Volunteer & Foster Programs Coordinator

St Mary's County Government; California (MD); On-site; USD 48,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

St Mary’s County Government seeks an experienced professional to plan, develop, and monitor the volunteer services program for the Animal Shelter Division. You will recruit, train, evaluate volunteers, and build a rescue and foster network to enhance outcomes for the shelter population.

Responsibilities include policy development, scheduling, supervising volunteers, training, reporting, and representing the department to local groups and schools.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Three years of direct professional animal handling experience in an animal shelter or nonprofit environment, including one year of supervisory experience.
• Any acceptable combination of education, training and relevant experience that provides the above knowledges, abilities and skills may be substituted on a full-time year for year basis.

Responsibilities

• Develops and recommends policies and procedures for volunteer, rescue, and foster programs.
• Works with supervisors to identify needs and opportunities for volunteers and designs programs to fill those needs.
• Recruits, coordinates, and schedules volunteers, rescue partners, and fosters for the shelter based on need and priority.
• Ensures volunteers and fosters are trained by preparing training materials and procedural guides; trains volunteers and fosters on subjects such as program procedures, departmental policies, applicable laws, and techniques for dealing effectively with the public; scheduling volunteers and fosters for training on the humane handling of animals.
• Monitors and evaluates the daily work of volunteers to assure maximum program coverage and effectiveness. Ensures that volunteers comply with department policies and procedures;
• Documents concerns with volunteers, rescue organizations, and fosters not following Animal Shelter policies or procedures, bringing information to management;
• Maintains current schedules, attendance records, prepares reports, and other files concerning volunteers and service groups;
• Plans volunteer recognition events for individual volunteers and service groups;
• Represents the department's volunteer, rescue, and foster programs to the public through classes, workshops, events and presentations to local groups, schools and civic organizations;
• Receives donations of supplies and equipment and determines the distribution of such donations based on priority;
• Works with Animal Care Staff and Animal Shelter Operations Supervisor when animals are determined to be suitable for rescue but not adoption;
• Builds a network of animal welfare organizations to allow alternative placement of animals that may not be suitable for adoption;
• Encourages positive communication between staff and volunteers; brings any concerns between individuals to management;
• Ensures the confidentiality of volunteers' personal information and animal shelter's records that could document information related to criminal and civil investigations;
• Builds a network and support protocols for animal fosters with special attention focused on providing fosters for underage kittens and/or nursing cats and animals with illness or injury that need a more suitable environment to recover;
• Transports shelter animals to and from veterinary procedures and adoption events utilizing a county vehicle;
• Assist colleagues in the cleaning, feeding, and comprehensive care of shelter animals during periods of understaffing or as required;
• Prepares various reports on volunteers, partner rescue groups and the foster network;
• Prepares release documentation of animals leaving rescue or foster care;
• Maintains log of foster animals to ensure vaccine schedule and veterinary treatment is being followed;
• Performs the duties of a Customer Service and Animal Shelter Adoption Coordinator during staff shortage and special events;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Volunteer management

Scheduling software

Animal handling

Public communication

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

MS Office Suite

Volunteer management software

Job description

St Mary’s County Government seeks an experienced professional to plan, develop, and monitor the volunteer services program for the Animal Shelter Division. You will recruit, train, evaluate volunteers, and build a rescue and foster network to enhance outcomes for the shelter population.

Responsibilities include policy development, scheduling, supervising volunteers, training, reporting, and representing the department to local groups and schools.