Description

Are you passionate about animals and looking for an opportunity to help those in need? Do you have strong organizational and customer service skills? Then, Animal Friends wants to speak with you!

Position Summary:

The Animal Handling Liaison assists in fulfilling the mission and vision of Animal Friends by providing.

support to the Behavior and Behavior Care Departments in overseeing animal handlers at all levels and all species and supports volunteer integration into Lifesaving Operations in innovative ways that will increase our efficiency. This means that the Animal Handling Liaison is responsible for oversight of all aspects of the animal handling process for Animal Friends staff and volunteers including training, scheduling, retention, and on-going communication. 

The primary duties involve direct communication and customer service with volunteer animal handlers to help ensure the needs of our shelter animals are met and assisting with overseeing volunteer coverage in critical areas. This involves a firm understanding of Animal Friends policies and procedures as they relate to animal handling, enrichment, behavior modification and management, and safe handling practices. In addition to a broad knowledge base surrounding companion animal behavior, the incumbent will engage in regular communication with volunteer animal handlers regarding trainings, continuing education, updates on behavior plans. The Animal Handling Liaison will be in direct contact with the public, volunteers and other shelter staff and thus a positive, professional, and compassionate attitude along with a sincere desire to work with others are essential components of this position. The Animal Handling Liaison must also embrace the programs and mission of Animal Friends.

Essential Functions:

• Communicating information regarding shelter animal needs to volunteer animal handlers at all

levels for all species

• Assisting with recruitment of new volunteer animal handlers and other LSO volunteer support as

needed

• Creating and maintaining a robust intern program to increase support for day-to-day activities

• Supporting the Volunteering Department with scheduling training and mentoring sessions for

volunteer animal handlers.

• Assisting with the development and distribution of volunteer animal handler curriculum

•Anticipating and mitigating issues pertaining to animal handling, behavior modification, behavior

management plans, and other aspects of behavior training

• Collaborating with the Volunteer Department to develop additional opportunities for volunteer

attrition and retention

• Daily monitoring of shelter dog walking and communicating needs for additional support as

appropriate during times of low volunteer turnout

• Managing animal handling trainers and mentors

• Overseeing the progression through animal handling training for all Animal Friends staff as deemed

appropriate by department following initial orientation.

• Serving as the point of contact for all volunteer animal handler needs, requests, and issues

• Providing compassionate and professional customer service to all volunteer animal handlers

• Maintaining records and data related to volunteer animal handling activities

• Counseling and guiding volunteer animal handlers

• Developing a system for recognition of volunteer animal handlers and facilitating positive

professional relationships between LSO staff and volunteers

• Maintaining a commitment to supporting all organizational decisions and communicating those

decisions with compassion and professionalism

• Reporting updates on training plans, management plans, handler lists, etc. to volunteers

• Coordinating needs with other departments as necessary

• Engaging with volunteers regularly to collect feedback on the LSO/animal handling program and

recommending updates as appropriate

• Working with the Volunteering Department in planning volunteer animal handler appreciation

events (Soup Nights, socials, etc.)

• Following up with staff and volunteers regarding progress of projects, plans, etc.

• Identifying challenges within the volunteer animal handling program and developing creative and

compassionate solutions to on-going issues

• Ensuring all interactions with shelter animals are documented appropriately

• Providing oversight of volunteer animal handlers to adherence to policies and procedures

• Engaging in regular, on-going communication with the Volunteer Services Department

• Tracking volunteer animal handler hours to understand trends and impact on capacity for care

calculations

• Posting volunteer opportunities in support of other departments such as off-site events, on-site

events, and other animal handler needs.

• Communicating with other departments as needed

• Leverage volunteer talent by engaging their assistance within the department, thereby helping us to

further our mission and vision and to achieve the organization’s expectation of 100% integration of

volunteers into our programs

• Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required

• Must be at least 18 years of age

• Working knowledge of shelter animal behavior

• Experience working within a shelter or animal-focused environment

• Must be comfortable working with and around dogs, cats, and rabbits of all breeds and

temperaments

• Must be willing to achieve and maintain blue level handler status in all species

• Must have access to dependable transportation and openness to local travel

• Valid driver’s license preferred

• Flexible work availability preferred; organization is a 24hr operation, which may require individuals

to work evenings, weekends, holidays and/or special events at times, including Black Tie & Tails.

• Must be willing to work a varying schedule, some evenings and weekends required

• The physical demands for this job are as follows: Medium Work – Medium work is defined as lifting

50lbs maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 35lbs

• Valid Pennsylvania Child Abuse, State Police, and FBI Fingerprint Clearances

• Must meet essential functions within 60 days of hire

• Must have a sincere interest in the vision, mission, and culture of Animal Friends

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Communication Proficiency – Ability to effectively communicate both verbal and written

information in a professional manner

• Customer / Client Focus- Actively seeks out ways to aide Animal Friends guests and/or volunteers to

ensure the best possible customer service is provided; Ability to provide exemplary customer

service to all staff and volunteers, even in emotionally difficult situations

• Diversity and Inclusion – Ability to welcome, support and value individuals with similarities and

differences that may vary from your own

• Stress Management - Ability to maintain baseline behavior/composure during stressful situations

• Teamwork Orientation – Ability to work with others to accomplish likeminded goals and tasks for

the organization