Volunteer Manager

Volunteer Manager

Job Description

Wags & Whiskers is looking for an experienced, people-oriented, animal-loving Volunteer Manager (VM) who is at the top of their game in recruiting and engaging teams of volunteers to help Wags & Whiskers achieve its mission.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF WAGS & WHISKERS

Wags & Whiskers (W&W) is an innovative and growing 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing peace of mind and temporary care for pets of people facing illness. Wags & Whiskers believes in the healing power of the human/animal bond and strives to keep that connection strong, despite an individual’s temporarily health set-back.

How does W&W work? Wags & Whiskers partners with organizations whose case managers connect W&W with individuals needing temporary care for their pets. These are individuals who are sick, in the hospital, or recovering and who have no other option for their pet’s care.

Once a pet is referred, the W&W Volunteer Manager works tirelessly to pair the furry friend with a Volunteer Caregiver who opens their heart and home to the pet until it can be joyfully reunited with its human companion. By doing this, W&W not only keeps pets in a loving, safe home, but also out of already overcrowded animal shelters.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

The primary responsibility of the Volunteer Manager (VM) is to recruit, provide orientation and retain a large team of qualified W&W Volunteer Caregivers (and other types of volunteers as needed). The VM reports to the W&W President. The VM assists with budgeting functions, performs administrative tasks needed to fulfil job responsibilities, and effectively communicates with volunteers, W&W staff and staff of partnering organizations. The VM will:

• Support and promote W&W’s mission and vision.
• Manage all aspects of volunteer recruitment, retention, orientation, and the process for matching volunteers with individuals and animals in need of temporary care. This includes planning and implementing ongoing effective proven recruitment strategies and systems to reach, engaging and retaining qualified and diverse volunteers who strongly support the W&W mission.
• Develop and meet attainable recruitment and retention goals. Report monthly goals and results.
• Further develop job descriptions for volunteer positions, set expectations and manage volunteers’ performance, ensure individual volunteer accountability. Provide performance feedback to encourage, guide and direct volunteers to success.
• Refine an effective recruitment, retention and orientation manual for a successful volunteer team.
• Coordinate and assist with ongoing orientation and other learning opportunities for volunteers and staff of partnering organizations.
• Design and implement a volunteer recognition program to celebrate excellence and show appreciation for work in a manner meaningful for volunteers.
• Serve as liaison between volunteers, individuals with pets needing temporary care, and staff of partnering organizations.
• Monitor and maintain regular contact with all volunteers, including volunteer caregivers who are not currently assigned to a client.
• Conduct site visits to make sure applicant and volunteer’s homes are suitable for pets to be temporarily cared for prior to pet placements.
• Coordinate and be present at pet drop-offs and reunions. Monitor and maintain regular contact with clients and clients’ designated back-up individuals to identify any issues and make sure the clients’ experience is a positive one.
• Support, refine and implement W&W policies and procedures.
• Provide weekly status reports on key data collection items and recommendations for revisions to policies and procedures, as needed.
• Care and maintain a positive culture of excellence to include two-way communication, innovation and trust with and among volunteers.
• Develop a self-assessment of skills needed to perform the Volunteer Manager role and seek opportunities for continued learning and professional development.
• Oversee, implement, monitor and report key survey periods.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in social work, health and human services, social services, business, marketing, animal welfare or related field. Relevant non-profit volunteer management experience may substitute for a bachelor’s degree on a year-to-year basis with a maximum substitution of four (4) years.

Experience

• Three (3) or more years’ experience in assisting or acting in a leadership position for a non-profit program with functions to include oversight of volunteers and community relations efforts.
• Experience interacting with dogs and cats and knowledge of dog and cat behavioral traits that will help determine whether a given pet is a good match for a given Volunteer Pet Caregiver.

PREFERRED

• Experience and/or skills in working with a start-up or growing non-profit organization.
• Experience working with healthcare organizations who utilize case managers.
• Experience with working to preserve the human/animal bond.
• At least one (1) year of experience working in a non-profit volunteer management environment and participating in volunteer management activities.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Skill in community outreach and volunteer recruitment, retention, orientation and management required.
• Ability to: work cooperatively and collaboratively; build sound working relationships with community partners, volunteers and individuals of pets needing temporary care, and; build effective professional networks for W&W.
• Possess excellent verbal and written interpersonal communication skills that enable effective outreach and interaction with diverse audiences and in communicating.
• Ability to facilitate group discussions.
• Possess good organizational and planning skills; high level of creativity; ability to facilitate group discussion; good presentation skills; ability to work with minimal supervision and meet short deadlines.
• ·Ability to comfortably and safely interact with dogs and cats.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and meet short deadlines.
• Working knowledge with Microsoft Office, Excel, Power Point, social media, and Word Press.
• Experience working with Customer Relations Management (CRM) systems or volunteer management systems. Preferable Donor Perfect CRM.
• Knowledge of website maintenance and social media marketing methods.

JOB TYPE: Part-time or full-time, negotiable

LOCATION: Remote. Successful candidate must have access to and use their own equipment and Internet access (such as access to phone, computer, printer, copier and other routine office equipment). VM will need to need evaluate and visit pet CareGivers location.

PAY: $37,500 - $65,000, based on experience & whether position is part-time or full-time

APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Individuals wishing to apply for this position must submit:

• A cover letter describing why they should be considered.
• A resume
• Names and contact information for at least three (3) references, one from each: supervisor; peer, and; colleague.
• Email to Robert Shaw, President, Wags & Whiskers, Inc. Robert@WagsCare.com.
• Applications must be received no later than 5 pm on March 15, 2024

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: $20.00 - $35.00 per hour

Expected hours: 20 – 40 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Austin, TX 78731