Humane Advocacy Coordinator

The Humane Advocacy (HA) programs at East Bay SPCA prioritize making meaningful connections and helping pet owners in our community find the veterinary care, financial assistance, and social services they need when they are unsure where to turn for help. To achieve the mission of improving animal and human welfare in our community and supporting the human–animal bond, we operate five Humane Advocacy programs: Veterinary Assistance Program, Pet Food Pantry, Spay/Neuter Vouchers, Hold for Home Temporary Boarding, and Resources and Referrals.

Our team works diligently each day to respond to dozens of varied requests for help, ranging from individuals urgently needing pet food to advising and counseling pet owners on how to apply for and obtain funding for procedures and services provided at East Bay SPCA. We believe that every person who reaches out is unique, and therefore we use a case-management approach to provide holistic, individualized, and compassionate care.

The Humane Advocacy Coordinator is one of three team members in the Humane Advocacy department, supporting the Humane Advocacy Manager while also leading their own projects. A typical week includes working directly with pet owners in a veterinary social work capacity, providing case management for clients and their pets, coordinating programs such as spay/neuter vouchers and the pet food pantry, building and maintaining relationships with like-minded organizations, and responding to people in need who walk in to the shelter or clinic. The environment is fast-paced, and no two days are the same. This role requires strong emotional awareness, appropriate boundaries, and a tolerance for crisis situations.

East Bay SPCA is a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to the welfare of dogs and cats in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Our mission is to transform the lives of cats and dogs by enriching the human-animal bond through respected and accessible expertise. EBSPCA is one of the nation’s oldest humane organizations, in operation since 1874, and receives no funding from any national organizations. You can find more information about EBSPCA on our website at www.eastbayspca.org.

Category: Full-time; Non-Exempt

Location: Oakland Shelter and Spay/Neuter Campuses, with occasional travel to events or external veterinary clinics in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties

Reports to: Manager of Humane Advocacy

Responsibilities

Case Management & Veterinary Social Work Services (65%)

• Establish and cultivate community partnerships that expand access to veterinary care for Humane Advocacy clients.
• Meet clients at appointments at East Bay SPCA’s Full-Service Veterinary Clinic to discuss funding opportunities and care options.
• Coordinate appointments and payments between pet owners and internal and external veterinary and spay/neuter clinics.
• Use a holistic, compassionate, case-management approach when communicating with pet owners accessing Humane Advocacy services.
• Identify appropriate grant and funding sources for individual cases and work with clients to secure financial support.
• Write and maintain detailed case notes for Humane Advocacy clients.

Program Coordination (25%)

• Oversee the Pet Food Pantry program, including purchasing and maintaining inventory, creating and enforcing distribution guidelines, setting the distribution schedule, and tracking distribution data. Must be able to attend pantry distribution days .
• Oversee the Spay/Neuter Voucher program, including processing voucher requests, scheduling appointments, collecting deposits, distributing vouchers, and tracking voucher redemption.
• Oversee the Veterinary Assistance Program, including processing assistance questionnaires, scheduling appointments, collecting deposits, attending appointments, and tracking next steps.
• Support the Manager of Humane Advocacy with daily operations of the Hold for Home program, including communicating with clients and their case managers.

General Duties (10%)

• Respond to electronic and phone messages in a timely and professional manner.
• Contribute to routine reports for Humane Advocacy programs.
• Maintain inventory of pet supplies and distribute them to pet owners in need.
• Serve as a liaison who promotes East Bay SPCA’s philosophy and goals throughout the community.

Qualifications

• Experience with and enthusiasm for a case-management approach that supports humane outcomes and keeps pets and people together.
• Demonstrated success in program coordination, including planning, implementation, and evaluation.
• Experience related to the human–animal bond, pet loss support, compassion-fatigue prevention, conflict resolution, and/or verbal de-escalation.
• Knowledge of common canine and feline procedures, conditions, illnesses, and medications.
• Comfortable with flexibility and adaptability, including the ability to work with people from a wide range of cultures, backgrounds, and organizations.
• Ability to build trusting relationships with diverse individuals.
• Experience increasing access to veterinary care for pets and their people.
• Fluent in English and Spanish required.
• Proficient in office-based computer programs.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Pre-employment background check and drug screening required.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in animal shelter and veterinary clinic environments with exposure to seasonal outdoor conditions.
• Must be comfortable handling dogs and cats of all sizes and ages.
• Frequent exposure to members of the public experiencing personal crisis.
• Occasional weekend work.
• Occasional supply pick-up throughout Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.
• Animal contact and related injuries, including bites and scratches, may occur.
• May occasionally handle sick, injured, or deceased animals.
• Noise levels vary and often include barking and other animal vocalizations.
• Exposure to animal waste, odors, and visually unpleasant conditions is common.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds with reasonable accommodation.
• Frequent walking, bending, and stooping

East Bay SPCA offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the wellbeing and future of our employees. Medical and dental benefits are fully covered, along with optional vision coverage. Employees can plan for their future with a 401(K) Retirement Plan featuring a 3% company contribution, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program. The company also provides generous paid time off, starting at 120 hours per year, increasing to 160 hours after 5 years, and 200 hours after 10 years, plus 8 paid holiday hours annually and an additional personal holiday after one year. Employees enjoy extra perks such as the Pets at Work Program, waived pet adoption fees, discounted veterinary care, behavior and training classes, up to $75/month public transit/vanpool commuter reimbursement, and various industry discounts, including Pet Food Express.

Fluency in Spanish and English required.