Foster Specialist (Part-Time Temporary)

San Diego Humane Society; Escondido (CA); On-site; USD 30,000 - 34,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Birthday Day Off

Comprehensive benefits package

403(b) retirement plan with 5% match

Free pet adoptions

Pet vaccines and spay/neuter services

Job summary

San Diego Humane Society seeks a part-time Temporary Foster Specialist for our Foster team at the Escondido Campus. You will care for vulnerable animals, support foster volunteers, and help manage animal populations with compassionate, personalized care.

The role offers 20 hours per week for ~39 weeks, with pay starting at $22.00–$24.48 per hour and a comprehensive benefits package. You’ll work closely with a dedicated team to ensure the highest standard of foster animal care.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• One year of paid full-time related experience working with animals in a kennel, shelter, or veterinary setting or equivalent.
• Ideal candidates with kittens, neonates, fostering, and nursery caregiving experience.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be approved to drive the company vehicle.
• Ability to work with diverse personalities and age groups.

Responsibilities

• Monitor animal progress during foster assignment, schedule vaccines and medical visits, and record updates in the management system.
• Arrange same-day placement for underage animals using foster resources.
• Proactively contact fosters about animals needing placement and update exit dates as needed.
• Minimize length of stay by guiding animals through processing steps.
• Ensure fosters follow care instructions and coordinate with Supervisor for deviations.
• Perform daily cleaning and feeding in the foster center, keeping areas clean and organized.
• Serve as a contact for foster emergencies, including rotating after-hours on-call.

Skills

Driver's license

Interpersonal skills

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Tools

Animal management software

Job description

San Diego Humane Society is hiring a part-time Temporary Foster Specialist for our Foster team!

How You’ll Impact Our Mission

At San Diego Humane Society, we’re united by our mission to Inspire Compassion. Foster Specialists are responsible for caring for vulnerable animals who need time away from the shelter, and supporting foster volunteers and animal population management.

This role delivers service at the gold standard level in alignment with the SDHS Way, to meet the needs of animals and the people who love them by leading with compassion, finding creative solutions, providing personalized care and building connections. If you’re passionate about making an impact in the animal welfare movement, we’d love to talk to you.

What’s in it for you?

At SDHS, we’re proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and commit to being a place where every person – staff, volunteer, and guest – can feel a sense of belonging. We support and invest in employees through conscious delivery of benefits and a workplace environment based on our Core Values.

As An Employee You’ll Enjoy

• Competitive pay and paid time-off (including your Birthday Day Off!)
• Comprehensive benefits package, training and well-being programs
• 403(b) retirement plan with 5% match after 1 year
• Free pet adoptions, pet vaccines and spay/neuter services
• …and so much more!

What You’ll Do

• Responsible for monitoring animal progress during entire foster assignment. This includes scheduling vaccine appointments, medical appointments, medical rechecks, behavior updates, and spay/neuter surgery. Responsible for recording of this information in animal management software.
• Secure appropriate, same day placement for underage animals using available foster placement resources.
• Proactively reach out to appropriate foster volunteers regarding animals who are seeking placement. Once placement has been found, update status as needed and document target exit date in animal’s record.
• Ensure the shortest length of stay for foster animals by monitoring pathways and moving animals to the next appropriate processing step.
• Ensure foster volunteer is following all instructions regarding animal’s care. If deviating from expectations or training/ medical plan, work with Supervisor/Manager to emphasize volunteer’s responsibilities and necessary actions.
• Complete daily cleaning and feeding routines of animals housed in foster center, maintaining assigned area in a clean, organized and professional manner.
• Serve as a point of contact for foster animal emergencies, including after-hours on a rotating on-call basis.

What We’re Looking For

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Requires one (1) year of paid full time progressively responsible related experience working with animals in a kennel, shelter, or veterinary hospital, or any equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ideal candidates will have a high level of experience with kittens, neonates, fostering, and/or nursery caregiving.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and be approved by SDHS insurance carrier to drive a company or personal vehicle for work purposes.
• Must have ability to work effectively with diverse personalities and various age groups in a positive manner.

Location & Hours

Based at our Escondido Campus. This position works approximately 20 hours per week and will last for approximately 39 weeks.

Pay

Starting range is between $22.00 – $24.48 per hour.

The listed hiring range for this position depicts the target range of pay rates for candidates. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. Compensation for internal candidates may increase beyond the listed range based on performance over time. For all candidates, the actual starting pay rate is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to your years of related education and experience, internal pay equity, and position location.

To learn more about our benefits and perks, click here.