Volunteer Outreach Coordinator

City of Hesperia

Job Description

DEFINITION:

Under general supervision, coordinate community-based events, volunteer program and other special animal services programs, including outreach, foster care, and rescue placements; performs related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

The Volunteer Outreach Coordinator is responsible for assigning, assisting with training and overseeing volunteer program in the enrichment of animals and coordinating animal services program events.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED:

Supervision is received from the Animal Service Supervisor or designee. This classification may exercise technical and functional supervision over lower clerical, technicians, volunteers, or hourly staff.

Examples of Duties
Organizes and coordinates the Animal Services volunteer program; recruit volunteers and orient personnel in providing animal enrichment.
Plans and coordinates all aspects of special and community-based events and programs, including outreach, foster care, volunteer, rescue placements, and related services
Represents the Animal Services department; organize and lead programs and arrangements for special events including staffing; ensure that set-ups, equipment operation, and breakdowns are performed in a satisfactory manner.
Trains volunteers and lower-level personnel in the areas of work; ensures adherence to safe work methods, procedures and practices; identifies training opportunities and needs; makes recommendations to the Supervisor and Manager.
Engage animals in exercise and play, including large and small dog playgroups and pack walks, in a safe and structured manner.
Demonstrate an ability to handle animals in a humane and compassionate manner.
Takes photographs of animals, posts them on the animal services website, and enters information into the appropriate database for adoption purposes.
Assist in selecting and preparing animals for community education and outreach events based on behavior and adoptability.
Perform a variety of rescue networking responsibilities; identify animals for rescue placement; contact rescue groups in a timely manner and coordinate pick up/transport of animals; prepare and complete documentation.
Organizes, coordinates, recruits and approves foster homes for temporary placement of animals; provides with necessary animal care supplies.
Maintain required and accurate logs, records and reports for all housed and/or impounded animals, volunteer services, adoption events and other activities.
Answer questions and provide information and direction on services to the public; respond to inquiries and/or complaints either in writing and/or verbally and forward to appropriate area or person for resolution.
Completes paperwork and handles telephone calls pertaining to public inquiries on basic animal care and housing, adoption of animals or for locating animals that have been picked up by animal control officers.
Assist with cleaning and maintaining of animal care facilities and disinfects; accordingly, including kennel areas, front lobby, hallways and other assigned areas of the shelter.
Assist with answering phones, direct public guidance on animal services program, relay messages to officers and ensures accurate data is entered into animal management system.
May assist with intake duties for animals brought to shelter; ensures accurate data is entered into animal management system; takes photographs of animals, posts them on the animal services website, and enters information into the appropriate database for adoption purposes.
May accept animals turned in by the public and complete the necessary paperwork; assist with the placement of animals in the appropriate run or cage.
May provides assistance to members of the public wishing to claim their pets and to customers wishing to adopt an animal; may escorts customers through the shelter; responds to questions regarding adoption procedures and fees.
Demonstrates a full understanding of applicable policies, procedures and work methods associated with assigned duties.
Build and maintain positive working relationships with co-workers, other employees and the public using principles of good customer service.
Perform other related and peripheral duties as required and necessary for the successful performance of this job.
Typical Qualifications
Education and/or Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for an Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator. A typical way of obtaining the required qualifications is to possess the equivalent of two (2) year of major college course work in animal welfare or a related field or three (3) years of animal welfare or community service experience, preferably in a municipal government environment;; possession of a High School diploma or GED.

License/Certificate:

Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid class “C” California driver’s license.

Other Requirements:

Must be able to participate with the required City’s Adjusted Workweek Schedule, and work weekends, holidays, and evenings on a rotating shift in order to provide customer service to the community during open shelter hours.
Supplemental Information
Knowledge of:

Principles and practices of program development and administration; grant writing and fund raising; volunteer services and resources; public education, and community relations; recruitment standards; modern office equipment including a computer and applicable software; practices, methods and procedures; methods and techniques of record keeping; current animal welfare industry standards and regulations; various breeds of dogs, cats, and other domestic animals; safe and efficient methods of handling domestic and wild animals.

Skill to:

Operate an office computer and a variety of word processing and software applications.

Ability to:

Read and understand policies and procedures; recognize normal and abnormal animal behavior; communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing; analyze situations carefully and adopt effective courses of action; meet appropriate physical demands necessary for adequate job performance; work independently; understand and follow instructions; courteously respond to public issues, concerns and needs under both normal and adverse conditions; explain animal services program, rules and regulations to customers and the public; establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Working Conditions:

Position requires prolonged or intermittent sitting, standing, walking on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, stooping, squatting, crouching, crawling, lifting, stepping up and jumping over physical barriers, running or walking from one location to another in the performance of daily duties. The position also requires both near and far vision when performing animal care functions, operating assigned equipment, and reading written reports and other work related documents. Acute hearing is required when providing phone service and communicating in person. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate when indoors and moderate to loud when in animal shelter facility and outdoors. The need to lift, carry, push, and pull animals, equipment and supplies weighing up to 100 pounds is required. When working outdoors, the incumbent may encounter extreme weather conditions, including, wet, hot, cold, wind, snow, ice, and heavy vehicle traffic. The incumbent may use cleaning chemicals, which may expose the employee to fumes, dust and air contaminants. Additionally, the incumbent may be exposed to blood-borne pathogens while using hypodermic needles on animals; animal scratches and bites; fumes, pungent odors, gases, chemicals, pollens, and other airborne irritants. The nature of the work also requires the incumbent to handle potentially dangerous large livestock and various wild animals (bats, snakes, bobcats, etc.), aggressive and biting animals, drive motorized vehicles, and often work with constant interruptions. Position also includes regular exposure to various zoonotic diseases.

This is a full time job