Rescue, Adoption & Foster Operations Coordinator

Description

SECTION 01: KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

A. Animal Intake and Health Assessments

• Intake Coordination: Oversee the intake of animals (e.g., shelter transfers, owner surrenders, emergency rescues), ensuring safe and smooth arrivals. 

• Health and Behavioral Assessments: In coordination with the Medical Director, conduct or evaluate each dog’s health and behavior.

   

 B. Foster Recruitment and Onboarding

• Application Review and Initial Contact: Screen incoming foster applications, arrange interviews, and warmly welcome new volunteers ready to embrace our “Lovable Lemons.”
• Orientation and Training: Provide fosters with a thorough orientation covering Road Dogs’ values, protocols, and the emotional journey of caring for dogs with special needs.
• Resource & Information Distribution: Supply fosters with care instructions, emergency contacts, and tips for handling medical or behavioral challenges. Emphasize that any medical concerns must be directed to the Medical Director for guidance. 
   

C. Foster Placement Coordination

• Animal Matching and Placement: Propose appropriate foster placements by aligning each dog’s medical and behavioral profile with the foster’s capabilities and commitment.
• Collaboration with the Medical Director: Confirm required medical supplies, treatments, or specialized instructions with the Medical Director prior to placing any dog in foster care.

D. Foster Family Support

• Support Before & After Foster Terms: Serve as the central resource for fosters not actively caring for a dog, handling inquiries and re-engagement opportunities.
• Support During Foster Term: Act as primary point of contact for foster families while they have a Roadog in their custody for all non-medical needs. Provide regular check ins on dog’s progress, request and file photos and videos for social media posts, and work with fosters in developing a bio for when the dog is ready to be posted for adoption.
• Quarterly Check-Ins: Keep fosters connected through regular calls or messages, ensuring they feel appreciated and equipped for potential future fosters.
• Vacation Requests & Non-Dog-Specific Needs: Coordinate temporary foster coverage and help fosters manage personal constraints without jeopardizing each dog’s continuity of care.

E. Adoption Process and Support

• Adoption Applications: Review and respond to all incoming adoption applications, assessing each potential adopter’s suitability and commitment, in line with our standard of responsible rescue.
• Adoption Interviews: Conduct empathetic, detailed interviews, ensuring adopters understand the medical, behavioral, and emotional facets of caring for a “Lovable Lemon.” Medical details requiring further insight are deferred to the Medical Director.
• Adopter Support and Handover Coordination: Provide adopters with robust resources and guidance post-adoption, partnering with the Post-Adoption Follow-Up Team to nurture successful long-term placements. 

F. Issue Resolution and Assistance

• Escalation Process: When fosters or adopters encounter significant medical or behavioral hurdles, promptly notify the Medical Director and escalate more complex issues to Admin & Operations Lead if necessary.
• Team Collaboration: Communicate transparently with team members during emergencies or sensitive challenges, emphasizing community and shared responsibility.
• Protocol for Addressing Complex Foster/Adoption-Related Issues: Follow established escalation guidelines for serious concerns, including potential involvement of the Admin & Operations Lead or Senior Leadership. 

G. Rescue Logistics and Volunteer Coordination

• Emergency Response & Transfers: Oversee urgent rescue logistics and coordinate with the Transport Coordinators to ensure secure transitions for high-risk or medically urgent dogs.
• Volunteer Engagement and Task Delegation: Collaborate with Rescue Support Volunteers, outlining clear roles in rescuing, fostering, and adoption processes while celebrating their essential contributions.

H. Record Keeping and Data Management

• Foster and Adoption Records: Maintain accurate, up-to-date documentation—covering foster applications, communications, and adoption paperwork—ensuring legal, insurance and operational compliance.
• Rescue Documentation: Keep each dog’s file current with foster communications, behavioral assessments, and progress toward adoption.
• Data Management & Reporting: Use Shelter Manager or similar platforms for continuous data entry, producing monthly/quarterly reports on intakes, fosters, adoptions, and medical outcomes (as directed by the Medical Director).

SECTION 02: COMMUNICATION & REPORTING

• Daily Updates: Provide concise role-relevant updates on new foster/adoption applicants, urgent needs, and active placements to the Medical Director and relevant team members.
• Weekly Team Meetings: Join scheduled calls to assess dog care, review foster/adoption status, share updates on pressing medical or behavioral concerns, and brainstorm process improvements.
• Quarterly Rescue Review: Deliver an overview of rescue, adoption, and foster metrics, highlighting key successes, obstacles, and areas for growth to the Medical Director and CEO. Medical trends or challenges: Summarize in coordination with the Medical Director.

SECTION 03: TRAINING & TEAM INTEGRATION

• Four-Week Training Sessions: Coordinate foundational training with the Medical Director and any key team leads, refining intake protocols, supply management, and short-term foster strategies.
  Note: All medical protocols are ultimately determined by the Medical Director.
• Ongoing Joint Placement Discussions: Hold routine catchups to discuss upcoming foster or adoption placements, ensuring alignment, community, and consistent application of Road Dogs’ values.
  Medical: Any special care requirements for dogs are clarified by the Medical Director.

SECTION 04: DIRECT ASSIGNMENTS FROM LEADERSHIP

• Assignment Coordination If leadership assigns tasks overlapping with existing responsibilities, the RAFOC confers with the Medical Director or relevant leads to clarify. Founder/CEO focuses on vision and advocacy; operational direction remains with the Medical Director (for healthcare) and RAFOC (for daily rescue operations) for efficiency and clarity.

SECTION 05: FOSTER & ADOPTION NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

• Foster Recruitment & Outreach: Under the direction of the Founder/CEO, assist in planning robust campaigns—via social media, community gatherings, or brand partnerships—to attract new fosters and potential adopters who share our devotion to “underdogs.”
• Program Metrics & Reporting: Track crucial indicators like foster satisfaction, placement speed, adoption success rates, and volunteer engagement, using data to refine strategies.
• Quarterly Program Review: Present a cohesive summary of milestones, challenges, and forward-thinking solutions to leadership.

SECTION 06: EXPECTATIONS

• Collaboration & Teamwork Act in a spirit of unity and open communication, aligned with Road Dogs & Rescue’s ethos of supporting each dog wholeheartedly through empathy and shared responsibility.
• Proactive Engagement Anticipate concerns, maintain active dialogue with fosters and adopters, and quickly address problems that could hinder a dog’s well-being while understanding that all medical issues must be channeled to the Medical Director for final decisions.
• Accurate Documentation Uphold transparency and accountability through diligent record-keeping, capturing the “raw realities” of rescue alongside the joyous wins.
• Respect & Appreciation Recognize the invaluable roles of fosters, adopters, donors, and volunteers; celebrate their contributions to saving dogs often overlooked due to medical challenges or shelter risk.
• Organized and Compassionate Care Provide structured oversight that never loses sight of every dog’s inherent worth, harnessing hope and humor to promote healing transformations.

SECTION 7: SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Animal Welfare Expertise Adept at managing brachycephalic and special-needs dogs, understanding that all in-depth medical needs are overseen by the Medical Director.
• Communication Skills Ability to navigate stressful scenarios with warmth, clarity, empathy, and effective communication, ensuring fosters and adopters feel fully supported from intake to adoption.
• Organizational Skills Skilled at juggling multi-pronged tasks across rescue, foster, and adoption pipelines while efficiently coordinating volunteers and timelines.
• Problem-Solving Ability Proficient at identifying potential roadblocks, employing a blend of resourcefulness and collaboration to find meaningful.
• Collaboration & Adaptability Thrives in a fluid, community-driven environment, adapting strategies and priorities to maintain momentum toward our shared goal of saving more lives.

SECTION 8: QUALIFICATIONS & LOGISTICS

• Experience 3–5 years in animal rescue, shelter management, or foster coordination, ideally with a background in special-needs or high-risk dog care. Leadership experience is an asset.
• Education Studies or certification in Animal Science, Veterinary Technology, or relevant fields are beneficial but not strictly required.
• Technical Skills Familiarity with Shelter Manager (or similar platforms) for data entry and reporting, alongside robust digital communication and record-keeping abilities.
• Location Primarily remote, with possible on-site involvement for intakes, adoption events, or advanced medical consults.
• Schedule Flexible, including availability on weekends or evenings to handle emergent rescue or adoption needs. Maintains responsiveness within agreed-upon timeframes.
  
   

At Road Dogs & Rescue, we believe in empowering the underdogs, embracing each dog’s quirks as part of their unique beauty, and celebrating the remarkable transformations that compassion can spark. The Rescue, Adoption & Foster Operations Coordinator (RAFOC) is instrumental in turning our vision into reality—illuminating the path for brachycephalic and special-needs pups once deemed “undesirable,” enabling them to find second chances in caring foster homes and, ultimately, loving forever families. While this role closely monitors each dog’s welfare, all medical decisions rest with the Medical Director. By weaving together empathy, transparency, urgency, hope, and collaboration, the RAFOC exemplifies our brand essence in every interaction—whether mobilizing volunteers, guiding fosters, or cheering on an adopter at the end of a medical journey. When these vulnerable dogs thrive, it underscores our unwavering message: no dog is left behind, and every life is worth saving. Through its dedication to heartfelt storytelling, meticulous organization, and community-building, the RAFOC elevates Road Dogs & Rescue’s ongoing mission: to stand boldly in the gap for those who can’t speak for themselves, transforming not just the lives of dogs, but also the hearts and lives of all who share in their rescue.

How to Apply

Please forward your resume and cover letter to info@roadogsandrescue.org. We look forward to hearing from you!