Foster And Rescue Program Coordinator (animal Care Specialist Ii)

Job Announcement

At the Fairfax County Animal Shelter, we are committed to providing the highest quality of care to the animals in our shelter, while also working to tackle the root causes of pet homelessness and provide progressive pet support programs to our community. And we’re hiring! Are you an enthusiastic individual looking for a career where you can make a difference in the lives of the most vulnerable pets in our care? We’re hiring a Foster and Rescue Program Coordinator!

Works as a member of a high-performing staff team leading a critical volunteer team providing care for at-risk and vulnerable animals. Reports to the Foster and Rescue Program Manager, and will work collaboratively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders to further the FCAS mission. Using best practices, innovative programs, and measurable outcomes, will support our robust foster program and rescue program, to ensure pets benefitting from foster receive the individualized care from trained foster volunteers, and to assist with the transfer of animals in and from our shelter.

Provides you with the opportunity to connect dedicated foster volunteers with the Shelter pets who need them most - neonatal kittens, nursing moms with young, injured and ill pets recovering from surgery and treatment, large dogs in need of a break from the shelter - while they become ready for adoption. Also provides the opportunity to help pets from partner shelters by transferring pets into our shelter for the opportunity to meet their new families via adoption, and to help pets from our shelter be transferred out to rescues that better suit their needs. Both programs are incredibly robust, and critical to furthering the life-saving mission of our shelter.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter is the only open-access municipal shelter located in Fairfax, Virginia, with a second Shelter location opening in Lorton this summer. Our shelter has a live release rate of over 90% and we’re very proud of our excellent volunteer and foster programs, compassionate staff, progressive sheltering policies and practices, and our wonderful animal-loving community.

Responsibilities:

• Under supervision of the Foster and Rescue Program Manager, assists in determining foster and rescue program needs, and providing implementation, coordination, and hands-on assistance functions for the Animal Shelter's foster program of 200+ foster volunteers and 100+ rescue partners.
• Provides hands-on care to Shelter pets returning from or going to foster, including providing vaccinations, topical treatments and medications, oral treatments and medications, nail trims, and more.
• Updates Shelter software with medical treatments provided to Shelter pets, and adds and updates records for pets part of the rescue program.
• Recommends and implements plans for the recruitment, screening, training, directing, and evaluation of Animal Shelter foster volunteers, and for sending and receiving rescue partners.
• Assists with creating materials involved in the foster and rescue programs.
• Learns all aspects of Shelter operations to be able to train fosters and communicate effectively with foster volunteers and rescue partners.
• Assists with recruiting, training, and coordination of foster volunteers to care for Shelter animals including: neonatal, nursing, sick or injured, those with contagious illnesses, those recovering from medical treatment, needing a break from being in the Shelter for an extended period, and behavioral exigencies.
• Coordinates and facilitates foster animal placements with foster volunteers, and facilitates follow-up visits at the Shelter for a variety of reasons.
• Must possess ability to maintain a professional composure when sensitive or emotional issues arise within the programs.
• Provides support in monitoring foster volunteer service hours and communicating with foster volunteers through the Shelter volunteer program management software system and other platforms.
• Assists with planning and implementing foster volunteer appreciation activities and Outreach Team opportunities, events, and programs.
• Drives county vehicle to transport animals to facilitate foster and rescue program needs.
• Must be efficient and able to work well under pressure, and be able to work both independently and as a member of a team.
• May be required to work shifts at and/or be transferred to any Department of Animal Sheltering facility. May perform other related duties to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.

Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to communicate effectively with regard to animal care and treatment, and shelter policies and programs. Must be comfortable in public speaking and training roles, and be computer literate. Must demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain professional composure.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Note: May be required to work shifts and/or be transferred to any Department of Animal Sheltering facility.

Salary: The salary offer will be in the minimum to midpoint ($45,204.64 to $60,273.20) of the advertised compensation range. Promotional rules apply for current Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools employees.

