Community Care Specialist (Feline Focus)

Overview Part-Time & Full-Time Opportunities Available. Temporary 5-Month Assignment (with potential for permanent placement). APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s dynamic nonprofits leading the No Kill movement nationally. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year and supports a large volunteer workforce. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) initiative to rethink the traditional model of animal sheltering and to provide proactive, personalized support for both people and pets. BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: The Shelter Medical Care Specialist (Feline Focus) advances APA!’s Neonatal Program, focusing on neonatal kittens. This role supports APA!’s mission to increase the live release rate across Texas by sustaining a holistic, high-impact model for foster coordination. It is a hands-on, mission-driven role emphasizing results, reliability, and teamwork. The position requires collaboration with volunteers and may involve shift flexibility, including weekend hours and responsiveness during times of high need. This role may transition to a long-term, permanent position based on performance and business needs. All staff at APA! work alongside volunteers to recruit, train, and engage them in day-to-day workflow, creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers. Essential Functions Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and creating an inclusive, welcoming environment Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks in a collaborative, non-siloed manner Support recruitment and onboarding by welcoming new volunteers and orienting them to the program Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to the supervisor or volunteer manager Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions Explain tasks clearly, provide hands-on guidance, and offer in-the-moment support to volunteers Coordinate with the Intake Team to prioritize outside-shelter kittens, puppies, and maternity cats and dogs for foster Vet potential fosters to determine program eligibility Guide fosters through the application, training, and foster matchmaking process Maintain up-to-date records of neonatal foster parents using Monday.com, ShelterLuv, and program-specific spreadsheets Maintain familiarity with experienced and medically advanced fosters, including those able to take emergency placements Record neonatal program animals in need of fosters and those placed in foster using ShelterLuv and program spreadsheets Market Neonatal Program animals to fosters, including writing urgent pleas, photographing onsite animals, and contacting fosters via email, text, or phone Match potential fosters to specific animals based on interests and skill level; repurpose fosters as needed Hand off neonatal program animals to foster parents, coordinating pick-up/drop-off timing, supply requests, and medication explanations Collaborate with other Placement Specialists to determine division of labor Maintain onsite presence to support foster customer service and assist with placements Provide excellent customer service to fosters via phone, text, email, and in person Train fosters on feeding puppies and kittens and administering medications (virtual and in person) Assist Neonatal Care team with medication administration, intake exams, and data entry Disinfect crates and carriers per nursery protocols and assist in nursery upkeep Comply with APA! Core Values Job duties may include other duties as assigned by manager Other Functions Demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, reasoning, and good judgment Attend required training sessions and meetings Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager, supervisor, and colleagues Partner with Volunteer Managers to support volunteers in your department Adapt to change and perform related duties as assigned Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed Work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment Work autonomously toward goals and deadlines Qualifications, Skills, & Expectations Commitment to APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, Inclusion; cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations Passion for working with staff, volunteers, and customers and helping all feel successful and connected to APA!’s mission Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and cross-functional collaboration Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to interpret rules and procedures Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively Strong interpersonal skills with a calm, professional presence Attention to detail and high quality standards Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed Commitment to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience Physical Job Requirements Work around animals, loud noises, chemicals, and inclement weather Interact safely with cats/dogs of varying health levels and those carrying zoonotic diseases Be on your feet for multiple hours; may involve sitting at a desk and using a computer Lift and carry up to 40 pounds; push/pull up to 50 pounds; frequent hand use; ability to reach and bend Reasonable accommodations will be provided to enable essential functions Work Environment Animal shelter office environment with exposure to animals Requires transportation to travel and transport as needed Work is normally indoors with some outdoor work Exposure to odors, noises, bites, scratches, and animal waste Possible exposure to contagious diseases; high-paced environment Occasional after-hours, weekend, and holiday work may be required Time Commitment Part-time nonexempt up to 29 hours/week or full-time nonexempt approximately 40 hours/week Shift and schedule flexibility; weekly schedule subject to change Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed Pay This position starts at $17.00/hr. Eligible employees may receive up to $2/hr stipend within ~6 months through internal certifications. Certifications and stipends are discretionary and may change based on business needs. Working Relationships This position reports to the Senior Program Manager or another designated individual at APA! Location(s) APA! Neonatal Nursery - 3102 Windsor Rd, Suite D, Austin, TX 78703 May travel to offsite locations as needed Benefits PART-TIME: Access to Employee Assistance Program, discounted perks, fully subsidized pet insurance, and time-off incentives FULL-TIME: Comprehensive benefits package including medical, life, dental, vision, short-term disability, wellness plans, 401(k) with up to 2% match, flexible spending accounts, and paid holidays and PTO Equal Employment Opportunities and Accommodations Austin Pets Alive! is an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applicants from communities most affected by our work. We do not discriminate on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. Reasonable accommodations are available in the application process; contact Talent Acquisition at View email address on click.appcast.io at least one week before your interview. #J-18808-Ljbffr Austin Pets Alive!