Shelter Operations Coordinator

Ellen M. Gifford Cat Shelter; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Gifford Cat Shelter in Boston, MA is seeking a hands-on Shelter Operations Coordinator to oversee daily shelter operations, volunteer engagement, adoptions, and direct animal care. The role blends administrative tasks with frontline animal welfare to ensure excellent experiences for visitors, adopters, and volunteers.

Ideal candidates are highly organized, eager to learn, and comfortable thriving in a fast-paced nonprofit setting.

Qualifications

• Must have passion for cats.
• Experience in operations, volunteer coordination or customer service is valued.
• Background in nonprofit administration or hospitality helps.
• Experience with people management and multitasking is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Assist in day-to-day shelter operations management.
• Coordinate shelter operations across adoptions, volunteers, foster care, medical care, facilities, fundraising, marketing, intake, technology, inventory.
• Perform daily cat care duties: feeding, cleaning, water, litter, sanitation.
• Monitor cats for health and behavior; relay concerns to supervisor and follow guidance.
• Assist in medicating cats as directed by veterinarian or manager.
• Interact politely with visitors and adopters; screen applications and match cats to owners.
• Record keeping: medical sheets, medication logs, task lists.
• Restock supplies and communicate low inventory to management.
• Guide and support volunteers with tasks and training.

Skills

Operations experience

Volunteer coordination

Customer service

Nonprofit administration

Hospitality

Animal welfare

People management

Job description

Are you interested in a full-time opportunity that impacts the lives of homeless cats?

Gifford Cat Shelter is seeking a hands-on Shelter Operations Coordinator to help oversee the daily operations of their free-roam, no-kill cat shelter. This role combines operations, volunteer coordination, adoptions, and direct animal care to ensure their cats receive exceptional care and their visitors, adopters, and volunteers have a positive experience.

Gifford is looking for someone who is organized, adaptable, and eager to learn. While previous animal care experience is a plus, they welcome candidates with transferable operations or customer-facing experience who are passionate about their mission and ready to jump in wherever needed.

Who Will Thrive in This Role

This role is ideal for someone who is highly organized, enjoys working with people, and isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves. They are happy to train the right candidate who is:

• Passionate about cats and animal welfare
• A quick learner with a strong work ethic
• Comfortable balancing administrative responsibilities with hands-on shelter work
• Calm, compassionate, and able to make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment
• Excited to work alongside volunteers, staff, adopters, and community members

Candidates with backgrounds in nonprofit operations, hospitality, retail management, customer service, education, healthcare, veterinary support, or other people-focused operational roles are encouraged to apply.

Major Responsibilities

• Assist in the management of day-to-day shelter operations
• Support and coordinate shelter operations across adoptions, volunteer engagement, foster coordination, medical and behavioral care, facilities, fundraising, marketing, intake, technology, and inventory management
• Perform daily cat care duties such as preparing food, feeding and providing water, cleaning and disinfecting cat areas, washing litter boxes, tools, and dishes, sweeping and mopping floors, and washing debris from walls, beds, and any other areas
• Monitor healthy, sick, quarantined, and injured cats for unusual physical and behavioral conditions; communicate concerns to the shelter manager and act upon feedback
• Medicate or assist in the medication of cats, as directed by the shelter’s veterinarian or shelter manager
• Interface politely with people visiting the shelter
• Responsible for screening adoption applicants, matching cats to potential owners, and introducing cats to the public, while providing information regarding pet-owner responsibilities, spaying, neutering, vaccinations, and adoptions, and collecting donations and adoption fees
• Receive cats to be admitted for shelter care and properly identify and release animals to their owners, as directed by the Shelter Manager
• Complete various records and forms such as medical sheets, logs of controlled medication dispensed, task lists
• Restock supplies through the building, noting low inventory to management
• Work alongside and guide volunteer activities, providing tips and knowledge, as necessary

Preferred Qualifications

• Must have a passion for cats!
• Several years of experience in operations, volunteer coordination, customer service, nonprofit administration, hospitality, veterinary, animal welfare, or other roles requiring strong organization, multitasking, and people management
• Highly organized, driven and detail-oriented
• Gifford Cat Shelter is staffed 365 days a year; ability to work one weekend day per week required
• Must be able to lift, move, or carry cats or objects weighing up to 40 lbs.
• Driver's License required

The mission of Gifford Cat Shelter is to provide a haven for stray, abused, and unwanted cats until they are matched with their permanent loving homes. At Gifford, cats are free to roam and play. They nap in sunny windows, get plenty of exercise, and enjoy tons of love and attention while they wait for their forever homes. A no-kill shelter, Gifford believes that all cats should have a chance to live their lives free of pain and fear. No matter their story, every Gifford cat has a future to look forward to. And until they find their new homes, they'll spend their days in bright, open environments, getting all the love they need!

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