Foster Coordinator

Summary:

Are you a detail-oriented, people-person who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-oriented 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 and kittens in tangible and impactful ways?  If so, you should consider the role of Foster Coordinator with the ASPCA Los Angeles Foster Program!

You’ll be a member of a high-performing staff and volunteer team providing care for +/- 1,500 felines per year and will work collaboratively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders to further the ASPCA’s ultimate desired outcome that all animals live good lives.

In close partnership with the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care & Control (DACC), our program currently provides temporary care and adoption opportunities for feline populations at-risk in a shelter environment, including:

• Underage, orphaned kittens (our primary foster care population)
• Mother cats in need of a stress-free environment to raise their young  
• Juvenile and adult cats needing extra support finding adoption opportunities while recovering from illness or after extended stays in a shelter environment.

This position is responsible for fostering deep engagement in the ASPCA's mission by recruiting, training, managing, retaining, and celebrating our dedicated team of foster volunteers. Additionally, this position ensures that each feline in foster care receives timely and essential support, with streamlined processes guiding them efficiently from intake to adoption.

To succeed in this role, the Foster Coordinator will possess excellent organizational and time-management skills, ensuring the ability to balance competing priorities in a dynamic environment. They will also demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication abilities, fostering positive relationships with volunteers, colleagues, and external partners while advancing the program's mission. Strong attention to detail is a must to succeed in this role.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Foster Program Coordination (70%)

• Create and send calls to action for felines needing foster homes utilizing text, email, phone calls, and the private ASPCA LA Foster Facebook group. This process is in partnership with ASPCA Registered Veterinarian Technicians (RVTs) remotely and onsite at the care centers.
• In collaboration with the foster team, maintain a “foster on deck” process to ensure timely and efficient flow of animals into foster care.
• Identify and secure appropriate foster placement for eligible felines by communicating professionally and efficiently with foster caregivers.
• Set clear foster assignment expectations and provide timely and direct information to foster caregivers specific to the felines they are receiving.
• Provide outstanding customer service to the ASPCA’s foster caregivers; respond to emails, text messages, Facebook posts, and phone calls in a timely manner and ensure deep understanding of and compliance with the ASPCA foster program protocols.
• Provide training, supervision, modeling, coaching, and ongoing guidance to foster caregivers to provide quality care to the felines in their home.
• 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.
• Communicate difficult decisions about animal care and provide conflict resolution for foster caregivers in a transparent and compassionate manner in partnership with management.
• Participate in weekly foster and behavior rounds; monitor health and behavior of animals in foster care, track and report any important findings and concerns.
• Input feline medical and behavior, foster volunteer, and interaction information into online tracking systems.
• In collaboration with the Senior Manager of Foster Care and Behavior Sciences Team (BST), implement feline behavior protocols and share resources, including daily treatment plans, to support under socialized kittens in the foster program 
• Provide coaching and support to foster caregivers supporting felines with behavioral and medical conditions 
• Ensure appropriate supplies and reorders are distributed to foster volunteers in a timely manner.
• Schedule foster kittens for medical appointments, including routine vaccinations, sick appointments and spay/neuter surgery, in a timely manner.
• Compile and request medical records from internal and external medical partners and input all relevant information into online tracking systems.
• Provide attentive care for all kittens and cats at program locations including health and behavior monitoring, cleaning, and restraining animals using low-stress handling techniques for medical examinations.

Foster Volunteer Engagement Coordination (30%)

• Collaborate with foster team and Senior Manager of Foster Care to design and deliver in-person and virtual training materials and resources for foster caregivers.
• Support virtual and in-person foster recruitment and retention events.
• Assist with the private foster volunteer Facebook group engagement, including postings, auditing, and other moderator duties.
• Seek and facilitate ongoing opportunities to provide formal and informal foster volunteer recognition, acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of foster volunteers.
• Engage foster volunteers in regular communication; prioritize frequent touchpoints to ensure foster animals receive necessary, appropriate and humane care and meet articulated medical and behavioral benchmarks while in foster homes.
• Champion new online ASPCA systems for learning and volunteer management.
• Commit to professional growth by actively participating in meetings, training sessions, and learning opportunities.
• Represent all ASPCA programs on DACC property and cultivate positive and productive relationships with care center staff and community members.
• Uphold and implement LA Foster Program philosophies, procedures, and protocols.
• Additional duties as assigned by supervisor and leadership team.

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:

• Experience in the care of felines, especially kittens under the age of 8 weeks 
• Able to learn, retain, demonstrate and share technical information related to animal welfare, particularly medical and behavioral support of felines  
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to work independently or as part of a team
• Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility and multi-tasking capability with work assignments
• Excellent decision-making ability and sound judgement; able to act with urgency as emergent situations arise
• Self-motivated with strong accountability – can be relied upon to fully complete tasks in a timely manner
• Strong interpersonal skills; authentic team player willing to give and receive feedback
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including professional and courteous interactions via text, email, phone, and in person
• Demonstrates care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals and others, especially during stressful situations
• Must be able to consistently lift up to 30lbs, kneel, bend and reach overhead to meet the physical demands of this position           

Language:

• Speaking an additional language (e.g. Cantonese, Korean, Mandarin, Spanish) a plus

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. 

For Hourly roles: The target hiring range for this role is $24.11-$25.36 per hour.

​For more information on our benefits offerings, can be found here.

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Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

  

Language:

English (Required)

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma (Required)

  

1-3 years in customer care preferred

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.