Volunteer Animal Writer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Description

Santa Fe Animal Shelter seeks creative and mission-driven leadership to help center volunteerism within our culture of philanthropy. You already know the solutions to our community's problems come from within our community. Help all Shelter departments galvanize, cheerlead, problem solve, and celebrate the citizen contributions that help us achieve our mission to Support Animals, Save Lives, Spread Compassion. 

PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS    

Targeted recruitment

• Develop strategy to support evolving organization and departmental priorities  
• Engage volunteers as mission ambassadors to multiply recruitment impact
• Analyze, report, and act on volunteer lifecycle trends 
• Assist in strategic planning and department goal setting
• Present to civic and corporate groups and at tabling events

Engagement and retention

• Provide transparency and education on Shelter philosophy and policies
• Produce mass communications to update volunteers on news and events
• Plan and present volunteer orientation, education, and appreciation events
• Assist volunteers with issues, concerns, and resource needs
• Provide conflict resolution in support of SFAS Guiding Principles, including facilitated conversations and documentation

Multidisciplinary support

• Serve as the primary contact between current and future volunteers and every department of the Shelter 
• Participate in population rounds and promote volunteer-led solutions in animal pathway planning discussions
• Support all departments in developing and managing programs to engage volunteers in various roles across the Shelter 
• Collaborate with the Development department on marketing, communications, and recruitment initiatives
• Engage volunteers for fundraising events, transfers, Shelter emergencies, and disaster response, including emergency fostering

Admin support

• Record volunteer-generated observations; report on behavior, health, and facilities concerns; hold departments accountable to doing the same
• Perform volunteer incident and injury reporting, including animal bites
• Write, review, and organize SOPs to promote operational consistency and departmental succession 
• Build and maintain catalog of volunteer opportunities in our database software
• Facilitate self-help navigation by volunteers of the software and related mobile app for scheduling and logging service hours
• Maintain volunteer database profile records
• Assist with budget proposals, reviews, and expense management

QUALIFICATIONS  Expectations, skills and work experience 

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Confident public speaking skills in front of small and large groups
• 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

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
• 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 

Requirements

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders
• Confident public speaking skills in front of small and large groups
• 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
• Character supersedes particular experience; candidates with mission-driven values strongly preferred
• Animal welfare experience is a positive but not required
• While a portion of this job is not on-site, this is not a traditional "remote" position; the expectation is significant participation directly in the community we serve
• Weekend availability is required
• A valid New Mexico driver's license is required