Position Summary
The Foster and Volunteer Coordinator oversees the recruitment, training, scheduling, support, and retention of the foster caregivers and volunteers who make our organization’s work possible. This position also provides daily morning care for animals housed on-site, including feeding, cleaning, enrichment, and health and behavior observations. Reporting to the Director of Animal Welfare, the coordinator works closely with staff, fosters, and volunteers to ensure animals receive consistent, compassionate care and that program participants have the information and resources they need to succeed.T he ideal candidate is organized, dependable, compassionate, and comfortable balancing hands-on animal care with administrative responsibilities and relationship-building.
Key Responsibilities
Morning Animal Care
- Complete morning animal-care duties according to established schedules and protocols.
- Prepare and provide appropriate food and fresh water, following each animal’s dietary instructions.
- Clean and sanitize kennels, crates, litter boxes, bedding, bowls, and shared animal-care areas.
- Provide clean bedding, enrichment, exercise, and other basic care as appropriate.
- Observe each animal’s appetite, energy level, behavior, mobility, and elimination habits.
- Accurately document daily observations and promptly report medical or behavioral concerns to the Director of Animal Welfare or designated staff member.
- Maintain organized animal-care supplies and communicate inventory needs.
- Follow all sanitation, disease-prevention, animal-handling, and workplace-safety procedures.
Foster Program Coordination
- Recruit, screen, onboard, and train foster caregivers.
- Match animals with appropriate foster homes based on their medical, behavioral, and daily-care needs.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for foster caregivers, providing timely guidance and support.
- Coordinate foster placements, transfers, supply distribution, veterinary appointments, and returns.
- Monitor animals’ progress and follow up regularly with foster caregivers.
- Arrange temporary or emergency foster coverage when placements change.
- Collect biographies, photographs, and medical or behavioral updates to help prepare foster animals for adoption.
- Maintain accurate foster applications, agreements, placement records, and communication notes.
- Identify opportunities to improve foster training, communication, engagement, and retention.
Volunteer Program Coordination
- Recruit volunteers through community outreach, events, social media, and organizational partnerships.
- Screen, onboard, orient, and train new volunteers.
- Match volunteers with roles suited to their interests, abilities, experience, and availability.
- Develop schedules and coordinate volunteer coverage for animal care, events, transportation, administrative work, and other organizational needs.
- Clearly communicate expectations, policies, safety procedures, and program updates.
- Provide ongoing supervision, feedback, and support to volunteers.
- Address questions, performance concerns, and conflicts promptly and professionally.
- Track volunteer participation, hours, training, and retention.
- Coordinate volunteer appreciation and recognition activities.
Program Administration and Collaboration
- Maintain organized applications, waivers, training materials, schedules, contact lists, and program records.
- Track program metrics and prepare regular reports on foster placements, volunteer participation, recruitment, and retention.
- Collaborate with the Director of Animal Welfare and other staff to identify daily animal-care and program needs.
- Support adoption events, community outreach, fundraising activities, and other organizational programs as needed.
- Participate in staff meetings and contribute to organizational planning and continuous improvement.
- Maintain confidentiality and follow all organizational policies and applicable animal-welfare, privacy, and safety requirements.
- Perform other related duties as assigned by the Director of Animal Welfare.
Required Qualifications
- Weekend days are mandatory
- High school diploma or equivalent.
- At least 2 years of experience in animal care, volunteer coordination, program administration, customer service, nonprofit work, or a related field.
- Experience safely caring for and handling animals.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Excellent organization, time-management, and follow-through.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and respond calmly to changing or urgent situations.
- Sound judgment, empathy, and confidence handling sensitive conversations.
- Comfortable using email, shared calendars, spreadsheets, databases, and online communication tools.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
- Commitment to the humane, inclusive, and respectful treatment of people and animals.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience working in an animal shelter, rescue, kennel, veterinary practice, or foster-based animal-welfare program.
- Experience recruiting, training, supervising, or retaining volunteers.
- Knowledge of animal behavior, safe handling, sanitation, and common medical-care needs.
- Experience using Shelterluv.
- Bilingual or multilingual communication skills.
Physical and Working Requirements
- Ability to safely handle animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions, with appropriate training.
- Ability to lift and carry up to [25/40/] pounds.
- Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and perform cleaning and animal-care duties for extended periods.
- Comfort working in environments that may include animal noise, odors, allergens, cleaning products, and animal waste.
- Ability to work outdoors and in varying weather conditions when necessary.
- Ability to travel locally for events, supply deliveries, veterinary appointments, or animal transportation as needed.
- Reasonable accommodations will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities.
Equal Opportunity Statement PARL is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law
Pay: $20.00 - $26.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you available to work both weekend days?
Work Location: In person
