Cat Pathways Coordinator

Position: Cat Pathways Coordinator Department: Client Services/Placement Reports To: Pathway Programs Manager Location: 1251 Fulton Industrial Blvd SW Atlanta, GA 30336 Summary: LifeLine Animal Project is committed to the care and welfare of pets and the people who love them. The values we exhibit as an organization show the strength of our staff, our leadership and our community. We expect all employees to exhibit LifeLine’s core values as we complete daily tasks, provide services to clients and care for our animals. The Cat Pathways Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the shelter foster cat program, including the behavioral assessment and placement planning for cats and kittens within the shelter. This role supports the general coordination and counseling of fosters caring for shelter cats and kittens. Essential Job Functions: This represents a list of essential job duties. Other duties or special projects may be assigned as needed. Uphold the standards and values of LifeLine Animal Project: Save Lives -- Build Community -- Be Exceptional Stewards -- Be Courageous -- Be Compassionate -- Take Responsibility -- Respect, Embrace and Celebrate Diversity Customer Service and Administrative Responsibilities: Provide excellent customer service and communications to clients, coworkers, fosters, and volunteers. Welcome visitors with a friendly, compassionate, and professional demeanor. Respect, embrace and celebrate diversity by always operating with a judgement-free mindset when greeting and working with visitors. Coordinate with Rescue Coordinator on rescue placement of cats and kittens. Conduct a daily inventory to determine placement options. Work with Pathway Coordinators and other departments to make sure that all foster needs are met in a timely manner. Manage the Foster Coach Team. Courageously collaborate with relevant staff and departments to address specific behavior needs and support cats in foster and to address any issues or concerns that arise. Exhibit exceptional stewardship by maintaining the foster module in the shelter database to keep track of foster pets housed outside of the shelter. Work with Veterinary staff to schedule vaccines, surgery, appointments as needed. Provide appointment information to foster and follow-up if appointments are missed. Reschedule as needed. Take responsibility to Identify and create efficiencies throughout the program. Handle customer service issues and more serious situations like lost cats, cat bites, and fading kittens. Assist Pathway Programs Manager in developing strategic placement plans for cats. Animal Behavior and Care Responsibilities: Train fosters, volunteers and employees on the proper care of cats and kittens of all ages and proper enrichment techniques. Counsel fosters. Answer questions, provide additional training and support as needed. Stay connected to short- and long-term fosters with follow-up phone calls, emails and visits. Maintain connection even when fosters are not housing an animal. Be willing to work flexible hours and be on call if needed for foster emergencies. Work with Veterinary staff on medical treatment of cats and kittens in foster care in order to advance LifeLine’s mission to save lives. Implement programs to enhance cat and kitten adoptions and foster placement. General Responsibilities: Provide back up as needed to other foster roles within the department. Have a shelter presence to handle onsite foster customer service experiences and assist in tasks relating to cat foster placements such as matchmaking, introductions, behavior and medical consults, and handoffs. Maintain a general understanding of all shelter operations, including animal care, adoption policies, volunteer opportunities, foster programs and any other operational processes. Stay informed about current animals in the shelter, including their needs, personalities, and status. Help build a community of animal welfare advocates by supporting and engaging the volunteers who aid the placement teams. Continue education by participating in LifeLine’s 40-hour annual training requirement. Maintain a clean and tidy work area. Other tasks as assigned. Qualifications: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Compassion for animals and the people who love and care for them. Passion for animal welfare and a strong understanding of animal care. Ability to serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity. Excellent customer service skills. Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to interact effectively with diverse groups. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and prioritize effectively. Proficiency in basic computer applications and experience with database systems is a plus. Ability to stand for extended periods and to bend and reach to perform assigned work activities. Ability to work well in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment. Comfortable working with dogs and cats of all sizes, breeds, and temperaments. Ability to follow safety protocols and handle challenging situations with calmness and professionalism. Ability to work collaboratively with multiple departments to ensure efficient shelter operations. Ability to adapt to changing circumstances and remain composed under pressure. Ability to handle seeing and dealing with animals that have been abused, neglected or treated cruelly. Must be able to work weekends, holidays, and varying shifts based on shelter needs. Must have a means of travel that ensures prompt arrival for work shifts. Must pass a background check. Education and/or Experience: High school diploma or equivalent; college degree or relevant coursework preferred. 18 years or older required, 23 years or older preferred for the purposes of being added to group vehicle insurance policy. One or more years’ experience in animal related field or animal sheltering preferred. Previous experience in customer service, hospitality, or a similar role is highly desirable. Fear Free Sheltering preferred. Work Environment: While performing the duties of this job, employee may be exposed to unpleasant kennel smells. May have to handle dogs and cats that are stray, injured, diseased or vicious.