Coordinator

Location: Houston, Texas (onsite)

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $19.56 to $22 per hour, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Position Summary: Shelter Partnership Coordinators play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society’s no-kill mission and goal by providing assistance in developing and implementing lifesaving programming, coordinating and performing hands-on lifesaving work, within priority partner shelters to help them achieve no-kill status. Coordinators act with urgency to accomplish important tasks and play a direct role in achieving Best Friends Animal Society’s no-kill mission and organizational success. Coordinators may receive intensive assignments in a particular program, based on organizational needs. Senior specialists have an increased level of responsibilities or skills, and the ability to make on-the-spot decisions to accomplish tasks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict.

• Coordinate and conduct shelter partner support activities including working directly with shelter staff on a day-to-day basis as needed on sustainable lifesaving programs in accordance with partnerships, MOUs or contracts, including participating in direct, hands-on lifesaving work.

• Lead and empower volunteers and volunteer teams in support of programs with the goal of utilizing volunteers to the greatest extent possible to expand Best Friends lifesaving capacity; deliver and lead superior customer service.

• Serve as a mission ambassador, representing Best Friends’ mission and vision within partner shelters; supporting training, mentoring; participate in developing resources for partner shelters on proven programs support their success in achieving no-kill; support the maintenance of statistics within targeted partners shelters.  

• Develop comprehensive knowledge of Best Friends’ and community partner programs to best match individuals and organizations to opportunities to support lifesaving or deliver or receive services. 

• Assist or oversee the creation of engaging content for social media platforms, to include creation and/or editing of written, video, and photo content. Work collaboratively with other departments and marketing teams to identify engagement opportunities with social media and PR to support lifesaving outcomes and programmatic needs at the center. Represent Best Friends in media relations when requested and ensure to maintain Best Friends’ voice across all communications.

• Assist other teams in providing basic care such as feeding, cleaning, walking, and medicating animals housed or transported within Best Friends’ vehicles, buildings, or facilities; follow all policies and local standard operating procedures when completing daily functions to ensure health and safety standards are upheld.

• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping. 

• Responsible for maintaining a safe workplace, valuing, and modeling safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and communicating about unsafe practices and conditions.

Skills & Experience:

• A background in animal sheltering working or volunteering in an animal shelter, preferably in a municipal, government or private shelter with contractual animal control responsibilities is strongly preferred.

• Ability to work in an environment that is not no-kill, remaining professional, nonjudgmental, and supportive of that shelter’s staff.

• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats. 

• Experience with and ability to drive large multi-passenger vehicles.

• Experience leading teams and implementing programs preferred but not required.  

• Strong communication skills.

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required. 

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.   

• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organization skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands.  

• Be adaptable and flexible to an ever-changing environment.

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn. 

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to: 

  • Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending. 

  • Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.  

  • Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold. 

• Exposure to dogs & cats of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status as well as their allergens.  

• Ability to be in a shelter environment and work in the presence of both cats and dogs, including organizations where cats and dogs are currently being killed for space.   

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance.  

• Ability to travel, including overnight stays, when needed. Travel could be up to 30% - primarily in and around Houston area, but could include out-of-state and non-local travel.

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, and holiday work.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.