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About the Role

The ASPCA Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery provides intake and holistic care, including medical and behavioral support, and outcomes for animals in New York City. This role facilitates deep engagement in the mission of the ASPCA through the recruitment, training, support, direct oversight and celebration of hundreds of dedicated volunteers, with a special focus on critical shelter support activities. You will be a key player in engaging the public as ambassadors for the ASPCA’s mission – through volunteerism, fostering and adoption.

Responsibilities

Foster a volunteer culture and environment that supports comprehensive, safe and efficient care of animals in ASPCA facilities, and opportunities to engage meaningfully in the support of shelter operations.
Identify needs and support the design and implementation of volunteer roles and training in key operational areas.
Collaborate with Medical, Behavior and Welfare teams to ensure the consistent and aligned use of sheltering best practices in volunteer programming.
Support the continuous evolution and streamlining of volunteer onboarding and training processes and the development of impactful volunteer activities to meet operational needs.
Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, volunteers and clients by using low-stress handling techniques and adhering to all safety policies.
Engage deeply in processes to build volunteer access, skills and ability, matching them with appropriate opportunities within the organization.
Cultivate positive, trusting and productive relationships between staff and volunteers to support operations, animal care and outcomes.
Prioritize shift fulfillment in key areas by appropriately trained volunteers; proactively identify and take steps to mitigate gaps in volunteer coverage.
Maintain accurate volunteer and shelter database information.
Execute day-to-day, weekly and monthly volunteer program administrative tasks.
Scan for and establish processes to create efficiencies in volunteer support activities.
Seek and facilitate ongoing opportunities to provide formal and informal volunteer recognition, acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of volunteers.
Support a culture of learning and collaboration in the Adoption Center, including ensuring a respectful and welcoming environment, and the regular practice of giving and receiving feedback.
Facilitate or support special projects as assigned.
Facilitate new volunteer orientations and relevant onboarding processes.
Prioritize, uphold and model processes to ensure volunteers receive appropriate training (including animal handling training), supervision, and ongoing coaching from cross-departmental staff teams.
Support and coach colleagues in working effectively with volunteers; solicit objective feedback from colleagues on volunteer roles and performance.
Engage volunteers in regular communication; provide routine, timely and emergent operational and programmatic updates, extend learning opportunities, and maintain consistency in sharing constructive/developmental coaching and feedback.
Equally prioritize the solicitation of volunteer feedback on their roles and experience.
Provide volunteers with direct, transparent communication about the purpose of their volunteer roles and help volunteers to understand that humane euthanasia may ultimately be the appropriate outcome for some animals.
Be a consistent and visible presence and coach for volunteers; be available to answer questions, give & receive feedback, lend a hand, and ensure deep understanding of and compliance with ASPCA and Adoption Center philosophy, policies and operations.

Requirements

Exceptional customer service and interpersonal skills
Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility and multi-tasking capability with work assignments.
Self-motivated with strong accountability – can be relied upon to fully complete assigned tasks and respond to requests in a timely manner.
Able to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on Adoption Center and volunteer needs.
Able to maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols.
Excellent decision-making ability and sound judgement; able to act with urgency as emergent situations arise.
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Strong attention to detail
Commitment to prioritizing human and animal safety and well-being.
Must be able to bend, stand and lift frequently and engage in repetitive motions throughout a shift.
Must be comfortable working with and safely handling cats and dogs.
Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies

Skills

Microsoft Office
PetPoint or other shelter or veterinary software systems
Digital Cheetah
Canva
MailChimp
Airtable
Animal handling
Basic animal care
Training development
Training facilitation

Location

New York City
92nd St. location

Work Type

On-site
5 consecutive-day workweek
One weekend day required
Tuesday - Saturday schedule
Periodic schedule flexibility may be expected, including evening coverage

Experience Level

Minimum 1 year of professional experience in client relations, volunteer programs or animal welfare (e.g.: shelter or veterinary practice) required
Experience in volunteer coordination or management (preferred)
Animal handling experience (preferred)
Administrative experience (a plus)

Education Level

High school diploma required
High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent Experience (Required)

Salary/Compensations

$27.41 - $28.85 per hour

Benefits

Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental, and optional vision coverage.
Flexible time off that includes vacation time, sick and bereavement time, paid parental leave, 10 company paid holidays, and paid personal time off.
401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — match dollar for dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution.
Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field.

About the Company

The ASPCA was founded in 1866 on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and respectful treatment by humans and must be protected under the law.
As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than two million supporters nationwide, the ASPCA is committed to preventing cruelty to dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals throughout the United States.
The ASPCA is headquartered in New York City, where we maintain a full-service animal hospital, spay/neuter clinic, mobile spay/neuter and primary pet care clinics, a rehabilitation center for canine victims of cruelty, kitten nursery, adoption center, and two community veterinary centers.
The ASPCA also operates programs and services that extend nationwide.
We assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.
At the ASPCA, we are committed to fostering a collaborative and compassionate culture and we welcome all voices to contribute to our lifesaving mission.
Our staff represent a vast array of backgrounds and diversity dimensions, bringing with them valuable experiences and perspectives.
They join the ASPCA to learn, grow, and continually do their best work on behalf of animals.
We are inspired by our staff, partners, and the communities we support across the country who work to improve animal lives.
We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.

Equal Opportunity

We are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the ASPCA because it elevates our organizational culture, aligns with our Core Values, and enables us to move further and faster toward the ASPCA’s vision – that all animals live good lives; valued by society, protected by its laws, and free from cruelty, pain and suffering.