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Job Title:Foster & Transfer Coordinator

Department: Animal Placement

Reports To: Animal Placement Manager

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Location: Arlington, VA

POSITION SUMMARY

The Foster & Transfer Coordinator expands and supports the capacity of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington's (AWLA) foster and transfer programs. This position recruits, trains, and retains foster caregivers and ensures animals placed in foster homes receive appropriate care and support. The Coordinator also manages the intake and outflow of transferred animals and is primarily responsible for building strong, sustainable relationships with partner shelters and rescue organizations. This role serves as a resource and mentor to staff and volunteers supporting these programs, ensures accurate documentation and compliance with foster and transfer procedures, and collaborates across departments to achieve optimal outcomes for animals.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Foster Program

• Work closely with the animal care, medical, and behavior teams to identify animals who are candidates for foster placement and to establish appropriate care pathways.
• Coordinate foster animal pick-up and drop-off.
• Monitor the health (preventatives, vaccines, surgeries) and behavior of animals in foster through regular communication with foster caregivers, and coordinate follow-up care with the medical, behavior, adoption, and animal control teams.
• Recruit, onboard, and engage foster caregivers through a variety of methods, coordinating with other departments as needed to support these efforts.
• Assist in developing and facilitating foster orientation and training sessions, ensuring resources support a positive and consistent caregiver experience.
• Maintain accurate records of foster families, animal placements, and observations relevant to care decisions and adoption matching.
• Communicate proactively and responsively with foster caregivers, including timely updates on program changes, challenges, policies, and protocols.
• Communicate compassionately about sensitive topics, such as medical treatment and euthanasia, and provide guidance to foster caregivers during these situations.
• Manage and distribute foster supplies and materials as needed.
• Collaborate with the supervisor and colleagues to evaluate and improve foster processes, protocols, and caregiver support.
• Collaborate with AWLA staff to plan and implement activities and events that support the growth of the foster program.

Transfer Program

• Oversee and coordinate incoming and outgoing animal transfers, ensuring safe, timely, and appropriate movement of animals.
• Obtain required transfer documentation (e.g., bite history, medical records) and enter it into shelter databases.
• Cultivate relationships with partner shelters and rescue organizations and maintain active MOUs and partnership agreements, including travel to partner organizations for animal selection and relationship building.
• Identify opportunities for animal outflow to trusted partners and oversee coordination of transfer-out processes.
• Build and maintain a network of transfer partners for both transfer-in and transfer-out to ensure optimal outcomes for shelter animals.
• Monitor transfer statistics, prepare reports, and evaluate program impact.

People Care

• Serve as a day-to-day resource and mentor to foster caregivers, staff, and volunteers supporting the foster and transfer programs. This position does not include formal direct reports.
• Train staff and volunteers on best practices for transport, intake processing, and documentation.
• Enlist and coordinate volunteer and staff support for activities including animal transport, medical intake, and documentation.
• Provide courteous, professional support to volunteers, adopters, fosters, and staff.
• Model positive, respectful interactions consistent with AWLA's Compassionate Culture.

Administrative & Record Support

• Maintain accurate and timely foster and transfer records in shelter databases in accordance with established protocols.
• Follow documentation and recordkeeping standards to support the Animal Care, Veterinary, Behavior, and Adoption teams.
• Ensure compliance with all foster and transfer procedures and partner agreements.

Other Duties

• Demonstrate knowledge of and adherence to AWLA policies, procedures, safety protocols, and code of conduct.
• Support a clean, organized, and safe work environment.
• Take immediate action to report safety concerns that could put staff, volunteers, animals, or the organization at risk.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
• At least two (2) years of experience in an animal shelter or rescue organization; direct experience with foster care coordination or animal transfer preferred.
• Experience leading or training teams, either formally or informally, strongly desired.
• Experience working with animals of varying species, behaviors, and medical needs.
• Demonstrated success in customer service, team leadership, and partnership building.
• Excellent communication, conflict-resolution, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to balance empathy and professionalism in emotionally charged situations.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and shelter management software (e.g., PetPoint or equivalent).
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and exercise sound judgment under pressure.
• Ability to safely handle cats, dogs, small companion animals, wildlife, and rabies vector species.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs., work on feet for extended periods, and perform physically demanding tasks.
• Comfort working around bodily fluids, cleaning chemicals, injured or ill animals, and euthanasia-related activities.
• Ability to receive pre-exposure rabies vaccination upon employment.
• Availability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and non-standard hours, with a schedule that may change as needed.
• Commitment to AWLA's core values of compassion, transparency, and teamwork.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Fluency in English required.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

Working with animals requires frequent bending, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and extended periods of standing or walking. Strong hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity are necessary to operate common equipment such as computers, telephones, and other tools used in daily tasks.

Employees should be prepared for exposure to injured or deceased animals, disinfectant chemicals, and fluctuating indoor and outdoor temperatures. This role may involve assisting with the restraint of animals, including those that are distressed or aggressive, and may involve potential hazards such as bites or scratches.

Physical strength and stamina are essential for managing animals on leash while performing other tasks, such as opening doors or moving equipment. The ability to lift and move animals or objects weighing up to 50 lbs. is required. This role involves active, physical work throughout the day and includes driving and loading and unloading animals for transport.

Clear vision and hearing are necessary for effective communication with the public, volunteers, staff, and animals. Flexibility and adaptability are critical due to frequent interruptions and changing priorities. Comfort working with a wide range of animals-including dogs, cats, small companion animals, reptiles, amphibians, and wildlife-is essential.

This position also requires emotional intelligence, empathy, and resilience to navigate both the rewarding and challenging aspects of animal welfare work. Employees must remain composed, compassionate, and focused in a fast-paced, emotionally dynamic environment.

VACCINATION REQUIREMENTS

Upon hire, employees are required to receive rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis and a tetanus vaccination.

The Animal Welfare League of Arlington is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees, volunteers, and program participants. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.