Foster Coordinator
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $16-$18/ hour
Work Location: On site
Work Schedule: Friday – Tuesday or Thursday – Monday, 9:15am – 6:15pm
Reports to Foster Program Manager
Company Overview
Cincinnati Animal CARE (CAC) is a dynamic and progressive humane society in contract with Hamilton County to deliver exceptional animal services to our community. We enforce animal laws and prioritize public safety while striving to be a community resource providing education and support to the people and animals of Hamilton County. We value our team of compassionate, open-minded and resilient staff and volunteers who make it possible to care for 8,000 animals each year. We believe that lifesaving is a community ethic and implement a collaborative, holistic approach to animal sheltering and Dog Warden services.
Position Summary
The Foster Program Coordinator plays a crucial role in advancing the mission of finding temporary and permanent homes for animals, ensuring they experience the best possible quality of life while in our care. The Coordinator will be responsible for the recruitment and onboarding of new foster families, supporting and engaging existing fosters, and ensuring a seamless transition for animals through every stage of their foster journey.
Working closely with the Foster Manager, the Coordinator will assist in the daily operations of the foster department. This includes monitoring the status of animals in foster care, and developing strategies to meet the needs of both the animals and foster families. The Coordinator will play an active role in creating and implementing recruitment strategies to grow the foster base, and developing resources to support them in caring for animals.
In addition, the Coordinator will be responsible for performing and assisting the Foster Manager in leading day-to-day department expectations, while also maintaining accurate records, tracking outcomes, and providing regular updates to the Foster Manager. This individual must be adaptable, able to handle the demands of a fast-paced environment, and thrive in a dynamic and evolving shelter setting. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver, a strong communicator, and committed to continuous improvement in foster care practices.
The Coordinator will provide a bridge between in-shelter operations and the community. This position requires a balance of hands-on work with animals, administrative tasks, and fostering relationships with volunteers and fosters, all aimed at enhancing the foster program’s lifesaving impact.
Duties and responsibilities:
- Provide day-to-day leadership under the direction of the Foster Manager including, but not limited to, decision-making, assignments, and troubleshooting.
- Work with the Intake to Placement team to Identify animals for foster when they arrive through intake pathways
- Deliver excellent customer service to pet parents, foster families, and potential fosters both in-person and in written or verbal communication
- Greet and interact with foster families on-site, at events and on social media
- Match foster families with appropriate foster animals based on their skills and situation
- Provide ongoing support, coaching, and guidance to foster families, addressing concerns promptly
- Respond to emails and phone calls from pet and foster parents within a timely manner on assigned workdays and schedule
- Coordinate logistics for animal pick-ups, returns, and Day Trips, ensuring smooth transitions.
- Report any foster family concerns to the Foster Manager and other appropriate department leadership
- Monitor and report on foster program metrics, using data to drive decisions and improvements.
- Collaborate with volunteers to support daily tasks, events, and foster-related projects.
- Work with the medical team to schedule necessary appointments and manage medical needs
- Maintain and track foster program supplies and inventory, ensuring resources are available
- Assist the Foster Manager with program development, recruitment, and strategic initiatives
- Assist with the management of our Foster Facebook Page
Requirements:
- A high school diploma or equivalent and one year of foster experience and/or customer service experience
- Comfortable with all sizes, breeds and species of animals
- Ability to understand and adhere to policies and procedures
- Possess strong and empathetic communication skills
- Ability to handle sensitive issues
- Ability to work under general supervision
- Ability to maintain accurate records
- Ability to exercise judgment, tact and diplomacy
- Ability to understand and carry out oral and written instructions
- Strong data entry skills
- Ability to stand for extended periods
- Ability to lift at least 30lbs
Working Conditions:
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, controls, or tools listed above; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell.
- The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee frequently works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts; in high, precarious places; and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high.
- Exposure and handling unvetted animals and their waste is frequent.
