Foster Care Coordinator

Please make sure to attach your resume to complete your application.

Summary:

Are you a detail-oriented, people-person who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment? Do you have experience working with cats and understand feline body language? Are you passionate about animal welfare, able to show empathy for people who may be in difficult situations, and do you possess a strong interest in helping at-risk shelter felines?  If so, you could be our Foster Care Coordinator with the ASPCA Los Angeles Feline Programs!

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:

• Bottle babies younger than 4 weeks
• Underage, orphaned kittens ages 4 – 8 weeks
• 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.

Using best practices, innovative programs, and measurable outcomes, you will facilitate the processes that ensure foster felines receive timely and critical care to support their journey from intake to adoption as efficiently as possible.

In partnership with behavior subject matter experts, you will be responsible for ensuring foster caregivers are provided with the feline behavioral support necessary for success. Through a Lion Tamer kitten socialization program and individual case work, you will help foster caregivers work with foster kittens and cats to ultimately live good lives as companion pets. Partnership with the LA Feline Programs Team will be critical to ensure the capacity to accept behavior cases into the foster program matches the ability to provide the highest standards of care.

COVID Statement:

In accordance with local law, being fully vaccinated is a condition of employment for this position that requires onsite work at a Los Angeles County or City facility. The ASPCA makes reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs that prohibit a person from being vaccinated.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

Foster Program Coordination (60%)

• Partner with ASPCA Registered Veterinarian Technicians (RVTs) remotely and on-site at the care centers to manage daily incoming and outgoing feline populations from DACC to foster care

• Represent all ASPCA programs on DACC property and cultivate positive and productive relationships with care center staff and community members

• In collaboration with the foster team, maintain a “foster on deck” process to ensure timely and efficient flow of animals into foster care

• Create and send calls to action for felines needing foster homes utilizing text, email, phone calls and foster program social media groups

• 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

• Coordinate timely ride share and contract driver transport requests for kittens moving into foster homes and other transports as needed

• Provide top-notch 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 procedures and operations

• Provide training, supervision, modeling, coaching and ongoing guidance to foster caregivers to provide quality care to the felines in their home

• Communicate difficult decisions about animal care and provide conflict resolution for foster caregivers in a transparent and compassionate manner in partnership with medical and foster staff when appropriate

• Coordinate and schedule routine check-ins and medical appointments for felines in foster care

• Prepare for and participate in weekly foster 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

• Ensure appropriate supplies and reorders are distributed to foster volunteers in a timely manner

Behavior Care of Foster Felines (40%)

• Collaborate with the Behavior Sciences Team (BST) to implement feline behavior protocols and share resources, including daily treatment plans, to support undersocialized kittens in the foster program

• Provide coaching and support to foster caregivers supporting felines with behavioral conditions

• Conduct weekly behavior rounds with BST and LA Feline Programs team members to troubleshoot behavior modification techniques, ensure timely delivery of care and appropriate pathway planning

• Manage all behavior trainings and resources for the foster program, including the Lion Tamer kitten socialization program.

• Create and continually update monitoring and reporting tools to manage behavior foster populations

• Participate in weekly medical rounds and ensure transparent communication between medical, foster, and adoption teams regarding behavior foster cases including documenting behavior foster case history and agreed upon next steps

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 behavioral support of felines

• Strong time management skills with the ability to prioritize time-sensitive needs, such as prompt responses to fosters, with little oversight

• Able to quickly, calmly, and efficiently adjust to changes in direction and re-prioritize work

• Energized by a fast-paced environment

• Strong customer service skills and the ability to communicate via text, email and phone

• Effective written and verbal communication skills

• Able to accurately work with detailed information in paper and computerized formats

• Strong interpersonal skills; authentic team player willing to give and receive feedback

• Demonstrates care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals and others, especially during stressful situations

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, particularly Outlook and Excel

• Experience in using cloud-based customer relationship management (CRM) software to track work preferred; if no experience then a willingness to learn is required

• Must be able to consistently lift up to 30lbs, kneel, bend and reach overhead to meet the physical demands of this position  

Language:

English (required)

Spanish (preferred)

Work Experience:

• 2 years of volunteer or professional experience handling felines (required)

• 3 years of experience managing volunteers or 3 years of customer service experience (preferred)

• Fear Free® training will be provided and certification will be required within 60 days of hire

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 $24.00 - $25.50.

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 (Required)

  

Must have one to three years’ experience in data entry and logistical support, Personal, volunteer or professional experience handling animals 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).

Please don’t forget to attach your resume to complete your application.

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.