Kennel Assistant Jobs in Rio Rancho, NM (NOW HIRING)

Description

Why bring only half of yourself to work? Combine your big-picture thinking with your big heart to make a brighter future for Santa Fe's animals. Creative, mission-driven leadership unites with compassion in New Hope, our fast-paced foster program, which partners with the community to shelter outside the shelter.   

Strategic vision

• Collaborate across Shelter departments to develop and promote foster-led solutions as part of overall pathway planning strategy
• Develop programs to increase community impact, ensure sustainability, and decrease animals' length of stay
• Build relationships with internal stakeholders, including our medical team, to develop protocols for efficient flow of animals
• Collaborate with Volunteer Services team to build community among all volunteers

Recruitment and engagement

• Recruit, train, and support volunteer fosters for animals in need of age-related, medical, and behavioral intervention
• Coordinate veterinary care for fosters with our medical team
• Serve as liaison between Behavior Team and fosters for support and resources
• Support fosters in the use of our volunteer management software
• Collect and use foster observation notes to build the animal's adoption profile

Community outreach

• Oversee the Adoption Ambassador program, supporting these special fosters in coordinating adoptions for our animals in the community
• Maintain relationships with community partners including emergency veterinary clinics
• Work with business sponsors to host and promote supply and donation drives
• Coordinate Adoption Ambassador fosters to attend community events

Departmental sustainability

• Produce and update manuals, documentation, and SOPs
• Supervise and manage foster staff and office admin volunteers
• Maintain accurate animal and people records using our kennel management and volunteer management database software
• Complete departmental reports in an accurate and timely manner
• Assist with budget development, supply ordering, and expense tracking 

Shelter operations support

• Promote foster outcomes to support Shelter population and capacity needs, including during natural disasters, transfers to and from partner shelters, and infectious disease management 
• Participate in population rounds and record animal behavior and health observations
• Support the Shelter's lifesaving decision making processes, which include conversations about humane euthanasia

Requirements

Expectations, skills and work experience 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Proven relationship builder with ability to maintain excellent boundaries in professional interactions, including with volunteers 
• Experience managing volunteers and working as a volunteer is a plus
• Professional training, budgeting, strategic planning, project management, and event planning skills preferred
• Participate in on-going education/training, including on-line courses and in-person seminars
• Candidates with mission-driven values and experience strongly preferred
• Animal welfare experience is a positive but not required
• Promote at all times, both internally and externally, a positive attitude and image regarding the Shelter and its practices
• Uphold all Guiding Principles, Rules of Engagement, and other standards adopted by SFAS to govern our work
• While a portion of this job is not on-site, this is not a traditional "remote" position; the expectation is some participation directly in the community we serve
• Weekend availability is required

Physical demands 

• Safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards 
• Perform repetitive motion including computer work, sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and bending for up to eight hours a day 
• Tolerate odor, noise, allergens and cleaning chemicals
• Handle animals including cats, dogs, and other animals at SFAS
• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and assist others as needed 
• Accommodate frequent interruptions and maintain a great deal of flexibility in assignment and performance of job duties
• Talk loudly over animal noises when necessary 
• A valid driver's license is required