Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement

ASPCA • New York, NY

1d • $27 - $29 • Onsite

About The Position

Who We Are At the ASPCA, every volunteer interaction is an opportunity to deepen human connection and create brighter outcomes for vulnerable animals. Are you a friendly, positive, people-person with a sincere commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion? Do you thrive in a dynamic, mission-oriented environment? Are you passionate about animal welfare and the goodness of people and do you possess a strong interest in finding opportunities for people to help dogs and cats in tangible and impactful ways? If so, you should consider the role of Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement at the ASPCA’s Adoption Center in New York City. The ASPCA Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery provides intake and holistic care, including medical and behavioral support, and outcomes for animals in New York City that need us most. Our population consists of five groups of animals: Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD Animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals Animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners The Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery teams utilize and develop best practices for providing care and innovative placement strategies for these specialized populations and are committed to engaging community members in animal care efforts. What You’ll Do The Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement (the Coordinator) facilitates deep engagement in the mission of the ASPCA through the recruitment, training, support, direct oversight and celebration of hundreds of dedicated volunteers. Using best practices and innovating programming, the Coordinator will play a key role in engaging volunteers directly in many aspects of ASPCA work, with a special focus on critical shelter support activities. You will be a key player in engaging the public as ambassadors for the ASPCA’s mission – through volunteerism, fostering and adoption. You’ll be a member of a high-performing staff and volunteer team providing care for +/- 2,000 vulnerable pets per year and will work collaboratively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve the ASPCA’s ultimate goal: that all animals live fulfilling lives. To succeed in this role, the Coordinator will possess excellent interpersonal, administrative and organizational skills, a desire to innovate and a demonstrated ability to successfully collaborate with, mentor and coach others. The Coordinator will proactively leverage volunteers to help maximize the efficiency and impact of volunteer-supported interdepartmental operations. The Coordinator will be committed to coordinating all aspects of volunteer engagement, including training and oversight in both 1:1 and group settings, and will also provide coaching and support to interdepartmental staff who rely on volunteer support within their focus areas. The Coordinator will champion canine and feline populations equally and enthusiastically to volunteers and be fluent in all aspects of animal safety and well-being. Success also hinges on the Coordinator’s ability, with the Volunteer Program team, to collaborate effectively and frequently with subject matter experts across the ASPCA’s NYC-based programs which include the Adoption Center(AC), Kitten Nursery (KN), Animal Recovery Center (ARC) and Community Medicine (CM) and other interdepartmental teams. The Coordinator will generate and sustain volunteer access across programs and departments, cultivating volunteer opportunities, resources and support mechanisms to ensure that volunteers are fully engaged in the Volunteer Program and set up for success. The Coordinator, Volunteer Engagement, reports directly to the Senior Manager, Volunteer Engagement and has no direct staff reports, but oversees hundreds of volunteers, annually.

Requirements

• Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills
• Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility and multi-tasking capability with work assignments.
• Self-motivated with strong accountability – can be relied upon to fully complete assigned tasks and respond to requests in a timely manner.
• Able to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on Adoption Center and volunteer needs.
• Able to maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols.
• Excellent decision-making ability and sound judgement; able to act with urgency as emergent situations arise.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong attention to detail
• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office; familiarity with PetPoint or other shelter or veterinary software systems a plus.
• Facility with, or ability to learn and use additional software programs, such as Digital Cheetah, Canva, MailChimp and Airtable.
• Commitment to prioritizing human and animal safety and well-being.
• Must be able to bend, stand and lift frequently and engage in repetitive motions throughout a shift.
• Must be comfortable working with and safely handling cats and dogs.
• Fear Free Shelter certification is required within 60 days of hire
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies
• High school diploma required
• Minimum 1 year of professional experience in client relations, volunteer programs or animal welfare (e.g.: shelter or veterinary practice) required
• Language: English (Required)
• Education and Work Experience: High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent Experience (Required)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in volunteer coordination or management (preferred)
• Animal handling experience; knowledge of basic animal care (preferred)
• Administrative experience (a plus)
• Experience with training development and facilitation (a plus)

Responsibilities

• Volunteer Program Coordination: In partnership with the Senior Manager and Manager of Volunteer Engagement, foster a volunteer culture and environment that supports comprehensive, safe and efficient care of animals in ASPCA facilities, and opportunities to engage meaningfully in the support of shelter operations. Identify needs and support the design and implementation of volunteer roles and training in key operational areas. Collaborate with Medical, Behavior and Welfare teams to ensure the consistent and aligned use of sheltering best practices in volunteer programming. Support the continuous evolution and streamlining of volunteer onboarding and training processes and the development of impactful volunteer activities to meet operational needs. Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, volunteers and clients by using low-stress handling techniques and adhering to all safety policies. Engage deeply in processes to build volunteer access, skills and ability, matching them with appropriate opportunities within the organization. Cultivate positive, trusting and productive relationships between staff and volunteers to support operations, animal care and outcomes. Prioritize shift fulfillment in key areas by appropriately trained volunteers; proactively identify and take steps to mitigate gaps in volunteer coverage. Maintain accurate volunteer and shelter database information. Execute day-to-day, weekly and monthly volunteer program administrative tasks. Scan for and establish processes to create efficiencies in volunteer support activities. Seek and facilitate ongoing opportunities to provide formal and informal volunteer recognition, acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of volunteers. Support a culture of learning and collaboration in the Adoption Center, including ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment, and the regular practice of giving and receiving feedback. Facilitate or support special projects as assigned.
• Volunteer Training and Support: With the Senior Manager and Manager, Volunteer Engagement, facilitate new volunteer orientations and relevant onboarding processes. Prioritize, uphold and model processes to ensure volunteers receive appropriate training (including animal handling training), supervision, and ongoing coaching from cross-departmental staff teams. Support and coach colleagues in working effectively with volunteers; solicit objective feedback from colleagues on volunteer roles and performance. Engage volunteers in regular communication; provide routine, timely and emergent operational and programmatic updates, extend learning opportunities, and maintain consistency in sharing constructive/developmental coaching and feedback. Equally prioritize the solicitation of volunteer feedback on their roles and experience. Provide volunteers with direct, transparent communication about the purpose of their volunteer roles and help volunteers to understand that humane euthanasia may ultimately be the appropriate outcome for some animals. Be a consistent and visible presence and coach for volunteers; be available to answer questions, give & receive feedback, lend a hand, and ensure deep understanding of and compliance with ASPCA and Adoption Center philosophy, policies and operations.

Benefits

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you.
• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year.
• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field, and so much more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED