The Foster Care Supervisor is responsible for providing direct supervision and supporting staff; cultivating relationships with foster families; placing animals with appropriate foster volunteers and maintaining communication throughout the foster period; utilizes independent and collaborative judgment in decision-making, demonstrating leadership and problem solving; coordinates with department managers to monitor and meet the needs of animals in foster care and determine how foster volunteers can best support the mission, vision and goals of HSPPR. The Foster Care Supervisor ensures an environment of compassionate and respectful animal and people care in accordance with HSPPR’s mission, values, goals, and management philosophy.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
Foster Care Program Development
Recruits, trains, mentors, and serves as primary contact for foster volunteers.
Oversees the coordination, implementation, and logistics of HSPPR’s foster-related functions, including but not limited to volunteer recruitment; placement of animals with appropriate foster volunteers, based on their skills and situation, for long- or short-term care; scheduling, coordinating, and conducting health check for foster animals; coordination with Veterinary Services or Behavior Team for more advanced treatment.
Adheres to safety protocols for volunteers to ensure consistent humane treatment and handling of animals
Administration of Foster Care Program
Monitors and ensures that volunteers are adhering to high quality standards of animal care, handling, and sanitation in the foster home and performance is consistent with protocols.
Provides guidance to foster volunteers during the foster process, answering questions and providing support as necessary, including helping foster volunteers with difficult times and decisions, such as death, etc. Provides ongoing assistance, coaching and moral support to foster volunteers.
Provides appropriate training for foster volunteers, including but not limited to Foster Volunteer Orientations.
Maintain appropriate record keeping of foster animals daily, including medications, location, and current status.
Ensures care and weight checks of immature animals while waiting for foster care.
Monitors health and behavior of animals in foster care and report any important findings/issues to medical or behavior personnel as appropriate.
Oversees, initiates, and/or performs initial and annual foster home inspections for all active foster volunteers, appropriately documenting and maintaining records as required by Pet Facilities Animal Care Facilities Act (PACFA) rules and regulations.
Maintains and updates appropriate volunteer records in database on volunteers. Performs data entry as required including manually entering in volunteer hours, maintaining foster application forms, and ensuring qualifications are up to date.
Maintains inventory of supplies and equipment needed for the foster program. Orders supplies as needed.
Assists with euthanasia as required.
Maintains relationships and meets regularly with other HSPPR departments to determine foster needs.
Chooses foster animals for attendance at philanthropy or other events and coordinate with foster families.
Communicates with other HSPPR locations and rescue partners to determine transfer options for foster animals.
Assists in coordinating transfers from HSPPR Pueblo to HSPPR COS shelter for foster placement.
Documents staff and volunteer complaints and reports to the appropriate manager/department. Handles complaints and/or concerns from, or about, volunteers with professionalism and good judgment. Evaluates volunteer performance and addresses issues promptly. Involves Volunteer Services Manager and Veterinary Services Manager as necessary.
Ensures regular communication with active volunteers through newsletter, emails, meetings, bulletin board(s), and other forms of communication.
Communicates with and provides regular feedback and/or coaching to potential volunteers and current volunteers in a professional and timely manner.
Adheres to high quality standards of animal care, handling, and sanitation, including but not limited to ensuring that animals are fed according to dietary instructions; cleaning and disinfecting of animal enclosures, dishes and other equipment used; completing laundry duties.
Checks inventory of animals daily to ensure correct animal, correct ID collar, and correct kennel cards are present, reporting any unresolved discrepancies to Manager.
Informs Manager of developments that may affect HSPPR or the department including department progress, media exposure, public image, client concerns, and personnel issues.
Other
Commitment to the mission, values, goals and success of HSPPR.
Appropriately documents observed animal behaviors utilizing objective language as required in relevant procedures and/or policies.
Perform all other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Duties
Supervises direct reports in the performance of their job responsibilities. Works with department manager to provide performance feedback.
Coaches staff by providing ongoing feedback.
In conjunction with the department manager, sets performance standards; directs and motivates employees.
Consults with Veterinary Services Manager regarding discipline and terminations.
Ensures adequate staffing levels are maintained in the department.
Consults with Patient Care team and/or staff veterinarians on medical and surgical problems of animals as well as medical protocols and procedures.
Supervises and coordinates cleaning procedures of the foster areas. Oversees and ensures hazardous materials are being handled in the proper manner. Communicates safety requirements to staff.
Coordinates on the job training for staff and volunteers.
Assists support staff in responding to customer service situations.
Answers general questions dealing with the veterinary care of animals.
Physical Demands
Regularly sits at computer station, often in a shared office environment.
The employee must regularly lift and/or move 25 or more pounds of moving weight and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 or more pounds of moving weight.
Occasionally required to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, and smell.
Regularly required to sit, reach with hands and arms, talk, hear, and is frequently required to stand and walk. May be expected to be on feet for extended periods of time.
Must be able to use both hands and arms to grip, pull and push utilizing safety equipment such as, but not limited to catch poles, snappy snares, leashes, ropes, muzzles.
Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
Must handle various animals of various sizes, may include aggressive animals and potential exposure to zoonotic diseases.
Regularly exposed to noise and potential exposure to hazardous weather conditions.
Potential exposure to cleaning supplies and/or other substances containing toxic or caustic chemicals.
Schedule Requirements
Tuesday – Saturday, 9:00am-5:30pm (tentative). Schedule may include weekend, evening, and holiday work.
Education/Experience Required
Ability to effectively read, write, interpret, communicate, perform basic problem solving, and perform basic math as commonly expected from completion of a High School Diploma or Equivalent Education.
Minimum of one year experience in customer or volunteer services, professional animal handling experience in a veterinary clinic, animal shelter, etc., or a combination of related education and work experience required.
Minimum of one year of supervisory experience or equivalent experience preferred.
Able to build rapport between departments and at all levels of the organization and with the public.
Registered Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant experience preferred.
EBI (Euthanasia by Injection) certification required at time of hire or ability to obtain within 12 months of hire.
Possess excellent communication and organizational skills. Must be detail oriented.
Excellent interpersonal and team building skills.
Able to work through daily issues with staff and volunteers and create solutions.
Positive attitude and professional demeanor.
Proficient in Microsoft Office software, data entry and reporting.
Experience with volunteer management software preferred.
Experience with Chameleon or other Shelter Management Software highly desired.
Starting wages $21.50-23.00/hour DOE
**Application Deadline: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 **
Benefits include:
Health Insurance ~~ 401K with employer matching up to 4% of salary ~~ Dental and vision Insurances ~~ Supplemental Group Insurance ~~ Short and long term disability Insurance ~~ Paid time off ~~ Holidays ~~ Direct Deposit ~~ Personal Pet Perks
The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness qualified employer. To learn more about this program, go to https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/.
The core values of the staff unite us and guide us to provide the best service to the animals in our care, our organization, and our community.
Core Values Statements-
Compassion: We believe that animals matter. We are committed to treating animals and people with kindness, respect and compassion.
Stewardship: We are accountable and transparent in our actions and in the use of our resources to build trust in those we serve.
Integrity: We believe we can make the greatest impact by staying true to our mission, always doing what is best for the animals and people of our community, and by standing united in our decisions.
Excellence: We are passionate about our mission, and strive for excellence through continual learning, innovation and the development of our board, staff and volunteers.
Collaboration: We seek strategic partnerships and alliances to advance the welfare and protection of animals and people.
Service: We exist to serve our communities and operate with this commitment to serve as front and center in all we do.