patience under stress

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Fear Free Shelter Certification

CAET within 1 year

Louisiana Driver’s License

Job description

Foster Program Coordinator Summary

Coordinate and facilitate the placement of animals into foster care. Work with various departments to identify animals that can be placed into foster care.

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Recruits and maintains a dynamic network of foster homes for shelter animals
• Oversees the placement of animals into foster care based on their behavioral, medical, space, and emergency needs, etc.
• Coordinates daily activities related to fostering, including foster appointments, health checks, medication/vaccine reminders, animal pick-ups/returns, etc.
• Observe and assess the shelter population, and conduct animal meet and greets to determine the best foster home based on animal behavior, breed, medical condition, etc.
• Coordinate foster related callouts via social media posts and email in order to generate interest for animals needing foster care.
• Provide excellent customer service to foster parents, coworkers, volunteers, and shelter visitors.
• Answer phone calls and emails from potential foster parents in a prompt, professional, and informative manner.
• Call, email, and use the volunteer database to communicate with foster parents about available shelter animals and assist foster parents with animal selection.
• Maintain detailed, up-to-date records for all foster parents and foster animals through data entry and file organization.
• Update animal pictures and biography information through Adopt-A-Pet, Petfinder, and in-house kennel cards.
• Assist with providing care for animals going into foster care and currently in foster care.
• Handle animals in a safe and humane manner.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to perform the essential functions of this position:

• Follow the mission of CAA
• Enjoy working with animals and have a genuine concern for their care and well-being.
• Be familiar with all shelter Standard Operating Procedures and the Employee Manual.
• Self-starter.
• 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 CAA in a professional manner in all situations with the public, volunteers and staff.
• Ability to create and sustain positive working relationships within CAA, with volunteers, the public and be a team player.
• Must be patient, courteous and work well under stressful conditions.
• Knowledge and ability to accurately work with detailed information in paper and computerized format.
• Ability to read, write and communicate effectively.
• Ability to learn and quickly adapt to changes in programs and procedures.
• Familiarity with basic word processing systems and medical data and management programs
• Assist with or perform humane euthanasia

Required Professional Licensing or Certifications:

• Fear Free Shelter Certification
• CAET is required within 1 year of employment with CAA
• Valid Louisiana State Driver’s License.
• High School Diploma or GED

Physical Demands:

The work is performed in all areas of the shelter and at offsite events. Typical positions require workers to walk or stand for short to moderate periods of time; lift and carry up to 40 pounds, climb stairs, bend, reach, hold, grasp, and turn objects.

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

This is a full-time position of 40 hours per week.

Employee Classification: Non-exempt