Foster Coordinator

Reports to:

Foster Program Manager

Reports to: Foster Program Manager

Compensation:

Hourly

Schedule

Full-Time

Position Overview

The foster coordinator position is a full-time position reporting to the foster manager. This position is responsible for maintaining and completing all operations required for the foster program & supporting the adoption program as needed. Track and coordinate foster placements, complete pass/intakes from the public, answer foster emails & assist in foster emergencies, place tags and schedule pick-ups of foster animals. Assisting with building the foster base, training fosters, and informing the fosters of SAPA! procedures to get animals marketed, into foster homes and ultimately adopted- including long stay. This position requires collaboration with all SAPA! teams on a daily basis. 

Key Responsibilities

As the Foster Coordinator, you are expected to communicate professionally and respectfully with staff, adopters, rescues, fosters, and others from the community. You are expected to work in a fast-paced environment to help increase the live Release rate for animals in the care of SAPA! and the city. 

  • Efficiently and effectively manage the flow of puppies, kittens, dogs and cats from the 

euthanasia list on-site and externally into foster, rescue, or adopter homes and pushing 

for an increase of the live release rate. 

  • Approximately 75% of job duties involve communicating with fosters either in person, by 

phone or online. 

  • Must be able to work independently, have strong organizational skills, the ability to 

multitask, and work efficiently in a fast-paced setting. 

  • Post photos and descriptions of available animals on Facebook, Mass Email Programs and Market animals aggressively and quickly, with extremely limited timelines. 
  • Compose eye catching, organized animal pleas to go out daily to market the animals on 

the urgent list that need placement. 

  • Maintain and create new contacts with fosters, rescues, and adopters to maximize the 

live release placement of animals into foster each day. 

  • Maintain a high level of professionalism and customer service with the public at all times. 
  • Respond to emails the same day they are sent during business hours- quick responses are essential to maintaining a positive experience for fosters. 
  • Process foster applications the same day received during business hours. 
  • Ensure thank you emails are sent to fosters within 24 hours of animal placement. 
  • Follow up with assigned fosters weekly ensuring animals are receiving proper medical 
  • care and needs are met. 
  • Communicating with fosters by phone when there is an emergency; i.e., When foster 

needs the foster animal out of their home asap, when foster animal escapes, etc. 

  • Arranging foster parent pick up from multiple locations and answering any questions 
  • related thereto. 
  • Communicate with teams who assist with counseling fosters for any animal leaving who requires training, medication, medical consult or supplies knows what fosters need before arriving for pick up. 
  • Ensure that each foster parent receives any necessary medical consult, training, behavior 

consult or supplies prior to handoff. 

  • Bring any foster animal out to the foster parent upon arrival, together with all necessary 

or requested supplies (e.g., medicines, leash, crate). 

  • Attend adoption sites and events or other community outreach opportunities. 
  • Update foster transfers in the database, Shelterluv, with all placement-related 

information. 

  • Provide coverage at the Petco Love Adoption Center as assigned. 
  • Recruit new foster parents to the SAPA! Foster program 
  • Care for on-site animals awaiting movement into foster care as needed. 
  • Update foster parents on any changes in policies or procedures as needed. 
  • Assist in the adoption process if fosters who foster fail their foster animals. 
  • Completing Pass/Intakes/OS from the public for SAPA! intake. 
  • Recruiting fosters. 
  • Other duties as assigned to meet the needs of SAPA! 

 

Minimum Qualifications

  • High School Diploma or equivalent 
  • Must have a minimum of one year of experience in excel/google sheets 

Qualifications & Experience

  • Willing and committed to working well with volunteers, fosters, adopters and staff in all roles. 
  • A passion for San Antonio Pets Alive!’s mission. 
  • Must be proficient with email, word processing, and spreadsheets. 
  • Conveys optimism and demonstrates resilience. Adaptable to new procedures and ways of working. Recovers quickly from set-backs and overcomes obstacles. Willing to pivot or adjust plan in order to respond to changing priorities or the needs of the animals. 
  • Dynamic and people centric, you are working with our fosters and customers. The goal is always to try to get customers to check out and view the animals.  
  • Must be able to keep information confidential. 
  • Organized and accurate  
  • Weekend & Holiday work is required.