Foster Program Manager

Liberty Dogs

• $85K — $105K *
Reno, NV 89502In-Person
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Minimum 2-3 years managing volunteer programs in a nonprofit, preferably in shelters or service dog organizations.
  • Bachelor's degree in Animal or Business-related fields or equivalent experience.
  • Commitment to positive reinforcement training methods.
  • Strong skills in teaching, documentation, and organization, particularly with Excel and Salesforce.
  • Ability to handle large breed dogs and lift up to 50 lbs.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, demonstrating compassion and professionalism.
  • Valid driver's license and a clean driving and criminal background.

Responsibilities

  • Recruit and onboard volunteer fosters while developing an engaging onboarding program.
  • Supervise and train volunteers, ensuring effective use of positive reinforcement training techniques.
  • Match dogs with volunteers to create customized foster placements in collaboration with various teams.
  • Maintain communication through newsletters and updates, engaging regularly with fosters and volunteers.
  • Coordinate with various teams to streamline volunteer engagement and manage supply needs efficiently.
  • Track and manage dog check-ins/outs, contributing to building scalable systems for program growth.
  • Represent Liberty Dogs in media and public events while upholding animal welfare standards.

Benefits

  • Flexible full-time schedule with potential for evening and weekend work.
  • Engagement in a meaningful cause, contributing to the care and training of assistance dogs.
  • Professional development opportunities within the framework of a national program.
  • Collaborative work environment with diverse teams across outreach and training.
Full Job Description
Job Title: Foster Program Manager Reports to: Shelter Programs Manager Employment Type: Full-time, Salaried Position Summary: We are seeking an experienced Foster Program Manager to oversee the Liberty Dogs foster system and serve as the liaison between volunteer fosters and the Shelter Program. In this role, you will ensure foster placements meet Assistance Dogs International standards, match dogs to the right foster homes, and recruit, train, and retain the volunteers who make our program possible. Key Responsibilities • Foster Recruitment & Onboarding: Recruit, onboard, and manage volunteer fosters, and develop the foster onboarding program and onsite shelter volunteer opportunities. • Volunteer Training & Supervision: Supervise volunteers on and off site, and lead training sessions for fosters with and without service dogs in training, educating staff and volunteers on humane, positive reinforcement training practices. • Foster Placement & Matching: Develop individualized foster placements in collaboration with canine program staff, veterinary staff, outreach, and adoption teams, ensuring dogs are matched to appropriate foster environments. • Communication & Engagement: Create and send a monthly newsletter and dog-in-training updates to fosters and partner shelters, maintain regular contact with fosters with and without dogs, and serve as the front-facing lead at volunteer events. • Cross-Team Coordination: Partner with Outreach, Marketing, and Puppy teams to standardize volunteer engagement, recognition, and retention, and coordinate with fosters and medical teams on supplies, appointments, classes, boarding, and emergencies. • Operations & Systems: Check dogs in and out of campus, track shelter program foster inventory, and help build scalable systems for a national program, including LMS platforms, volunteer tracking, community boards, and data collection. • Public Engagement: Represent Liberty Dogs in media interviews and public events, and uphold organizational policies on safety, infectious disease control, and animal welfare. • Schedule & Travel: Weekends, evenings, and on-call availability as required, plus up to 10% local and national travel. Qualifications & Requirements • Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years extensive experience developing, coordinating, and managing large-scale volunteer programs in a non-profit setting, ideally a shelter, humane society, or service dog organization. • Education: Bachelor's degree in Animal or Business-related field or equivalent experience. • Training Philosophy: Commitment to science-based, positive reinforcement training. • Skills: Comfortable teaching individuals and groups of volunteers, with excellent documentation and organizational skills and proficiency in Excel, Salesforce, DaySmart, and other scheduling software. • Physical Requirements: Comfortable handling large breed dogs over 40 lbs and lifting up to 50 lbs, including dog food bags, crates, and exercise pens. • Soft Skills: Strong interpersonal and communication skills and a professional, compassionate presence with colleagues, volunteers, adopters, and the public. Reliable, responsive, adaptable, and solution-oriented, working well both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. • Driving: Valid driver's license with a clean driving and criminal record. • Bonus: Experience working with Veterans with PTSD; dog training certification from KPA, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, IAABC CCBC, Fear Free, PPG, or CAAB/ACAAB; and knowledge of shelter medicine, infectious disease protocols, and disinfection standards. Compensation: $85,000 - $105,000 DOE

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Liberty Dogs

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Foster Program Manager jobs: