Community Cat Program Coordinator -Orem/Salt Lake, Utah

Hiring Range: This position’s hiring range is anticipated to be $20 per hour to $25 per hour, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Schedule: The schedule is anticipated to be Monday – Friday, 9 am – 5 pm, but may require some flexibility depending on department needs.

Best Friends in Salt Lake City/Orem is looking for the most amazing, cat wrangling, community oriented, coordinator to join our team!

This position is as unique as they come.  Working closely with Best Friends Staff, local law enforcement and animal shelters this position will take on the challenge of implementing Community Cat Programing in Utah County.  Do you live for TNR?  Do you love seeing ear tipped toms roaming the neighborhood?  How about explaining to neighbors why Community Cat Programming is the future of humane animal treatment?  Then this is the position for you!  Join our quirky, committed, caring team and make a meaningful difference in animal lifesaving. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Demonstrate kindness and the Golden Rule in our everyday actions by practicing inclusion and respect for every person for the value they bring to the table. Be a role model for the spirit of authenticity, kindness and positive influence with each other, our visitors, and volunteers as well as to the animals every day. This includes listening, being present, being supportive of others and demonstrating compassion and curiosity in conflict 

• Act as liaison with stakeholders to ensure program goals and grant agreement terms are met in a collaborative and effective manner.  

• Work with animal control/police officers in intaking eligible cats into the CCP program, including ensuring only eligible cats are taken in, pertinent information about the cats/return site are noted, and accurate return addresses and individual cat identification processes are strictly adhered to in order to ensure cats are returned to the location in which they live.  

• Work with animal control officers and other staff to manage or resolve conflicts/complaints from the public, including visiting colony locations, implementing solutions using deterrents, suggestions for moving feeding stations, etc.  Answer a dedicated hotline and email accounts in a timely manner to address citizen issues. 

• Transport cats to and from the Orem clinic in a timely manner. Ensure that cats are organized by colonies and properly labeled including any medical concerns, relaying any relevant information to the medical team and other staff. Communicate with vet staff as well as caregivers regarding medical cases, treatments, etc.  

• Support and coordinate basic care such as feeding and cleaning for animals temporarily housed or transported within Best Friends’ vehicles, buildings, or facilities. 

• Develop a detailed knowledge of Best Friends’ programs to speak knowledgably about and support teams in providing or communicating about programs. 

• Manage equipment traps, feral dens, and miscellaneous supplies such as newspaper, food, trap covers, etc. 

• Collaborate with local shelters, animal welfare organizations, and the public to increase positive outcomes for community cats. 

• Assist in finding and setting up cat relocation sites only in very rare circumstances and with assistance from Shelter Partnerships Manager. 

• Accurately input data entry to online database for cats that come through the program, providing monthly and year-end reports of all spay/neuter done.  

• Recruit and support trappers working with the program. Lead and empower volunteers and volunteer teams in support of programs with the goal of utilizing volunteers to the greatest extent possible to expand Best Friends lifesaving capacity; deliver and lead superior customer service. 

• Work collaboratively with and assist Best Friends’ team members in all areas of operations to develop, evolve, and implement efficient processes to achieve lifesaving goals; follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communications, work completion, data entry, and recordkeeping. 

• Responsible for maintaining a safe workplace, valuing, and modeling safe work practices, adhering to organizational safety practices and rules, and communicating about unsafe practices and conditions. 

Skills and Experience: 

• A minimum of 1 year working or volunteering in an animal shelter, preferably in a municipal, government or private shelter with contractual animal control responsibilities; ability to work in an environment that is not no-kill, remaining professional, nonjudgmental, and supportive of that shelter’s staff. 

• Expert knowledge and experience with feral cats and trapping cats for the purpose of community cat programming, and knowledge about how to safely operate cat traps. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds and beliefs, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations. 

• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with well-developed organizational skills to juggle multiple competing tasks and demands. 

• Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ position on issues. 

• Experience leading teams and implementing programs preferred but not required. 

• Strong communication skills. 

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills preferred but not required. 

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, colleagues, and the public.  

• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns; basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of cats. 

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved. 

• Accurate record-keeping abilities and the ability to provide monthly reports on various programs. 

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products; familiarity with shelter software/animal management software, or desire to learn. 

Physical Requirements: 

• Routinely life 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to, lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending. 

• Driving cargo van regularly around Utah County and Salt Lake City, sometimes for extended periods of time.

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, and arm and hand motion. 

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme heat and cold. 

• Exposure to dogs, cats, and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status. 

• Daily hours and days of the week may vary according to the needs of the department schedule; position includes weekends, nights, and holiday work. 

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel and/or drive on behalf of Best Friends, including overnight stays, when needed.

• Travel is expected to be up to 40% - primarily within Utah County and Salt Lake City.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the US must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the US by Best Friends Animal Society.