Coordinator, Lifesaving Outcomes - New York, NY

Permanent Location: 307 W Broadway, New York, NY 11206

Temporary Location: 232 Varet Street, Brooklyn, NY 11206

Summary: Foster Program Coordinators are responsible for the daily functions and growth of the foster program including recruitment and retention of foster volunteers and animal placement and population management for animals in the program. Coordinators act with urgency to accomplish important tasks and play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society’s no-kill mission and organizational success. While this role includes responsibilities primarily in foster program duties, coordinators may receive assignments in any outcome-focused programs, based on organizational needs. 

Culture Statement and Responsibility: We value attitude over aptitude, and we treat Kindness as a discipline because it is paramount in our culture along with our other Guiding Principles. Culture is how we talk to and treat ourselves and one another, it’s how we generate and respond to change, it’s how we plan and make decisions, it’s how we do what we do.  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:  

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict.  

• Coordinate and conduct day-to-day foster program activities with a focus on decreasing overall animal length of stay and increasing onsite capacity to care for animals at risk in shelters supported by local program. Duties include, but are not limited to, identifying foster animal placement needs within onsite population, coordinating with foster program volunteers for animal matchmaking and placements, provide medical and behavioral support for animals in foster care and provide outcomes focused training and guidance to increase adoptions through foster volunteers. 

• Oversee foster volunteer recruitment, engagement and retention opportunities to help expand Best Friends lifesaving capacity; introduce, recruit, and engage with local organizations, individuals, and stakeholders to develop and maintain mutually beneficial relationships.

• Oversee recruitment and retention of foster program volunteers through exemplary customer service practices and dedication to organization’s guiding principles, ensure foster program is aligned with organizational goals for constituent journey development and ongoing engagement with Best Friends’ mission.  

• Assist or oversee the creation of engaging content for social media platforms, to include creation and/or editing of written, video, and photo content. Work collaboratively with other departments and marketing teams to identify engagement opportunities with social media and PR to support lifesaving outcomes and programmatic needs at the center. Represent Best Friends in media relations when requested and ensure to maintain Best Friends’ voice across all communications. 

• Develop a detailed knowledge Best Friends’ programs to speak knowledgably about and best match both the animal and client’s (adopters, fosters, transfer partners) needs; lead by example in providing superior customer service.  

• Assist other teams in providing basic care such as feeding, cleaning, walking, and medicating animals housed or transported within Best Friends’ vehicles, buildings, or facilities; follow all policies and local standard operating procedures when completing daily functions to ensure health and safety standards are upheld. 

• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.    

• Responsible for maintaining a safe workplace, valuing, and modeling safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and communicating about unsafe practices and conditions.   

Skills and Experience:  

• High School Diploma or GED or 1-2 years’ experience in customer service, volunteer coordination, animal related programs or similar.  

• Experience leading teams and implementing programs preferred but not required. 

• Strong communications skills.  

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required.   

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.   

• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.   

• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.     

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.    

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.   

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn.   

Physical Requirements:  

• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.    

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.     ​

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold.    

• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status.     

• Valid driver’s license, meeting Best Friends Animal Society’s driver qualification standards; ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed.     

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, and holiday work.   

• After-hours flexibility to monitor a designated phone line for urgent foster care or volunteer-related issues, such as animal emergencies, or scheduling issues. This responsibility may be assigned on a rotating schedule or as needed based on program demands.