Kitten Nursery Volunteer Intern

Save to Favorites

Kitten Nursery Volunteer Intern

Purpose:

The Best Friends Pet Adoption Center in Mission Hills, CA operates a large-scale neonatal kitten nursery, which is tasked with saving more than 2,950 kittens from Los Angeles Animal Services shelter system in 2016.

Staffed with a dedicated nursery lead and nursery volunteer coordinator, 2 nursery team members and a cadre of devoted volunteers who sign up for feeding shifts 24 hours a day, the neonatal nursery has a major need for an intern who can assist with volunteer administrative duties, including shelter software database management and volunteer coordination for 24/7 shifts.

This intern should be prepared to work in fast-paced environment, and will finish the internship having gained broad experience in coordinating volunteers, learning about neonatal animal care and working in animal welfare.

Please note this is an unpaid internship.

Reports to: Nursery Volunteer Coordinator

Primary Duties:

This role will be multi-functioning, and includes but is not limited to:

• Identifying volunteer scheduling needs in the nursery for the upcoming week
• Engaging current approved feeders via e-mail and phone to fulfill feeding schedule slots for the upcoming week, as well as identify volunteers who have not served a shift in the nursery recently, and re-engaging them via calls and e-mails
• Identifying volunteers in the shadowing stages who need to come in for additional training, and engaging them to do so
• Maintain volunteer database entry of volunteer information, including 'promoting' volunteers from shadowing to approved feeder status and to proper volunteer tier, as well as identifying volunteers who have not met monthly commitment and re-engage, in order to keep volunteer related documents current and up to date
• May act as point person for volunteers when Nursery Volunteer Coordinator is not present

• May assist or teach nursery orientation and shadow sessions in nursery
• Additional duties as needed as assigned by the Nursery Volunteer Coordinator

Time Commitment:

Per semester, up to 15-20 hours per week (negotiable based on semester); days/times flexible

Qualifications:

• Ability to interact well with others. Very personable, professional, and upbeat, and demonstrates ability to create and encourage a positive work environment.
• Must be able to work in a fast-paced environment with the ability to handle multiple tasks and responsibilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills, i.e., ability to develop positive relationships with others and demonstrate sensitivity to the thoughts, feelings and perspectives of others.
• Demonstrates personal accountability to ensure that all responsibilities are completed effectively and in a timely manner.
• Accurate, appropriate, clear and concise written and verbal communication skills.
• Tech savvy and computer literate in basic email and database program; willingness to learn the functions of volunteer software for scheduling purposes and shelter software for animal purposes.
• Willing and able to work weekends and evenings with notice and as requested.
• Ability to work with distractions in a busy work environment.
• Able and willing to professionally advocate Best Friends position on issues.
• Ability to work in close proximity to cats.
• Basic understanding of animal welfare is a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting for extended periods of time
• Able to work at a computer for extended periods of time with repetitive typing, arm and hand motion.
• Lifting and handling animals of varying sizes and breeds, bending, stooping and walking on a daily basis.
  

Equipment Used:

• Computer, phone, basic computer programs