Seasonal Animal Care Coordinator, Kitten Nursery

Summary:

Are you a friendly, detailed-oriented people person who thrives on creating efficiency? Are you passionate about providing exceptional care to cats and kittens in need? If so, you should consider the role of Animal Care Coordinator to join a committed Kitten Nursery team working to support kittens and nursing queens in New York City.

The Kitten Nursery cares for hundreds of underage kittens and their mothers each year, in a dedicated nursery environment and in foster. Once these kittens are healthy and happy 8-week-olds, the Kitten Nursery helps them get ready for adoption through the ASPCA Adoption Center. 

The Animal Care Coordinator fulfills both administrative and direct care needs of the ASPCA Kitten Nursery including scheduling medical appointments, updating and maintaining medical records, entering medical exams as well as providing high-quality direct care to all cats and kittens. Along with other direct care roles, they work under the guidance of veterinarians and licensed veterinarian technicians to assist in the delivery of individual animal and population level medical care following low-stress handling principles and shelter medicine practices.

Responsibilities:

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Administrative 70%

• Maintain and update medical records and other Nursery databases for all Nursery animals, including entering exams, attaching test results and transfer records and scheduling procedures, surgeries, and consults.
• Retrieve and file medical records and health certificates to and from Animal Care Centers of NY and placement partners
• Ensure accurate and timely data entry to animals’ medical records, including transfer of information from other ASPCA departments’ software systems and diagnostic test results from outside laboratories
• Schedule appropriate services for Community Medicine and AAH appointments, to coincide with foster returns and timely, efficient movement throughout an animal’s stay
• Ensure all animals have received appropriate foster medical discharges and/or adoption medical discharges prior to placement or transfer to the Adoption Center
• Cultivate positive and productive relationships with staff, foster families and members of the public to support positive animal outcomes
• Participate in daily Nursery Rounds to support the efficient movement of animals into and through foster homes.
• Be an active learner - attend staff meetings and training sessions, seek-out opportunities to develop as a professional
• Represent the ASPCA in a professional, and courteous manner at all times
• Additional duties as assigned by supervisor

Animal Care and Welfare 30%

• Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques.
• Provide attentive care for all kittens, as well as nursing mother cats with kittens, including routine bottle feeding, assisted feeding, and stimulating elimination
• Provide clinical care for neonate cats, kittens and nursing cats and litters including syringe feeding; administration of topical, oral, and ophthalmic medications; nebulization
• Clean and sanitize cages, enclosures, and all equipment in accordance with Nursery Standard Operating Procedures. Ensure the comfort and cleanliness of shelter animals; always provide appropriate bedding, and appropriate daily enrichment
• Assess needs of kittens to help determine appropriate placement within the nursery and/or in foster care, based on age and health
• Continually monitor the nursery population for general well-being, signs of illness, and behavior concerns; communicate findings to appropriate team members as outlined in Standard Operating Procedures
• Transport animals and their medical records within ASPCA departments for necessary care, including but not limited to transfers to the ASPCA Animal Hospital, or the Adoption Center
• Make certain the entire Kitten Nursery is kept clean and orderly through the day
• Wash, dry, and put away laundry per Standard Operating Procedures
• Work in compliance with Occupational Safety and Health Administration policies and requirements
• Advise Supervisor of any conditions that are unsafe including unrecognized hazards or other safety risks
• Additional duties as assigned by supervisor

Exemplifies the ASPCA’s Core Values: 

• Has Commitment and dedication to improving the lives of animals 
• Demonstrates Ownership and feels responsible for outcomes 
• Believes in Team – that we are stronger together 
• Seeks to Elevate others and reimagine what is possible 
• Focuses on Impact, specifically making change for animals 

Qualifications: 

• Knowledge of basic animal care and low stress handling 
• Able to understand and communicate using appropriate veterinary medical terminology 
• Exceptional customer service skills 
• Able to quickly adjust focus and shift priorities based on Kitten Nursery and patient needs 
• Able to work efficiently and calmly under challenging conditions; demonstrate flexibility with work assignments and tasks 
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Able to maintain an open mind regarding changes and be willing to learn, implement, and teach new protocols 
• Basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office; familiarity with PetPoint and Impromed or other shelter and veterinary software systems a plus 
• Must be able to bend, stand, lift 30 pounds frequently and engage in repetitive motions throughout a shift  
• Must be comfortable working in close proximity to cats and cat litter    

Compensation and benefits:

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. 

For hourly roles: the target hiring range for this role is $24.00-$25.45 per hour

For more information on our benefits offerings, click here.

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If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please visit our website to join our Talent Community and stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

  

Language:

English (Required), Spanish

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma (Required)

  

1-2 years experience in an animal shelter or veterinary practice setting, Fear Free® certified or completed within 60 days of employment

Our EEO Policy:

The ASPCA is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to a reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws.  A reasonable accommodation is a change in the ASPCA’s standard application process, which will ensure an equal employment opportunity without imposing undue hardship on the ASPCA.  Please inform the ASPCA’s People Team if you need an accommodation in order to complete any forms or to otherwise participate in the application process.

Individuals seeking employment are considered without regards to race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity or expression, age, marital or domestic partner status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status,  or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

ASPCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer (M/F/D/V).

Salary : $24 - $25