Seasonal Foster Coordinator, Kitten Nursery

Summary:

Overview

Are you a friendly, detail-oriented people-person who thrives in creating efficiency? Do you excel at open, effective communications to keep things on track in a fast-paced, dynamic environment? Are you passionate about animal welfare and the goodness of people and do you possess a strong interest in finding opportunities for people to help cats in a real and tangible way?  If so, you should consider the role of Foster Coordinator to be part of a committed Kitten Nursery team working to support kittens and nursing queens in New York City.

Who We Are

The Kitten Nursery cares for hundreds of underage kittens and their mothers in a dedicated nursery environment as well as through an expanding foster program. Once these kittens are healthy and happy 8-week-olds, the Kitten Nursery helps them get ready for adoption through the ASPCA Adoption Center and transfer to partner shelters. 

What You’ll Do

• The Foster Coordinator reports directly to the Senior Manager, Foster Operations and has no direct reports.
• The Foster Coordinator (the Coordinator) facilities the deep engagement in the mission of the ASPCA through the recruitment, management, support and celebration of hundreds of dedicated foster volunteers. The Coordinator will play a key role in ensuring the health and well-being of the foster population by providing support and training for our foster volunteers as well as logistical needs, including scheduling medical check-up appointments and returns to the Adoption Center . The Coordinator will organize animal intake, movement, scheduling, and transfers to help maximize the efficiency and impact of Nursery operations and ensure positive outcomes for felines in this program.

• To succeed in this role, the Coordinator will possess excellent interpersonal and organizational skills and be committed to foster volunteer training, development, coaching and oversight. The Coordinator will champion the feline population enthusiastically to foster volunteers and be fluent in all aspects of feline well-being. Success also hinges on the Coordinator’s ability to partner effectively with medical, behavior, shelter and placement subject matter experts to ensure holistic, interdisciplinary support for foster volunteers and foster animals. In addition, partnership with the Adoption Center Volunteer and Foster teams will be critical, ensuring high standards in client care and service delivery are met for foster volunteers and foster animals across departments and programs

Where and When You’ll Work

• This position is an on-site role and reports to the 92nd street ASPCA location.
• This is a seasonal full time role (late March-late November)

What You’ll Get

Compensation 

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 $27.35-$28.35 hourly.

Benefits

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps ensure you can live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to:

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time,10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.
• Health Care Navigation and Caregiver Support Benefits: Free, confidential and personalized concierge-style support to help you care for anyone you consider family. Confidential, expert help is also available for you and your family in navigating the healthcare system from claims resolution to finding doctors.

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance, and include, but are not limited to:  

• Cultivate positive, trusting and productive relationships between staff and foster volunteers; support colleagues in working and communicating effectively with foster volunteers.

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

• Provide supervision, modeling, coaching and ongoing guidance for foster families.

• Provide exceptional customer service to ASPCA foster volunteers at all times, in all forums.

• Provide foster volunteers with direct, transparent communication about the purpose, expectations and sensitivities related to their role, and actively build foster volunteer understanding that humane euthanasia may ultimately be the appropriate outcome for some animals

• Respond effectively, with compassion and in a timely manner, to emergencies involving foster animals and/or foster volunteers, in line with organizational, departmental and foster program guidelines.

• Ensure sufficient and appropriate supplies are distributed to the foster volunteers

• Manage a “foster on deck” process to find foster placement from the ASPCA’s database of volunteers in a timely manner ensuring efficient flow of animals into care

• Participate in daily Nursery Rounds meetings and, in partnership with the Animal Logistics Manager and Director of Operations, ensure that animals are moving efficiently into and through foster homes, the Nursery, and Adoption Center; make adjustments to operations as needed to improve service and efficiency

• Partner closely with Adoption Center, Kitten Nursery and interdepartmental teams to build and maintain fluency and collaboration across programs.

• Maintain a foster tracking database in Airtable of an average of 200 foster animals at once, monitoring daily animal population in foster, managing casework, and providing daily check ins with foster volunteers

• Work closely with the Adoption Center Animal Welfare, Medical, and Admissions & Placement teams to coordinate appropriate animal selection, intake, and return from foster that meets animals’ needs and ensures humane and efficient animal flow

• Coordinate with the medical and behavior teams to manage a streamlined approach for medical or behavioral support needed for new intakes, animals housed on site, and fosters

• Schedule appropriate services, including recheck examinations, spay/neuter, and hospital appointments, to coincide with foster returns and timely, efficient movement throughout an animal’s stay

• Update PetPoint, Airtable, and volunteer management databases as necessary for movement of animals as well as scheduling of appointments; assist with medical data into records for foster recheck and return appointments

• Notify veterinarians and behavior staff of animal status changes and ensure changes are accurately reflected in PetPoint

• Ensure all animals have received appropriate foster medical discharges and/or adoption medical discharges prior to placement or transfer to the Adoption Center

• Guide Nursery staff in working effectively with foster volunteers

• Alternate leading weekly foster rounds meetings, and participate fully in weekly to bi-weekly team meetings

• Support the Adoption Center Coordinators, Foster Engagement which may include but is not limited to supporting adult cat, adult dog and/or puppy foster placement, appointments and direct foster communications

• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies

Qualifications:

• Knowledge of basic animal care and low stress handling

• Knowledge of basic animal care and low stress handling

• Knowledge of basic animal care and low stress handling

• Knowledge of basic animal care and low stress handling

• Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and tasks

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

• Must be comfortable sharing difficult information, such as humane euthanasia decisions or constructive feedback to foster volunteers

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

• Able to maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols

• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office; Familiarity with Airtable a plus. Familiarity with PetPoint, Impromed or other shelter and veterinary software systems a plus

• Must be able to bend, stand, lift 40 pounds frequently and engage in repetitive motions throughout a shift

• Must be comfortable working in close proximity to cats and cat litter  

Education and Work Experience

• High school diploma (required)

• 1-2 years experience in an animal shelter or veterinary practice setting (preferred)

• Previous experience working in a kitten nursery and/or with shelter foster programs (preferred)

• Fear Free® certified or within 60 days of employment

Qualifications:

Language:

Education and Work Experience: