Verification Specialist, Volunteer

Verification Specialist, Volunteer

About the Pet Cancer Foundation

The Pet Cancer Foundation’s vision is to increase the life expectancy and improve the quality of life of pets diagnosed with cancer. Each year, an estimated 12 million dogs and cats are diagnosed with cancer, six times the number of humans affected annually in North America.

As our volunteer organization grows rapidly, maintaining trust and integrity in our community is essential. We’re seeking volunteers to conduct thorough background checks and credential verifications for prospective volunteers, ensuring alignment with our mission, values, and safety requirements. That’s where, and how you can help us.

About the position

The volunteer Verification Specialist conducts detailed, confidential verifications of prospective volunteers to confirm identity, background, credentials, and professional standing. You perform online public record searches, contact references, verify educational degrees, professional licenses, certifications, and current status (e.g., active licensure for medical/veterinary roles, no suspensions or disciplinary actions), and document findings accurately. Working closely with the recruitment team and department leaders, you deliver clear, objective recommendations on suitability while maintaining strict privacy, impartiality, and compliance with relevant laws and PCF policies.

*Please leave a note with your application acknowledging your awareness of the volunteer nature of this position. We will only contact and proceed with candidates who confirm their understanding.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive online background checks, including review of publicly accessible records, social media, news sources, and other open information related to prospective volunteers.
• Verify educational credentials (degrees, certifications) through official channels and confirm authenticity and relevance to claimed roles.
• Verify professional licenses, registrations, or certifications (e.g., veterinary, medical, or other regulated credentials), including current status, good standing, and any disciplinary history.
• Contact personal and professional references to assess character, reliability, and suitability for PCF’s mission-driven environment.
• Document all verification findings clearly, objectively, and confidentially in standardized reports for review by recruitment leads, department heads, and senior leadership.
• Provide timely recommendations on volunteer suitability based on verification results, highlighting any red flags or areas of concern.
• Maintain strict compliance with privacy laws (e.g., applicable data protection regulations), organizational confidentiality policies, and ethical verification standards.
• Collaborate with recruitment and HR teams to ensure verification processes are consistent, efficient, and aligned with PCF’s values and risk management needs.

About You

You’re a highly organized, detail-oriented professional with a strong ethical compass and unwavering commitment to fairness, confidentiality, and impartiality. You excel at conducting thorough, discreet research and thrive in a remote, mission-driven environment where accuracy and professionalism are paramount. You bring:

• 1–3 years of experience in background verification, credential checking, administrative support, or HR-related screening (nonprofit or regulated environments preferred).
• Proven ability to conduct online research, verify credentials/licenses, and contact references with tact and discretion.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail; ability to synthesize information objectively and identify discrepancies.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets) and comfort navigating public databases, professional licensing boards, and verification tools.
• Excellent communication skills and professionalism in all interactions, including sensitive or challenging conversations.
• Commitment to confidentiality, ethical conduct, and impartiality in every verification.
• Genuine passion for PCF’s mission and dedication to protecting the integrity of our volunteer community.

What we provide you with

Volunteering as Verification Specialist gives you the opportunity to safeguard the trust and safety of PCF’s growing volunteer community during an exciting phase of expansion. You’ll work closely with recruitment and leadership teams, apply your verification expertise to meaningful impact, build skills in confidential research and ethical decision-making, and contribute directly to protecting our mission, all while gaining experience in nonprofit volunteer governance.

Footnotes

Community Service: Please include a short note with your application that clearly states you are willing to volunteer.

Location: Fully virtual, open to candidates across Canada and the United States.

Time Commitment: 4–6 hours per week on average, with flexibility (occasional peaks during high-volume recruitment periods).

Learn More: Visit www.petcancerfdn.org for more about our mission and impact.