Animal Rescue Coordinator Jobs in Ohio (NOW HIRING)

Animal Friends Humane Society

Position Title: Cat Care Coordinator

Reports To: Executive Director / Operations Manager
Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

Position Summary

The Cat Care Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the daily management and progression of all cats and kittens within Animal Friends Humane Society’s care. This position plays a critical role in ensuring every cat receives exceptional medical care, behavioral support, enrichment, foster placement, rescue opportunities, and adoption services while maintaining efficient movement through the shelter system.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Foster Program Management

• Serve as the primary coordinator for all cat and kitten foster placements.
• Recruit, support, educate, and maintain positive relationships with foster families.
• Monitor foster animals throughout their stay coordinating medical follow-ups and behavioral updates.
• Ensure foster homes receive supplies, medications, and educational resources.
• Grow and strengthen the shelter’s foster program through outreach, training events, and relationship building.

Animal Flow & Population Management

• Monitor the movement of cats and kittens throughout the shelter system.
• Ensure timely progression through intake, medical treatment, foster care, behavior assessment, adoption, rescue, and transfer.
• Identify and resolve bottlenecks that delay outcomes.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records in PetPoint.

Medical Coordination

• Perform general health assessments, administer vaccines, dewormers, microchips, sub-Q fluids, and medications as trained and directed.
• Schedule veterinary appointments and spay/neuter surgeries and coordinate drop-offs and pick-ups.
• Monitor and communicate treatment plans to appropriate staff, volunteers, and foster families.

Behavioral Management

• Perform temperament and behavior evaluations.
• Develop and implement individualized behavior modification plans for cats experiencing stress or behavioral challenges.
• Document behavioral observations thoroughly and accurately.
• Work collaboratively with staff and foster families to improve the wellbeing of the cat population in the building, and out.

Rescue Coordination / Off-Site Adoption Programs

• Maintain and build relationships with rescue organizations and Satellite Adoption locations.
• Oversee volunteers who provide daily care at Satellite Adoption locations
• Coordinate transfers to both by identifying cats appropriate for rescue/off-site placement and ensuring all medical records, behavioral notes, and transfer paperwork are complete and accurate.

Barn Cat / TNR Programs

• Evaluate and identify cats suitable for working cat or barn placement.
• Match cats with suitable homes and educate adopters on acclimation and long-term care.
• Complete all required documentation.
• Support TNR efforts including advertising TNR events, intaking cats into PetPoint, obtaining signed waivers, and outcoming cats once returned and released.

Shelter Intake Coordination

• Manage the cat intake request email and evaluate intake requests based on shelter capacity and organizational priorities.
• Schedule incoming animals appropriately and communicate professionally with owners, finders, and community members.

Enrichment & Welfare

• Develop and oversee daily enrichment programs for all shelter cats and kittens.
• Ensure enrichment plans are individualized when appropriate.
• Train staff and volunteers on enrichment techniques.
• Monitor animal welfare and quality of life.

Program Materials & Communication

• Create and maintain foster applications, foster manuals, care guides, flyers, and other program materials.
• Assist in keeping website pages current and relevant.
• Maintain clear and professional communication with foster families, rescue partners, adopters, volunteers, and staff.

Inventory Management

• Maintain adequate inventory of all foster, enrichment, and medical supplies and submit requests for replenishment when items are low.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in euthanasia decisions; perform humane euthanasia once certified.
• Train and support staff and volunteers working with cat care and foster programs.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and organized workspace.
• Follow all Animal Friends Humane Society policies, safety procedures, and animal welfare standards.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High School diploma or equivalent required.
• Valid driver’s license with reliable transportation.
• Ability to safely lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Comfortable working around cats of varying temperaments and medical conditions.
• Ability to safely handle fractious or fearful cats using Fear Free and low-stress handling techniques.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and occasional evenings as shelter operations require.

Preferred

• Experience working in an animal shelter, rescue organization, or veterinary clinic.
• Experience handling neonatal kittens.
• Knowledge of feline behavior and behavior modification techniques.
• Experience administering vaccines and basic veterinary treatments.

The ideal candidate is

• Friendly, personable, outgoing and compassionate, professional, and dependable
• Highly organized with excellent attention to detail
• A quick thinker who remains calm under pressure
• Able to think creatively and outside the box when solving medical or behavioral challenges
• Self-motivated and able to prioritize multiple responsibilities
• Comfortable making independent decisions while collaborating with leadership
• An excellent communicator with staff, volunteers, foster families, adopters, and rescue partners
• Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced shelter environment

Physical Requirements

• Frequently stand, walk, bend, kneel, crouch, and lift.
• Lift and carry up to 50 pounds safely.
• Work in environments with cleaning chemicals, animal dander, noise, and odors.
• Safely restrain and handle cats of varying sizes and temperaments.
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.

Performance Expectations

Success in this position includes:

• Efficient movement of cats through the shelter system.
• Well-maintained and growing foster program.
• Accurate and timely medical and behavioral documentation.
• Strong relationships with foster families and rescue partners.
• High-quality enrichment and welfare for all cats.
• Positive adopter experiences.
• Excellent teamwork and communication.
• Consistent organization and reliability.
• Creative problem solving to improve live outcomes for cats and kittens.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Employee pet veterinary care and food discounts
• Dental, STD, and Death benefits
• SIMPLE IRA retirement savings plan
• Opportunities for professional development
• Meaningful work that directly impacts the lives of animals and families in our community

Schedule

Full-time, 40 hours per week.
Standard schedule is Tuesday-Saturday or Sunday-Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but position requires flexibility based on program needs.  
Participation in the foster support on-call rotation is expected.

Please note: All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.

Disclaimer:

This application is not a contract of employment with Animal Friends Humane Society. If you were to achieve employment with us, you are free to discontinue your employment at any given time and Animal Friends also reserves the right to terminate your employment without notice. Please ensure that all the above information is deemed accurate. Signing this application below states that you have completed everything to the best of your knowledge and truthfully. Thanks for your interest in Animal Friends Humane Society