Foster Coordinator

Job DetailsJob Location: Portland Campus - Portland, OR 97211Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $24.04 - $25.81 HourlyAbout Oregon Humane Founded in 1868, Oregon Humane is the Northwest's oldest and largest animal welfare organization with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. We are working toward our vision of a world where all animals are treated with compassion, kindness and respect. With campuses in Portland and Salem, Oregon Humane is an Oregon-based nonprofit that relies on donor support for its adoption, education, medical and humane law enforcement programs. Visit oregonhumane.org to learn more about how we’re creating an ecosystem where all of us – animals and humans – feel safe, valued and part of something bigger.   The Team The Foster Team plays a vital role in animal welfare by coordinating the placement of shelter animals into foster homes and supporting those placements through comprehensive training, communication, and resource management. This team actively builds and maintains a strong community of foster volunteers, develops educational materials and support tools, and matches animals to foster homes based on behavioral, medical, and logistical needs. Foster staff collaborate cross-departmentally with Medical, Admissions, Behavior, and Shelter Operations to ensure appropriate, timely placement and return of foster animals, while continuously working to improve foster program accessibility, capacity, and impact. Through this work, the Foster Team directly contributes to reducing length of stay, improving animal outcomes, and creating a more flexible and responsive sheltering system   The Position The Foster department is an extension of animal housing within the homes of our dedicated foster parents. These volunteers function as stewards for the animals while they are in their care. Partnering with us to provide a safe, consistent environment outside of the shelter experience. Fostering animals allows Oregon Humane to take in and care for medically fragile, underweight/age, behaviorally regressing, protective custody, excess animals and animals that are struggling in the shelter environment. During their time of care with Oregon Humane, we ensure each animal receives everything they may need from the basics of daily care to advanced medical services, behavioral support or just a place to decompress from all they have been through before. As a member of the foster team, you will collaborate each day across multiple departments, a diverse team of colleagues, and many generous volunteers; to assess, place and support each animal that spends time in this program. Success in this role will come for someone who can juggle multiple priorities, swiftly switch direction, embraces change, enjoys a very fast-paced environment but can still be self-directed during the slower periods. You must be able to assume positive intent and remain calm in high stress/highly emotionally situations. Foster parent volunteers are essential to this department and the daily lifesaving work we do. We think of them as clients and strive to create a volunteer opportunity for them that is welcoming, consistent, where they feel cared for. Empathy and the ability to de-escalate conflicts are key-components in this role.   Eligible Benefits We are committed to creating a better future for pets, and we work hard to achieve our goals while offering a rewarding workplace including competitive benefit packages to our employees.     Medical/Dental/Vision Paid Time Off + Sick Time + Holidays 401(k) with employer match Professional Development Opportunities One free Oregon Humane adoption / year Perks & Discounts   Essential Responsibilities PERSONAL LEADERSHIP Consistently strives to exceed expectations; demonstrates flexibility, resilience, and the ability to maintain positive relationships and composure, even under difficult circumstances. Maintains high ethical standards, including exhibiting behaviors and actions that embrace and align to our organization and customer service values, while treating all people with respect and dignity. Demonstrates an awareness of your individual personal strengths and development needs, modeling non-defensive behavior and openness to feedback; builds a culture of feedback and learning. LEARNING Contributes to regular dialogue and accountability with the leadership team and across the organization to review progress and course correct if necessary. Utilizes data and insights to identify, understand and articulate the key inputs and metrics that tell the story of the organization/team strategy and its progress. Builds appropriate feedback loops to measure if we are meeting key milestones and if the impact planned is being felt across the organization.   INFLUENCE & REPRESENTATION Communicate effectively to executive and other stakeholder groups to ensure they are informed and able to actively engage. Liaise with and maintain productive relationships with all stakeholders, including other departments, and donors; build mutually rewarding professional relationships inside Oregon Humane at all levels. Leverage our best practices externally and grow Oregon Humane’ reputation as a leader in the animal welfare space.   PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES Identify, match, and retain foster caregivers according to experience level and program needs in a timely manner. Gathers and maintains accurate foster program data and records using Excel and internal databases; generates routine reports and brings observed discrepancies or issues to the Foster Manager's attention. Coordinates, trains, and communicates to all foster volunteers in an organized and timely manner. Builds and sustains a positive, supportive, and inclusive community for foster volunteers, including recognition efforts, conflict resolution, and proactive check-ins. Maintains and distributes foster care literature and materials; drafts new or updated content for the Foster Manager's review, editing, and policy-alignment approval prior to rollout. Produce activity reports, provide specific training, encourage accurate reporting of hours by foster volunteers, and address issues of non-compliance. Maintains and organizes foster caregiver supplies. Works with the public, staff, students, and volunteers to resolve complaints and issues in a diplomatic and professional manner. Provides vaccinations during wellness exams. Works in a manner that reflects a safe environment for animals, the public, volunteers, and other employees. Understands and supports established policies and position statements regarding animal welfare subjects. Solve problems in a timely, professional, and positive manner. Assumes positive intent with members of the public, co-workers, foster parents, and any  individual you may interact with as a representative of The Oregon Humane Society. Ability to adapt schedule as requested by leadership within reason to meet needs of animal intake including emergency situations. Participates in a paid rotating on-call system to respond to urgent foster care needs outside of standard business hours, such as medical or behavioral concerns and unanticipated animal returns. On-call duties are scheduled in advance and equitably distributed among Foster Coordinators and Medical staff. Staff are trained in trauma-informed communication and supported by established escalation protocols to ensure that both foster parents and team members are met with care, clarity, and consistency During this time, you must be able to immediately proceed to the OHS, Portland campus if a medical team member requests your assistance. Can communicate clearly and adapt style to meet the needs of fosters, clients, peers, and other internal departments. Perform any other duty as requested by management.   