Foster Coordinator

Foster Program Coordinator

This position is responsible for providing exceptional customer service and care for our community. Areas of responsibility include, but not limited to recruiting, developing and maintaining a dynamic foster client base while managing the movement of animals from shelter to foster care to adoption. Promotes teamwork and maintains an optimistic attitude all while assisting in intake, surrender of animals, lost and found, return to owner, and adoptions. This diverse role also includes educating the public regarding humane pet ownership, humane law and regulations, and the overall services and resources offered by the Louisiana SPCA.

Foster Program Coordination

• Be a consistent and visible presence with foster care providers; be available to answer questions, receive feedback, lend a hand, and ensure deep understanding of and compliance with the LASPCA foster program procedures and operations.
• Provide all foster families with direct, transparent communication about the purpose of their foster assignment and help those fostering animals with medical and/or behavioral risks to understand that humane euthanasia may ultimately be the appropriate outcome for that animal.
• Ensure that all foster volunteers receive any necessary supplies for an animal in their care and that volunteers are well informed about the animal they will be fostering.
• Support foster population while providing training, supervision, modeling, coaching and ongoing guidance to foster families.
• Provide top customer service to LASPCA's foster families, respond to emails, text messages, Facebook posts and phone calls from foster parents in a timely manner and resolve issues as they arise.
• Provide all foster volunteers with comprehensive ongoing training in disease control and prevention in their home, animal handling and safety techniques.
• Schedule and facilitate foster drop-offs and organize transportation for offsite placement, transfers and consults.
• Promote, communicate and encourage all foster families to attend upcoming offsite adoption events/opportunities with their foster animal.

Logistics and Data

• Monitor daily the animal populations in foster care, with attention to volume, capacity for care, length of stay (LOS) and animal flow out of foster care and into adoption placement.
• In conjunction with the Pathway team, the Foster Coordinator identifies opportunities for positive outcomes, seek ways to increase capacity and annual foster placements, while being mindful of annual goals, capacity for care and LOS
• Maintain a "foster on deck" process to ensure timely and efficient flow of animals into foster care.
• Utilize innovative tools to contribute to foster recruitment, promote foster retention and streamline foster assignments.
• Continuously seek out, learn and implement best practices in the field related to foster care, animal relocation and animal placement.
• Maintain and update daily a foster tracking database that captures with precise detail intake, outcome, behavioral and medical data for each foster.

Collaboration (Externally and Internally)

• Check in with foster families regularly and update staff and /volunteers with any important information.
• Partner closely with the Foster Vet Tech and Shelter Clinic team to manage daily incoming and outgoing animal population from the facility to foster care.
• Collaborate with the Adoptions and medical team to select animals from the shelter/rescue into off-site adoption spaces (e.g. pet supply stores) or into foster care.
• Cultivate positive and productive relationships with staff to promote positive outcomes, both through diversion and transfers.
• Ensure a respectful and welcoming environment, practice open and respectful communication, provide constructive feedback.
• Maintain positive and productive relationships with external partners that provide services to the foster population.
• Nurture a culture of growth and learning and actively participate in meeting mutual goals to increase the live release rate of feline shelter populations.

Requirements

Education and/or Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• Bachelor's degree or some college preferred

Minimum Qualifications, Skills and Knowledge:

• Must be able to pass a criminal background check and pre-employment substance screening
• Candidates must successfully pass a drug screening which includes testing for marijuana. A valid medical marijuana card does not exempt a candidate from this requirement, and a positive test result will disqualify the candidate from the hiring process.
• Excellent organizational and collaborative skills.
• Highly competent in Microsoft Office
• Expected to work extended hours as needed as this position is part of the core team in Storm & Emergency Response situations. This requires the ability to work weekends and maintains a 24 hr. on call status.
• Proficient in mediating disputes, conflicts and grievances.
• Must have (or be able to obtain) a valid State of Louisiana driver's license
• Ability to multi task and detail oriented
• Mental and physical flexibility is a must.

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift at least 50 pounds; push and pull heavy objects; bend, twist, reach; perform strenuous physical activities including frequent walking and running, standing, bending and stooping.
• Should not be allergic to animals or nuts; must be able to work around all animals and nut products.
• Must be able to work with industrial strength cleaners and disinfectants.

Working Conditions:

• Works in an area with a high noise level.
• Potentially subject to animal bites and scratches.

Pay Rate: $16.50 - $18.00

Benefits include but not limited to:

Health Insurance, Life Insurance, 401K match

Qualification and assistance for Public Service Loan Forgiveness

168 hours PTO and 14 paid holidays

Mentorship and supportive team environment