Community Programs Assistant

About the role

We are looking for a passionate person to help us expand our community programs! You must be fast paced with high-level organizational skills and love working with the public and animals. Our community programs include volunteers, fostering, animal transport and special events. This is an essential positon with a little bit of everything from working with animals and people of all ages. You must be able to handle shifting priorities and working under the pressure of deadlines but get the satisfaction of helping to save lives!

Responsibilities

• Works under the direction of the Community Programs Manager.
• Aids in managing, planning, and coordinating all aspects of special and community based events programs, including off-site adoptions, foster care, volunteer, rescue placements, community presentations and related services. Works with the public of all ages and abilities.
• Aids in recruiting volunteers and foster families; orients personnel; maintains records; and refers volunteers to various sites and arranges for recognition events. Must follow established protocols for volunteer and foster applicants.
• Aids in organizing programs and arrangements for special events; provides guidance, training, and oversight to assigned staff and volunteers at events and programs.
• Aids in the coordination of animal placement programs including transfers of animals to other shelters and rescue organizations. Includes doing behavioral evaluations on animals to ensure proper placement. Must be comfortable working with animals with unknown temperament.
• Takes digital pictures of animals up for adoption and keeps websites updated.
• Aids in the development of media/social media and print collateral and educational materials.
• Uses excellent customer service skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and all members of the general public.
• Aids in assisting with customer service including adoptions, reclaims, taking in strays and owner surrenders.
• Aids in the general management of the shelter and staff, must be willing to help direct and train staff.
• Must be proficient with data entry and working with computers.
• Must be comfortable with public speaking and working with the public.
• Prepares monthly statistical reports on the various community programs sponsored by the department.
• Attendance at work is an essential function of this position. A flexible schedule is required for early morning transfers and special events.
• Readily complies with departmental and county-wide policies and procedures.
• The physical demands and environmental factors listed below as well as regular attendance are also essential functions for this position.
• Operates a motor vehicle to assist in carrying out the business of the department and the City.
• Ability to determine applicable fees, handle money, and issue receipts.
• Performs general clerical duties. Filing, sending correspondences and preparing reports.
• Maintains records and files of the Animal Shelter and the animals housed there.
• Will be required to handle animals brought in by the public. Breed identification is helpful and will need to be able to interact with the animals for picture taking.
• Great customer service skills to include stressful circumstances.
• Ability to learn City ordinances and departmental procedures for handling calls and complaints.
• Ability to learn adoption / release procedures and applicable fees.

Qualifications

• This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes: pre-employment testing, post-accident testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow-up testing.
• Extensive background checks required.
• A combination of education and training equivalent to and associates degree in public relations, marketing, non-profit program administration, or a related field.
• One (1) years of professional experience in a staff capacity interacting with the media and public community groups, agencies, citizens, and volunteer service programs.
• Experience developing marketing materials and disseminating information.
• Knowledge, skills and abilities should include community related methods and communication practices, marketing techniques, and public relations techniques.
• Public education and community relations involvement techniques.
• Modern office practices, methods and computer equipment; principles and procedures or record keeping, English usage, spelling, grammar, and punctuation, basic mathematical principles.
• Some experience in the realm of animal welfare, animal control, or veterinary services is preferred.
• High level organizational and planning skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills in dealing with the public and staff; principles of supervision and teambuilding; experience working with volunteers.
• Ability to type and enter data with appropriate speed and efficiency.
• Comprehensive knowledge of alphabetical and numeric filing systems.
• Ability to type 45 WPM and enter data correctly.
• Working knowledge of personal computers, Internet, and software packages, including specific knowledge of MS Word and Excel.
• Skill in the operation of the listed tools and equipment.
• Ability to effectively communicate on a one-to-one basis with the public.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with employees, other departments, officials, and the public.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to work independently to complete daily activities according to work schedule.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• This position has the responsibility to participate in and comply with the City's Environmental, Health, and Safety program.