Specialist, Lifesaving Outcomes

Best Friends; New York (NY); On-site; USD 33,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary bonus

Medical, dental, vision

Life insurance

9 paid holidays

401(k)

Job summary

Best Friends Animal Society in New York, NY, seeks a Specialist, Lifesaving Outcomes to advance adoptions, transports and foster care across our lifesaving programs. You will work closely with the animal care team to develop enrichment plans, train volunteers, and coordinate with adopters and transfer partners to maximize lifesaving outcomes.

Responsibilities include coaching staff and volunteers, documenting behavior plans, and supporting community outreach while upholding our no-kill mission.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• Dog training and behavior knowledge required; experience helping dogs manage stress.
• Customer-centric approach to engaging adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate kindness and respect for people and animals.
• Build enrichment and training plans for the animal care teams and volunteers.
• Coordinate with staff and partners to maximize lifesaving outcomes and successful adoptions.

Skills

Dog training

Behavior knowledge

Customer service

Volunteer coaching

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Tools

Shelterluv

Job description

Specialist, Lifesaving Outcomes - New York, NY

The Best Friend's Mission is to do nothing short of making history by bringing about a time when there are No More Homeless Pets. Our goal is that every animal shelter in every community in the country be no kill.

The fact is, we have a great culture, populated by fun, dedicated, and brilliant people. But we're always looking for talented people who can help us make history, and that's where you come in.

Location: 307 West Broadway, New York City, NY 11206

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $24.00 to $26.00 per hour, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Summary: Lifesaving Outcomes Specialists are responsible for the daily functions and growth of lifesaving outcome programs including adoptions, transports/transfers and foster care of animals in our program locations. These Specialists act with urgency to accomplish important tasks and play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society’s no-kill mission and organizational success. While this role includes responsibilities in all outcome-focused programs, these specialists receive intensive assignments in a program related to behavior, training, and enrichment for both dogs and cats.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict.
• Build enrichment, training and animal management capabilities for the animal care teams, fosters and volunteers through one-on-one coaching and group class work; assisting with specific situations as identified by animal care leadership, with the goal of reducing length of stay and increasing positive outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, and fosters to identify individual animals in our program who need additional enrichment or behavioral support and proactively strategize solutions. Develop and implement appropriate training and enrichment plans with the goal of supporting successful adoption and retention. Empower staff, volunteers, and fosters to enhance their ability to provide behavioral support for animals in our program, both at the lifesaving center and in foster care, as well as provide appropriate post-adoption behavioral support. Ensure all necessary behavioral documentation, including behavior plans, recommendations, and disclosures, is accurate, current, and accessible to staff, volunteers, and the general public.
• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of community outreach and engagement and operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and record keeping.
• Work directly with and support volunteers on all aspects and protocols of lifesaving care and outcome programs, including program protocols, cleaning protocols, specific animal behavior and care, animal handling, transportation requirements and procedures, data entry, and communications with the goal of maximizing meaningful volunteer contributions.
• Lead and empower volunteers and volunteer teams in support of community outreach programs with the goal of utilizing volunteers to the greatest extent possible to expand Best Friends lifesaving capacity; particularly with behavioral support and onsite enrichment for animals at the center.
• Develop a general knowledge of the animals in the Best Friends’ care; deliver superior customer service, assist adopters, fosters and transfer partners by gathering information to match them with appropriate animals, arranging introductions, pet to pet meets; acquiring/providing medical records, health certificates (when necessary), follow-ups as needed or required.
• Maintain a safe workplace, value, and model safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and addressing or communicating to leadership about unsafe practices and conditions.

Skills and Experience:

• High School Diploma or GED and a minimum of 2 years’ experience working in an animal shelter with dogs of varying sizes, personalities, and behavioral challenges.
• Dog training and behavior knowledge and experience to include theory, training techniques, and an interest to pursue continued learning in the field; experience helping dogs manage/reduce stress and in utilizing management techniques to keep yourself safe while doing so within a shelter environment.
• Previous work experience in animal handling and facilitating adoptions required. Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle all cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with an open adoption process.
• General companion animal knowledge, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs including medicating, socializing, and basic behavior modification/management techniques.
• Ability to speak on, and professionally advocate for, Best Friends’ position on issues, including public speaking, presentations, and consulting.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with the public, adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with an open adoption process.
• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until lifesaving outcome goals are achieved.
• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software (Best Friends uses Shelterluv), or desire to learn.

Physical Requirements:

• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.
• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.
• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.
• Valid driver’s license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards; ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.
• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, and holiday work.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.

Culture Statement and Responsibility

We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and following through on commitments. We prioritize well-being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress. By consistently aligning our actions with our Guiding Principles, we strengthen our culture and ensure that our values are lived every day.

Best Friends received a 2022 Top Workplaces USA award from Energage.

Visit the Best Friends Animal Society page on the Energage Top Workplaces award winners' site here to learn more. Not only do we take pride in cultivating a welcoming and supportive community and culture for our employees, but we also offer competitive benefits that make it easy to see why we were granted such an awesome award. We offer competitive pay including the opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on performance. We offer medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, short- and long-term disability, dependent care reimbursement, pet sitting reimbursement when traveling for work, flexible spending account, and health savings account. We offer generous paid time off, nine paid holidays annually, an auto insurance discount, and legal and identity theft coverage. For added well-being support, we offer pawternity leave for employees to have time to care for their personal pets, mental health support, and an employee assistance program. We also offer a generous 401(k) savings plan.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status. Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.