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Foster and Volunteer Coordinator

ASPCA
United States, Ohio, Columbus
Mar 26, 2025

Summary:

The Foster and Volunteer Coordinator facilitates deep engagement in the mission of the ASPCA through recruitment, support and celebration of dedicated foster caregivers, volunteers and responders at the Cruelty Recovery Center (CRC) in Columbus, Ohio. At the CRC, a dedicated team of sheltering, veterinary and animal behavior staff work together to serve animals rescued in ASPCA national cruelty cases and disaster responses. This team works closely with the ASPCA's National Field Response (NFR), Veterinary Forensics, Legal Advocacy & Investigations (LAI), Behavioral Sciences (BST) and Shelter Medicine Services (SMS) teams to ensure well-coordinated operations and high-quality care for animal victims of neglect, abuse and natural disasters. The CRC team also provides care for animals housed in ASPCA temporary field shelters.

The Foster and Volunteer Coordinator works under the direction of the Senior Manager, Volunteers and Fosters. Using best practices and innovative programs, the Coordinator will play a key role in ensuring the health and well-being of the foster population by providing administrative and client care support for our foster volunteers. In addition to supporting the work of the foster program, the Coordinator will also be responsible for providing support to the CRC's Volunteer Program. Perhaps the most critical function of the Coordinator will be to serve as part of a harmonious, united team of shelter operations, veterinary, and animal behavior experts, all dedicated to collaborating to provide balanced, integrated care.

To succeed in this role, the Coordinator will possess excellent people skills and time management skills in addition to paying meticulous attention to detail. The Coordinator will champion all animal populations enthusiastically and realistically to foster families and be fluent in major aspects of their well-being. The Coordinator will actively build and support volunteer, foster, and responder relationships, ensuring positive experiences for participants of the program.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Program Support and Maintenance (85%)

  • Under the direction of the Senior Manager, Volunteers and Fosters, follow strategy, program plans and tactics to realize key results for both the foster and volunteer programs.

  • Assist with actively recruiting, training and retaining fosters, volunteers and responders

  • Update robust foster and volunteer manuals reflecting best practices and priorities of the animal population

  • Establish and maintain regular communications with fosters, volunteers and responders to increase engagement and provide training

  • Ensure all volunteer and foster applications, documentation and credentials are managed, updated and organized.

  • Monitor and maintain foster and volunteer databases

  • Communicate with foster caregivers and volunteers via phone and email to provide general updates and respond to inquiries

  • Establish and maintain regular communications with fosters, volunteers and responders, in conjunction with Senior Managers, to increase engagement and provide training

  • Monitor and support volunteer and responder scheduling

  • Approve volunteer responder itineraries, book travel arrangements, and review timecards to ensure accuracy

  • Procure foster placements, schedule medical checkup appointments and organize animal returns from foster homes

  • Work closely with operations, medical and behavior to assign appropriate foster volunteers to specific animals

  • Develop innovative methods to market animals for foster placement

  • Regularly monitor the metrics, volume and animal flow into and out of foster care; adjust operations as needed to improve service and efficiency

  • Ensure all foster volunteers receive comprehensive training in disease control and prevention in their home, animal handling and safety techniques

  • Ensure all foster families are provided direct, transparent communication about the purpose of their foster assignment and that those fostering animals with medical and/or behavioral risks understand that humane euthanasia may be the appropriate outcome for the animal

  • Manage a robust cache of supplies utilized by foster families in home and by volunteers in shelter

  • Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques

  • Ensure needed animal follow-up tests and procedures are completed in a timely manner, in conjunction with Legal Advocacy & Investigations, Forensics and Medical

  • Seek out, learn and implement best practices in the fields related to foster and volunteer programs

  • Attend workshops for animal welfare professionals to expand the sheltering, rehabilitation and recovery work of the ASPCA; share learning with the entire team upon return

  • Collaborate consistently with other ASPCA departments, prioritizing alignment in operations and practices across departments

  • Maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with criminal cases

  • Support the work of the Placement Team as directed

  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Senior Managers

Temporary Sheltering (15%):

  • Assist with planning and arrangements for placement/foster for temporary sheltering operations in the field

  • When appropriate, work with local communities affected by disasters to return rescued animals to their owners and find placement for unclaimed animals

Exemplifies the ASPCA's Core Values:

  • Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals

  • Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes

  • Believes in Team - that we are stronger together

  • Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible

  • Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals

Qualifications:

  • Demonstrated exceptional client services skills; solution-focused problem-solver

  • Demonstrated exceptional skills in supporting programs

  • Excellent people-management skills

  • Ability to work well with foster families, volunteers and responders

  • Always treats people and animals with care and respect; must be a compassionate caregiver for animals and have a genuine interest in leading others

  • Maintains a consistently positive attitude; must enjoy working directly with people; respects team members at all levels

  • Excellent written and oral communication skills

  • Flexible communicator; ability to interact with diverse personalities and groups

  • Meticulous organizational skills; pays close attention to detail

  • Works efficiently and calmly in a quick-paced changing environment

  • Works well under pressure; willing to work long hours

  • Adapts to a flexible work schedule and willingness to be on-call for last-minute deployments

  • Relishes troubleshooting and problem solving

  • Ability to work independently as well as part of a team

  • Ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals in an environment where euthanasia is performed

  • Low stress animal handling and restraint skills preferred

  • Administrative and computer skills, including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint required

  • Ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day

  • Ability to drive a vehicle

  • Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques

  • Must provide a valid driver's license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history

  • Ability and willingness to travel up to 20% of the time as needed

Education & Work Experience:

  • B.S. or B.A. preferred, High School Diploma or GED required

  • At least one year of work/volunteer experience in an animal welfare setting (i.e. animal shelter, clinic, rescue, etc.) is required; 2+ years of experience is preferred.

  • Experience working with medically or behaviorally compromised animals preferred

  • Animal first aid skills preferred

  • Fear Free Shelter certification in required within 60 days of hire

  • Low Stress Handling University Silver-Level certification is required within six months of hire

  • Knowledge of and experience working within Incident Command System (ICS) structure preferred; completion of IS-700.b, IS-800.d, IS-100.c, and IS-200.c training courses within 3 months of employment required

Compensation and Benefits:

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future.

The target hiring range for this role is $23.40 - $24.84 per hour.

For more information on our benefits offerings, visit our website.

Stay Connected - Join Our Talent Community

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please join our Talent Community to stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA's standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA. Please inform the ASPCA's People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

About Us:
The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.

The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.

The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide. We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission. Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives. They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals. We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives. We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA's vision - that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Applicants that are residents of Colorado: Per CO Senate Bill 23-058, we cannot generally request or require any age-related information (i.e., age, DOB, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution) on an initial employment application; this includes any age-related inquiries in the initial interview. We are permitted to require/request additional application materials; if those materials contain any age-related information, an applicant may redact the information before submitting an initial employment application.

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