Volunteer Program Supervisor

Schedule

The working schedule for this position is Friday - Tuesday 9AM - 5:30PM, with Wednesday and Thursday off.

Who We Are

ACC is one of the nation’s largest open-admission animal shelters, whose mission is to End Animal Homelessness in NYC. We touch the lives of nearly 20,000 animals each year. ACC is more than an animal shelter; we are a resource to the community, always seeking ways to keep the human-animal bond intact. With a 90% placement rate, our progressive, life-saving initiatives contribute to the successful placement of our animals.

We strive to find loving homes for homeless and abandoned cats, dogs, guinea pigs and rabbits, both by adopting animals directly to the public and by partnering with more than 200 dedicated animal placement organizations (our New Hope partners). We also help keep NYC communities safe and rescue animals in need, responding to emergencies that involve animals as well as keeping our doors open 24/7 for people and animals in need.

Summary

Provides leadership and direction for the Volunteer Department and staff. Develops, implements and oversees the programming, recruitment, scheduling, training, placement, management, recognition and administration of the Volunteer Program. She/he/they must consistently demonstrate the highest degree of professionalism and represent Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC) effectively while maintaining confidentiality as required.

ACC’s robust Volunteer Program has over 500 dedicated volunteers who work in varying roles: from walking dogs and socializing cats, to assisting with vaccine clinics and representing ACC’s animals to the media. We are looking for a Volunteer Program Supervisor to oversee, steer, and continue to grow this flourishing program.

This supervisor position involves supervising one direct-report Volunteer Program Assistant and traveling to multiple locations (Manhattan, Queens, & Staten Island Care Centers). You are responsible for developing retention and recognition tools to increase Volunteer engagement, recruiting and supervising Volunteers, and continuously developing new and more advanced opportunities for Volunteers to assist with ACC programming. There is a heavy training component to this role. You will both train hands-on and oversee the training of new Volunteers entering the program. Re-trainings help to keep Volunteers and the pets they care for safe. ACC uses only force-free, reward-based training methods for our pets and we care deeply about all people who enter our building: staff, Volunteers, and members of the public.

Our ideal candidate has experience working in an animal shelter setting, preferably with a volunteer or outreach team. You must be comfortable handling dogs, cats, and rabbits, and with troubleshooting challenging behaviors (such as leash biting and dog reactivity). You are excited to take on the unique challenges and rewards of working with a large team of dedicated Volunteers. You also enjoy sharing your skill and knowledge with others in order to improve quality of care in the shelter, decrease stress, and keep

Volunteers returning for their shifts. You are self-motivated and able to work independently. You are comfortable building and maintaining relationships with external organizations including schools, corporate groups, and work programs. Overall, you are passionate about animal welfare and about the people who make quality care possible, and you are eager to help lead a progressive and expansive shelter volunteer program. The ACC Volunteer Program aims to be the gold standard of Animal Welfare Volunteer programs in the country: with systematic, safe, communal, optimal, efficient, compassionate, comprehensive, humane, contemporary up-to-date practices.

Required Qualifications:

• High School Diploma or GED required.
• At least 2 years of supervisory-level responsibility within an active volunteer program or related experience required
• Ability to work flexible hours and days, including nights and weekends, as needed.
• Ability to interact with animals in a calm and non-threatening manner.
• Demonstrated leadership and team-building qualities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, interpersonal and interview skills to successfully recruit and train Volunteers.
• Working knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint and Microsoft applications, plus ability to learn new computer programs.
• Ability to plan and operate within a budget.
• Must be able to lift and move up to 50 pounds.

Benefits

ACC values work/life balance and offers a generous paid-time-off (PTO) package that includes vacation time, birthdays off, personal days and sick pay. We also value physical and mental health by offering a great open access Cigna medical, dental and vision insurance at a low premium to our employees as well as 401K and Pension, Life Insurance. We also have on-the-job training for 2-4 weeks, periodic all staff trainings to include safety, DEI, cross training, and other growth opportunities.

Because ACC is a nonprofit, employees may be eligible for loan forgiveness, cancellation, and/or consolidation under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). Created under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007, PSLF allows borrowers who work full time for nonprofits and government agencies to have their outstanding debt forgiven tax-free on Federal Direct Loans, after making 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan.

Please use this link for more details on our benefits package.

Essential Job Functions:

• Overseeing, developing and maintaining monthly Volunteer training and service schedule for all Care Centers.
• Maintaining the onboarding schedule from Orientation through activation for new potential Volunteer recruits.
• Fielding Volunteer feedback and facilitating effective communication between Volunteers and ACC staff.

Other Responsibilities:

• Schedule and conduct ACC Volunteer Orientations to provide an introduction to ACC and to begin to communicate to new potential Volunteer recruits the program’s policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Recruit and schedule volunteers for off-site and fundraising events including for mobile adoptions.
• Collaborate with other departments to optimize the Volunteer Program’s contribution to ACC’s animals.
• Develop, organize and host volunteer recognition and appreciation efforts including seeking outside sources of funding to contribute.
• Create and publish newsletters and program reports regarding the activities of the program.
• Develop annual recruiting, participation and program implementation goals and measurements.
• Build and maintain relationships with ACC partner organizations.
• Develop recruitment initiatives to help recruit from under-served areas geographically and from populations for whom recruitment will promote inclusivity.
• Introduce new forums, trainings, and presentations to promote effective, respectful communication and transparency. Work directly with other ACC departments to create an intentional community in which Volunteers and staff both feel respected and supported and can work together toward their common goals.
• Seeking further integration at the supervisory and coordinator levels for all departments who engage the public.
• Directly supervise Volunteer Program Assistant. This includes, but is not limited to, setting their work schedule; providing training, resources and support; establishing goals and objectives; and providing frequent feedback regarding their work performance.
• Monitor safety issues among Volunteers and take immediate action to correct hazards, including proper training of Volunteers or re-classifying levels of competency to handle animals.
• Develop and foster supportive working relationship between ACC staff and Volunteers, including resolution of conflict.
• Recruit, train, place, supervise and retain Volunteers for the continuation and growth of the volunteer program.
• Identify and train experienced Volunteers who are good candidates to train new Volunteers in crucial assignments.
• Increase number of Volunteers who complete Fear Free training.
• Complete weekly timecards for direct-report Volunteer Program Assistant.
• Approve time off and organize coverage.
• Maintain proper Volunteer records, including applications, database files and statistics on all Volunteers.
• Update Volunteer assignment training guides and Volunteer Program standard operating procedure documents.
• Attend conferences; promote interorganizational collaboration; and pursue appropriate professional development opportunities.
• Fear Free certification within 30 days of hire.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree preferred.

Work Environment

At ACC it's all hands-on deck. We work together as a team, which means you may be asked to help with tasks that involve working outside in all sorts of weather. As a busy animal shelter in one of the biggest cities in the world it can get noisy inside. Employees should have the ability to remain calm yet professional in stressful situations involving animals and/or members of the public. ACC houses hundreds of animals in its facilities at any given time and with that comes fur, odors and other airborne particles in abundance.

ACC offers many low-cost services to pets and people in need. This includes compassionate end-of-life services for people who cannot afford to go to a private veterinary office but still want to provide a professional and peaceful transition for their beloved pet.

Reports To: Volunteer Program Manager

Overtime: This is a non- union position and is eligible for overtime.