POSITION SUMMARY:
Homeward Animal Shelter is looking for a highly motivated and personable individual to serve as our Foster & Volunteer Program Assistant. This role supports the Foster and Volunteer programs by assisting with volunteer trainings, offering support to our foster families, ensuring positive animal socialization efforts, event participation, and administrative tasks related to shelter operations. This position also plays an important role in supporting positive experiences for volunteers, foster families, shelter animals, and the public while promoting the animals’ successful transition into foster and adoptive homes.
The Foster & Volunteer Program Assistant position requires strong communication and organizational skills, compassion for animals and people, adaptability in a fast-paced environment, and the ability to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, foster families, and the public.
This is a part-time position, 20hrs/week, with shifts scheduled Thursday through Monday.
Primary Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
Volunteer Support & Animal Socialization
- Help maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for volunteers, foster families, and guests.
- Assist with training volunteers on shelter protocols, safety procedures, animal handling, and enrichment expectations.
- Monitor volunteer interactions with the animals and their adherence to shelter protocols, providing feedback and guidance regarding dog handling, cat socialization, and animal enrichment activities.
- Communicate behavioral observations or concerns to shelter leadership and staff.
- Monitor all of the Volunteer’s online platforms and respond to remarks/comments/questions and respond to as needed.
Foster Program Support
- Assist with preparing animals, paperwork, supplies, and records for foster placement.
- Assist foster families with questions, supply needs, scheduling, and general support.
- Assist with dog introductions between foster families and shelter dogs.
- Follow up with foster families regarding surveys, medical concerns, behavioral updates, and general communication needs.
- Maintain accurate records of the animals’ placement, medical history, behavioral concerns, and general personality traits.
- Monitor all of the Foster’s online platforms and respond to remarks/comments/questions and respond as needed.
Events & Community Outreach
- Assist with adoption events, promotional events, fundraising activities, and community outreach efforts.
- Safely transport and handle animals during off-site events as needed.
- Represent Homeward Animal Shelter in a professional, friendly, and non-judgmental manner during interactions with the public.
- Assist with event setup, cleanup, volunteer coordination, and organization of supplies and materials.
- Help promote adoptable animals, foster opportunities, volunteer opportunities, and shelter programs during public events.
Shelter Operations & Administrative Support
- Communicate effectively with staff, volunteers, foster families, and the public regarding daily operational needs.
- Assist with answering phones, emails, and general customer service inquiries as needed.
- Support daily shelter operations in a flexible, team-oriented manner.
- Complete assigned tasks accurately and in a timely manner and communicate proactively regarding incomplete assignments or operational concerns.
- Respond appropriately to task delegation and shifting priorities in a fast-paced shelter environment.
- Maintain cooperative working relationships with staff, volunteers, veterinarians, rescue partners, and the public.
- All other duties as assigned.
- Assist with training volunteers on shelter protocols, safety procedures, animal handling, and enrichment expectations.
- Monitor volunteer interactions with the animals and their adherence to shelter protocols, providing feedback and guidance regarding dog handling, cat socialization, and animal enrichment activities.
- Communicate behavioral observations or concerns to shelter leadership and staff.
- Monitor all of the Volunteer’s online platforms and respond to remarks/comments/questions and respond to as needed.
- Help maintain a welcoming and supportive environment for volunteers, foster families, and guests.
Experience and Attributes Required:
- Candidate must be at least 18 years of age and have a high school diploma or equivalent
- Ability to display superior levels of professionalism, hospitality and a positive attitude
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong interpersonal skills required
- Must be familiar with Facebook, Outlook, Microsoft Xcel, and Microsoft Word, and be willing and able to learn our in-house software programs. Candidate must also be willing to learn and utilize various social media platforms.
- Self-motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision
- Organized with the ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment
- 1-3 years of Customer Service or Hospitality experience required
Please, no phone calls.
Pay: From $14.50 per hour
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
