Adoption Coordinator jobs in Silver Spring, MD

FOHA (Friends of Homeless Animals) is a private 501(c) (3) non-profit, no-kill rescue and shelter located in Aldie, Va. We rescue cats and dogs in need of homes and place them with their forever families. FOHA is the enduring gold standard in quality for no-kill rescues, saving and improving the lives of homeless cats and dogs.

Position Summary:

The Adoption and Foster Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the adoption and foster programs, ensuring that both processes run smoothly, efficiently, and in alignment with the organization's mission. This role involves managing volunteer teams, maintaining accurate records, promoting animals for adoption and fostering, and ensuring high-quality customer service for adopters and foster families.

Key Responsibilities:Animal Interaction & Knowledge

• Take the time to get to know the animals at FOHA, spending quality time with them to understand their personalities and needs.
• Attend and observe doggy socials, interacting with the animals in a group setting.
• Speak with volunteers and fosters to gather insights about the animals’ behaviors and preferences.
• Train and learn how to handle the animals, ensuring you have the skills necessary for one-on-one experiences with each animal.
• Take and complete Leveled Volunteer Trainings to gain useful experience and knowledge of dog handling and body language.

Adoptions

• Develop, evaluate, update, and maintain adoption policies, procedures, and forms.
• Oversee the cat and dog adoption volunteer teams, including application screeners, adoption consultants, and adoption office activities.
• Schedule and conduct training on new protocols as needed.
• Visit other rescues as a "secret shopper" to learn from their adoption processes and bring back best practices.
• Train staff and volunteers on counseling and performing adoptions, with a focus on using positive language and FOHA mission-based verbiage.
• Work in the Adoption Office - Sundays required.

Foster Program

• Oversee the cat foster volunteer teams and foster parents.
• Track the flow of animals into and out of foster care, including adoption appointments, returns from foster care, and foster adoptions.
• Assist in recruiting and training new foster parents, with support from a volunteer team.
• Promote the foster program and animals in foster care through advertising and outreach.
• Provide excellent customer service to foster families, responding promptly to emails, text messages, social media posts, and phone calls, and resolving issues as they arise.
• Maintain a “foster on deck” process to ensure timely and efficient placement of animals into foster care.

Volunteers

• Create, update, and implement training protocols for staff and volunteers involved in the adoption process.
• Assist with new volunteer recruitment and training.
• Manage the current team of volunteers who help write bios.

Marketing

• Collaborate with the Behavior team to market long-stay dogs.
• Promote animals on social media and through partnerships with local businesses.
• Ensure dog and cat bios are creative and reflective of the animals' personalities.
• Research and create adoption promotions to increase adoptions.
• Work with the events team to plan on-site adoption events.
• Take over Pet of the Week marketing
• Can be handed to a volunteer

Administrative Tasks

• Maintain accurate and organized records of animals, ensuring timely updates with correct information, free of spelling or grammar errors.
• Add new dogs and cats to the FOHA website once they are medically and behaviorally cleared.

COMPETENCIES

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Problem Solving- Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; and uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.
• Leadership - Inspires and motivates others to perform well; Accepts feedback from others.
• Managing People - Includes staff in planning, decision-making, facilitating and process improvement; provides regular performance feedback; develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; solicits and applies customer feedback (internal and external); and improves processes, products and services.
• Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality; and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.
• Organizational Support - Follows policies and procedures; and completes administrative tasks correctly and on time.
• Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; and makes timely decisions.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; and sets goals and objectives.
• Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; and reacts well under pressure.
• Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; reports potentially unsafe conditions; and uses equipment and materials properly.
• Vision/Mission - Consistently and positively conveys FOHA’s vision and mission to volunteers, staff and the public while addressing complaints and resolving problems
• Communication - Communicates positively, effectively, respectfully, and efficiently with staff, volunteers, management, the Board and the public sector.
• Team Oriented - Fosters a cooperative team environment between staff, volunteers, Board members, management, supporters and adopters.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Commitment to animal welfare and a strong belief in animal rescue
• Become Fear Free Certified within 90 days of hire
• Ability to work independently without close supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality when requested
• Must be self-motivated, and have a strong work ethic
• Must be available to work weekends and attend meetings
• Comfortable using media and marketing tools such as Canva, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
• Confident in speaking on or in front of a camera.
• Ability to take initiative and work with a positive, upbeat, and energetic outlook
• Ability to handle, walk, and work with dogs weighing over 100 pounds
• Hold a valid driver's license with ability to drive on behalf of the organization
• Ability to lift 40 pounds and work outdoors in all weather conditions
• 5 years of experience working in a shelter environment in a supervisory or management position preferred but not required
• 3 years of experience directly supervising staff preferred but not required

Vacation time is offered after 1 year of full-time employment in addition to an eye/dental plan (after 1 month), and 5 paid holidays (effective upon employment start date).

At Friends of the Homeless Animals (FOHA), you’ll experience a unique shelter experience where staff and volunteers are proud of our lifetime commitment to our animals and partnerships within the community. It’s what makes us one of the leading animal rescue organizations in Virginia.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $16.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person