Foster Specialist - Milwaukee & Ozaukee Campuses

How you’ll impact our mission:

The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) is hiring a full-time Foster Specialist to support our lifesaving foster program at our Milwaukee and Ozaukee Campuses.  The Foster Specialist position reports to the Director of Foster and Transfer Programming and will primarily be at the Milwaukee Campus; but will travel to the Ozaukee Campus and other campuses as needed. If you’re looking for a rewarding career that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and people while working alongside a supportive team, apply today!

Key accountabilities include but are not limited to:

Assist the Foster team in developing and maintaining a robust foster network necessary to optimize organizational resources.

• Design and implement strategies to recruit and support of foster care volunteers at all campuses.
• Develop and maintain advanced or specialized foster orientations, training programs, and materials.
• Maintain a database of foster contacts for effective communications, data analysis, assessment, and other uses of information.

Act as a primary contact for foster volunteers.

•  Provide prompt, courteous, and professional communication with foster volunteers.
•  Promote interdepartmental communication and collaboration to ensure timely response to foster volunteers.
•  Confirm foster placements, schedule recheck appointments, and monitor length of stay for animals in foster care.
•  Monitor and respond to conversations and inquiries on behalf of WHS in the foster Facebook group.

Act as a contact for Foster Assistant Volunteers (FAV).

•  Support the recruitment and training of FAVs
•  Assess new opportunities for FAV involvement to support the growth of the foster program.

Develop innovative, impactful, and efficient systems for the foster program.

• Provide internal expertise on best practices for foster programs and the impact foster has on our organization.
• Assist in establishing, implementing, and revising policies and procedures for the foster program.
• Provide training and assistance to support staff in the consistent implementation of foster processes.
• Ensure animals are processed and prepped for foster placement in a timely manner.
• Coordinate and collaborate with other departments to regularly identify animals for foster placement.
• Communicate regularly with peers to utilize foster and in-shelter space in integrated fashion to ensure the functionality of organizational intake, length of stay, and outcome models.

Qualifications:

• Flexible, positive approach to challenges.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail in all aspects of work.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Strong communication skills through a variety of mediums, including social media.
• Must love working with people to support animals.
• Demonstrated alignment with our mission, people-centered philosophy, and organizational values of compassion, respect, and kindness; innovation; professionalism; equity; and positive approach.
• Ability to navigate emotional aspects of animal welfare work.
• Able to successfully meet the physical demands of the job, which include stooping, kneeling, crouching, standing, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, and repetitive motions. Must be able to routinely lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

Hiring Range: $31,722 - $37,725 year

Benefits for our full-time staff include:   

• Paid time off, including vacation, wellness, and holiday time  
• Health, dental, and vision insurance 
• 403(b) retirement plan with company match  
• Paid family leave  
• Group term and voluntary life insurance 
• Short-term and long-term disability 
• Flexible spending plans  
• Health savings account (HSA) 
• Supplemental benefits to cover unexpected expenses 

Benefits for all staff include: 

• 403(b) retirement plan  
• Mental health and counseling support: all employees and members of their household have access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with six free counseling sessions per year 
• Limited low-cost wellness and veterinary care services for staff members’ animals  
• Discounts on adoption fees, training classes, youth programs, retail and events 
• Support for student loans: WHS is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) qualified employer. 

Come see why over 280 staff call WHS home! You’ll be happy you did!

About us:

The Wisconsin Humane Society (WHS) is the oldest and largest shelter in Wisconsin. It was founded in 1879 and operates shelters in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Door, Brown, and Kenosha Counties, as well as a Spay/Neuter Clinic in West Allis and a wildlife rehabilitation center in Milwaukee. The organization offers adoption services, youth programs, low-cost veterinary resources, retail stores, volunteer programs, dog training classes, and much more. WHS is an independent nonprofit and receives no general government funding and is not part of any national umbrella group.

The Wisconsin Humane Society is an equal opportunity employer.

Application instructions:

Click on “Apply Now” to begin your online employment application. We will reach out to you via the e-mail you provided or by phone once we have an update on your application.