Schedule: This position requires flexible scheduling for agency and program needs, including evenings and weekends, and to be available on occasional holidays.

Illustrative Duties

(The illustrative duties listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list. A complete list of position duties and unique physical requirements can be found in the position job description.)

• Assists with the animal care work;
  
• Counsels staff and volunteers in safe, humane and efficient care of animals (wild, domestic, and livestock);
  
• In the absence of Animal Care Specialist III or Animal Care Manager, refers animals for veterinary care (emergency and/or routine);
  
• Inoculates animals at intake when there is no other evidence of inoculation;
  
• Assists with monitoring inventory of animal care team supplies, including medical, cleaning, and other necessary items;

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

(The knowledge, skills and abilities listed in this specification are representative of the class but are not an all-inclusive list.)

• Knowledge of characteristics of different types of animals;
  
• Knowledge of animal behavior indicators;
  
• Knowledge of safe animal handling techniques;
  
• Knowledge of inoculation and euthanasia techniques;
  
• Demonstrated interest in and compassion for animals;
  
• Ability to assist and train others in all animal care procedures;
  
• Ability to make and communicate animal care decisions such as requesting immediate or postponed veterinary care;
  
• Ability to be flexible and adjust work plans to meet immediate needs when necessary;
  
• Ability to move heavy, immobilized, or resistant animals;
  
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds;
  
• Ability to maintain a high level of ethical standards;
  
• Ability to demonstrate a high level of integrity and to be truthful at all times;
  
• Ability to assist the public and communicate effectively.

Employment Standards

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following: (Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to high school graduation or a GED issued by a state department of education; and two years of experience working in an animal shelter, kennel, vet clinic, boarding facility, or other animal related organization with animal care and handling responsibility; experience with multiple species of animals including handling difficult dogs and cats, giving medication, and restraint techniques for multiple species. (Graduation from an accredited Veterinary Technician Program may be substituted for one year of the required experience).

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Possession of a valid motor vehicle driver's license.
• Euthanasia certification is required within six months of appointment.
• Fear Free Shelter certification required within three months of appointment.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The appointee to the position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Two years of progressively responsible volunteer coordination and/or management experience, including in recruitment, training, selection and placement of volunteers.
• One year of experience working with and handling animals, including orphaned, sick, injured, and behavioral-needs animals of various species and sizes.
• Experience in an animal welfare-related organization.
• Experience with a shelter software program(s).
• Experience with volunteer database Volgistics, including updating volunteer records, and communicating to volunteers in the database.
• Experience using Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Walk, stand, sit, bend, kneel, stoop, crawl, climb stairs, and be comfortable doing these activities for extended periods of time; lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds; use hands to grasp, handle, and feel; and talk, see, and hear.
• Handle, move, restrain, and provide medical care including injectable treatments to animals of various species, sizes, conditions, and temperament.
• Maneuver safely in kennels, dog play yards, cat rooms, small animal room, off-site events, etc.
• Converse with volunteers, residents, staff, and others in person, via e-mail, and on the phone. Make presentations in person and virtually.
• Create materials and operate equipment necessary to complete work tasks. Drive personal or county vehicle for animal transport, outreach events, and travel between Fairfax Shelter and Lorton Shelter Campuses to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.
• Visual acuity to read standard text and data on a computer monitor. Operate keyboard-driven equipment.
• Must not have allergies to animals or animal supplies (ex: hay, peanut butter, etc.) that will impede working in an animal environment.
• Work a varied schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and be available on occasional holidays.
• Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is required within 3 months of hire.
• All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include a practical exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 39.8% of residents speak a language other than English at home (Spanish, Asian/Pacific Islander, Indo-European, and others) and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Contact 703-324-4900 for assistance. TTY 703-222-7314. DHREmployment@fairfaxcounty.gov. EEO/AA/TTY.
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Requisition 23-01749