Job Announcement

Are you an enthusiastic individual looking for a career where you can make a difference in the lives of animals and the community? 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 animal homelessness in our community. We are hiring a Pet Assistance & Wellness Services Program Manager to develop and lead our programs focused on closing the service gap that exists for people and pets in underserved areas. This position will be responsible for deepening our relationships with community partners and other county agencies to create a system of wrap-around services so families with pets don’t fall through the cracks.

The PAWS Program Manager position will provide you with the opportunity to connect community members with much-needed information, and veterinary care and services, for their pets and animals they care for, so they can access resources that have been out of reach for a variety of reasons. The PAWS Program Manager will be responsible for managing this vibrant, critical, and growing program within Fairfax County and bringing pet-related services to all corners of the County.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter is the only open-access municipal shelter located in Fairfax, Virginia, with a second Shelter location opening in Lorton this spring 2023. 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:

• This program supports the County’s One Fairfax strategic initiative and incorporates strategic outreach, consistent community presence, and accessibility-focused services to build solid relationships and trust with under-served populations while providing access to animal welfare services to keep pets in their homes.
• Responsible for the Animal Shelter’s Pet Assistance & Wellness Services (PAWS) Program under general supervision of the Communications and Outreach Manager, and as needed in coordination with the Outreach Team, Animal Care Managers, and the Shelter’s contract veterinary staff. The PAWS program may include the Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) Program. Supervises the full-time Pet Assistance & Wellness Services (PAWS) Coordinator.
• Performs planning, implementation, and coordination functions for the PAWS Program to provide pet services support, both onsite and offsite, to individuals in under-served communities within Fairfax County.
• Develops and implements community outreach programs, services, and events; creates and maintains relationships and provides ongoing communication with residents participating in PAWS programming.
• Manages data collection, organization, and analysis to inform programming; presents PAWS Program updates and information to stakeholders.
• Develops and maintains partnerships with County agencies and other public/private entities.
• Manages all aspects of PAWS program volunteer recruitment, selection, and training for volunteers chosen to assist with PAWS programming. Monitors volunteers’ service in PAWS programming and communicates as needed with PAWS volunteers through the Shelter volunteer management software program and other platforms.
• Ensures that all manuals, SOPs, and materials relevant to PAWS programming are up to date.
• Learns all aspects of Shelter operations as background information for residents if needed. Operates County vehicle to transport donations, animals participating in Shelter programs, supplies to/from off-site events, and as needed for program needs. May perform other related duties to meet the ongoing business needs of the organization.

Please note that if you have prior experience working in animal welfare that qualifies as human services coordination experience for the Supplemental Questionnaire portion of this application.

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 ($51,873.74 to $69,164.99) of the advertised compensation range. Promotional rules apply for current Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools employees. Eligible employees certified as using a second language in their job (35% or more of their worktime) may receive a foreign language stipend in the amount of $1,300 annually where scheduled work time is more than 20 hours per week ($650 annually when scheduled work time is 20 hours or less per week).

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

Illustrative Duties

• Ensures delivery of assigned human services programs; resolves service delivery problems.
  
• Plans, assigns, and reviews the work of subordinate Human Services Coordinators; oversees staff training, authorizes staff leave/overtime requests, and evaluates staff performance.
  
• Assists in development of program goals and objectives and evaluation of program effectiveness in meeting stated goals/objectives.
  
• Prepares program budget and grant applications; prepares and/or directs the preparation of various reports.
  
• Oversees efforts to educate the community regarding assigned human service programs.
  
• Serves as agency representative to provide staff support for boards, consortiums, task forces, or community alliance groups; acts as liaison between the agency and service providers.
  
• Administers memoranda of agreement, contracts, or similar legal instruments between appropriate public and private sector organizations.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of human services available to County residents from public, private, and volunteer organizations.
  
• Some knowledge of supervisory methods, techniques, etc.
  
• Ability to work effectively with various advisory boards and community groups and to lead, persuade, or negotiate alliances between various groups.
  
• Effective interpersonal and organizational skills.
  
• Effective oral and written communication skills, including effective presentation skills.

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")

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in one of the social or behavioral sciences and two years experience in professional human services coordination work in public, private, or volunteer organization.

CERTIFICATIONS AND LICENSES REQUIRED:

• Valid driver's license required at the time of application
  
• Fear Free Shelter Certification (Required within 3 months)

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

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in an animal welfare-related organization;
• Experience working with and handling animals, including orphaned, sick, injured, and behavioral-needs animals of various species;
• Bilingual or professional fluency in English and Spanish, or one of the other main languages spoken in the Fairfax County community, to convey vital information with members of the targeted community.
• Three years of supervisory experience;
• Experience managing volunteers, and experience with volunteer management software database, Volgistics;
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills and have the ability to communicate effectively with regard to animal care and treatment and Shelter policies and programs;
• Must demonstrate the ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain professional composure;
• Must be efficient, prompt, and able to work well under pressure;
• Must be able to work both independently and as a member of a team;
• Must be computer literate; and
• Must be comfortable in public speaking and training roles.

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. Must not have allergies to animals or animal supplies (ex: hay, peanut butter, etc.) that will impede working in an animal environment. Converse with volunteers, residents, staff, and others in person, via e-mail, and on the phone. Make presentations in person and virtually. Visual acuity to read standard text and data on a computer monitor. Operate keyboard-driven equipment. Create materials and operate equipment necessary to complete work tasks. Drive County vehicle to travel around Fairfax County. Pre-exposure rabies vaccination is required within 3 months of hire. Work a varied schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and be available on occasional holidays. 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 23-01698