SHN Technology Director

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The Safe Haven Network facilitates temporary emergency boarding for the pets of domestic violence survivors by connecting their advocates to "safe haven" animal shelters that will care for the pets while the survivor gets back on her feet. Our referral program uses a secure online portal to make these connections faster and more efficient.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Technology Director will be responsible for managing the secure online portal to ensure that it is always running effectively and efficiently. The Technology Director will monitor the portal for bugs and general upkeep, as well as recruit and manage other developers to help with upkeep and upgrades. The portal is built on Ruby on Rails, so the Director should be familiar with that.

This is a VOLUNTEER position, but one that carries a great deal of responsibility. The portal is the lynch pin of our program, and if it isn't working properly, survivors are left scrambling without options. We are looking for someone who is committed to our mission and our organization, on whom we can depend to work independently and efficiently without our needing to check up or chase them down.

The time commitment for this position will vary, but can be estimated at 5-10 hours per week, on average (sometimes more, depending on the issues that may arise). The Safe Haven Network does not have a physical office, so much of the work will be done remotely. The position may require on-site visits to partner agencies and other in-person meetings.

We are looking for a dedicated, self-driven professional who will take ownership of the secure online portal and be dedicated to its ongoing success. The ideal candidate will work well both cooperatively and individually, and most importantly, will make The Safe Haven Network a priority.

NOTE: This is a volunteer, unpaid position.

71% of domestic violence survivors entering shelters report that their abusers have also targeted their pets. Almost half of all domestic violence survivors who have pets refuse to leave their abusers if it means leaving their pets behind. The ones who do are often plagued with feelings of anxiety and guilt, and end up returning to their abusers to protect their pets. Since so few domestic violence shelters accept pets, survivors who leave and take their pets with them face so many obstacles that some have been known to live in their cars with their pets for up to four months.

Please email a resume to Jessica Katz at safe@thesafehavennetwork.org with the subject line, "IT Director Application."