SUPERVISOR RESPONSIBILITY Supervises: None   ACCOUNTABILITY Reports Directly To: Manager, Foster Often Engages Directly With: Admissions, Foster Volunteers QualificationsMinimum Qualification & Transferable Skills We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We welcome applicants who bring a diversity of identity, culture, experience, perspective and thought. We encourage you to apply, even if you do not believe you meet every one of the qualifications described. You are also encouraged to address how your professional and lived experience, scholarship, mentorship and/or service will contribute to Oregon Humane. 2 years related work experience in customer service, retail, food service, animal care/handling, and/or a high-pressure, high-volume work environment. Knowledge and experience working with a wide variety of dog, cat, and other small animal species and breeds. No prior experience administering vaccinations is required; on-site training is provided. Demonstrates trauma-informed communication, compassion fatigue awareness, and the ability to provide emotional support or resources to foster parents navigating loss or stress. Able to solve problems in a constructive and positive manner Able and willing to work with others in a collaborative, solution-oriented manner; shares relevant information with others in a prompt and accurate manner. Able to maintain a professional, calm demeanor and exercise sound judgment during high-workload, emotionally charged situations and in all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff, and volunteers. Able to manage multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shift attention among tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration. Open to changing situations and opportunities, demonstrating a willingness to consider new ways of doing things and diversity of opinion. Ability to recognize signs of a medical or behavioral emergency and immediately escalate to Medical staff or the Foster Manager. Able to work full time schedule including at least one regular weekend day. Exhibit honesty, discretion, and integrity always. Able to exercise sound judgment and maintain a professional demeanor during all interactions with the public, partner agencies, donors, staff and volunteers. Proficiency using the Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel. Excellent verbal and written communication skills - able to communicate with a diverse population in a consistently informative, respectful and professional manner. Preferred 1+ year(s) animal shelter and/or veterinary medical experience. Basic knowledge of animal behavior and training techniques. Experience with conflict resolution and mediation. Experience coordinating across departments. Public speaking or teaching experience.   Work Environment Conditions & Physical Requirements This position interacts and collaborates will all levels of the organization, including Oregon Humane staff, executive team members, donors, general public, external vendors, volunteers, and supporters. Contact and communication is carried out through face-to-face, telephone and digital interactions. Excellent customer service skills are essential to success. Communication must be clear, understandable, professional and respectful in all circumstances. WORKING CONDITIONS Work is performed in an office and medical center/animal shelter environment. Travel between the two campuses may be required. Working at both campuses may be required. Occasional weekend and evening work may be required. Animal contact and related injuries may occur. Noise exposure varies and sometimes includes uncontrolled barking and other animal vocalizations. Pace of work is active and demanding, requiring a high degree of multitasking and ability to adapt to changing priorities while managing concurrent projects/tasks to completion. Contact with angry or emotional people may occur.   PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS Occasional lifting and moving of inanimate objects weighing up to 50 lbs. Occasional pushing and pulling of carted items weighing up to 100 lbs. Occasional moving items above shoulder level. Occasional use of hands and arms at or above shoulder level. Prolonged standing, sitting and/or stooping may occur. Occasional climbing and bending. Must be able to lift, move, restrain, guide, or manage an animal weighing up to 150 lbs. on a leash on an occasional basis. Must be able to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods. Ability to respond and perform life saving techniques in an emergency.   Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Achieving our mission begins with how we build our team and work together. Through our commitment to enriching our organization with people of different origins, beliefs, backgrounds and ways of thinking, we are better able to leverage the collective power of our teams and address and overcome complex challenges and barriers. We strive for a culture of integrity, respect and compassion where every member of our community contributes their perspectives and authentic selves and where everyone reaches their potential as individuals and teams. We recognize that striving for diversity, equity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive than we are today.   Equal Employment Opportunity Oregon Humane is an equal opportunity employer that does not tolerate discrimination on any basis. We actively seek out diverse backgrounds, perspectives and skills so that we can be collectively stronger and have sustained impact.   We are committed to providing an environment of respect and psychological safety where equal employment opportunities are available to all. We do not engage in or tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, disability (including HIV/AIDS status), marital status, military veteran status or any other protected group.   At-Will Employment This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.