Hug Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Position Summary:  

The Community and Education Manager will be responsible for representing Joybound People & Pets in the community, developing and leading public-facing programs, developing and facilitating youth education, and collaborating with the Community Engagement team to expand and implement outreach opportunities to share the incredible programs and educational materials Joybound offers. The Community and Education Manager needs to be an excellent communicator, creative, outgoing, self-motivated, organized, enthusiastic about the human-animal bond, and community-driven to take on this exciting role. A positive attitude and ability to be a motivational team player is a must. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 

Leadership (10%) 

• Lead by action and example to advance a culture of positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence at Joybound. 

• Lead the strategic development and execution of community and education activities, including events, workshops, appearances, and other communication opportunities.   

• Aligns community and education program with the organization’s core values, goals, strategic commitments, and DEIB initiatives. 

• Advocates for and meaningfully contributes to diverse, equitable, and inclusive practices. 

Program Management (70%) 

• Lead the execution of the Pet Hug Pack® including negotiating contracts and obligations with school districts, school sites, hospitals, and community sites; recruit and train Pet Hug Pack teams on therapy animal work and outcomes; develop and facilitate ongoing education; and evaluation and placements of teams. 

• Manage the development, oversight, and budget of youth education programs for both in school and out of school experiences. Implement youth and community educational workshops, camps, and field trips aligned with industry best practices and pedagogical excellence.   

• Manage Joybound birthday parties, student clubs, group events, and community outreach in collaboration with volunteers.  

• Ideate, design, and execute large-, medium-, and small-scale community events leading to increased participation, donorship, and engagement with Joybound. This includes flagship festival events as well as piloting new, creative experiences for the public. 

• Recruit and train volunteers needed for weekly scheduling of community service opportunities. Train and manage volunteers for special events, both external and internal. 

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise staff and volunteers facilitating educational offerings including Camp Counselors and event volunteers. 

• Continuously evaluates all aspects of the community and education program, recommending improvements to senior leadership as appropriate 

• Communicates requests, expectations, and improvements clearly and supports an atmosphere of trust, transparency, and support to staff and volunteers. 

• Investigate and resolve problems that may arise between volunteers, staff, and/or the public in a timely manner; provide coaching, corrective, or disciplinary actions as needed. 

• Research best practices for teen/high school intern programming and creation of high school campus clubs for future implementation in collaboration with volunteer services team. 

• Fulfills commitments via administering sponsor benefits to corporate and individual sponsors in a manner that will inspire sponsor satisfaction and renewal. 

• Proactively seek out and promote educational opportunities for community members on how they can get involved with Joybound through volunteering, fostering, adoptions, etc. Schedule, attend, and participate in outreach exhibitions in the community.  

Administrative & Reporting Duties (10%) 

• Maintains and reports statistics, data, and outcomes information consistent with strategic plan and work plans. 

• Prepares quarterly statistical reports, including tracking of program attendance, revenue, and additional reports as needed, managing and analyzing data. 

• Prepares and monitors adherence to departmental budget by tracking budgeted expenses, revenue, and departmental impact data, reporting metrics to illustrate effectiveness. 

• Coordinate staff or volunteer replacements when shifts are open, including last-minute department requests for volunteers. 

• Maintain outreach calendar. 

• Prepare accurate records and reports on the goals of the outreach programs.  

Additional Responsibilities (10%) 

• Participates in annual budgeting and other planning processes as required. 

• Work seamlessly and respectfully with staff and volunteers to ensure each program and event is staffed to provide appropriate expertise. 

• Supports events, fundraising, television requests, and other media spots as requested; provides shelter tours for guests. 

• Maintain confidentiality of all information. 

• At all times, treats people and animals with respect, contributes to effective teamwork, promotes staff cooperation, and fosters public relations beneficial to Joybound. Promote a humane and caring attitude toward all animals and people. 

• Maintain effective communication and cooperation with Joybound staff and volunteers. 

• Perform duties in a manner that encourages attainment of goals, contributions, and business for Joybound and its programs. 

• Perform other duties as assigned.     

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:  

• Experience in developing educational workshops and community-based programs and events. 

• Ability to effectively recruit, train, and manage department staff and volunteers. 

• Proficient in computer skills including MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, Excel, Power Point). Ability to learn new database systems and develop consistent procedures for these systems.  

• Effective written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate with the public, volunteers, and co-workers in a pleasant, courteous, and tactful manner. 

• Outstanding presentation skills. 

• Friendly, enthusiastic, and positive attitude. 

• Strong knowledge of social media and other basic marketing platforms. 

• Detail-orientated with the ability to manage multiple projects at a time 

• Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.  

• Pre-employment background screening required. 

• Must have a valid California Driver’s License and must not have more than two at-fault incidents in a three-year period and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years and must be insured. 

Education and Experience 

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or comparable certification. High school diploma or GED required. 

• Experience of 3-4 years working in community engagement or education field with pet related organizations preferred. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens. 

• Ability to lift and move objects up to 30 pounds for short distances. 

• Kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach above and below shoulder level, grasp and turn objects, stand, and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift. 

• Flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist. 

• Sit for long and short periods of time while using a computer. 

• Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens.  

• Tetanus and rabies inoculations are required or must be waived. 

• Drive an automobile. 

Exempt:

Full-time, exempt position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week, Tuesday-Saturday schedule, including occasional evening work. Hours and workdays may vary according to the needs of the department.

At Joybound, we value diversity and treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of or traits historically associated with race; color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.