Job Type: Permanent full-time
Location: Dartmouth, NS, CANADA
Job Title: Animal Shelter Liaison (Medical Focus)
Number of Positions: 1
Date Posted: June 2023
Start date: As soon as possible
Compensation: Salary Range $50,000 – $60,000
Training provided, health benefits after 3 months
Purpose
A Nova Scotia SPCA Animal Shelter Liaison is a key member of the Nova Scotia SPCA team for regional management of the province’s animal shelter locations. Animal Shelter Liaisons are responsible for facilitating the smooth and efficient day-to-day operations of SPCA Animal Shelters in partnership with other SPCA Liaisons and the SPCA’s Director team.
Responsibilities
The primary duty of an Animal Shelter Liaison is to bridge the Nova Scotia SPCA Provincial Office with the SPCA Animal Shelter locations through the province. This includes achieving positive animal outcomes and developing positive relationships in communities to ensure that every person in Nova Scotia has access to our services and programs.
Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- New hire training in animal care tasks up to and including administering medical treatments.
- Assist in the development of new training sessions for new animal care hires.
- Follow-up on new hires to ensure training implemented is understood and being applied.
- Record keeping for all training sessions.
- Follow-up with staff after initial training sessions to assist with the continued application of skills learned.
- Provide afterhours and on-call support with medical triaging.
- Assist with the training of the SPCA college student rotations in the Dartmouth Shelter and HRM Animal Redemption Centre.
- Participate in the execution of the staff orientation program.
- Organize orientation materials and presentations to ensure the SPCA onboarding program supports organizational goals and strategy.
- Assist with the employee recruitment process by identifying and interviewing candidates, performing reference checks and issuing/processing employment contracts.
- Provide direct medical and/or animal care training as needed on assigned topics during staff and volunteer orientation.
- Perform a variety of clerical functions to plan, organize, implement, and accomplish department day-to-day functions and goals in support of onboarding new employees.
- Distribute, educate, and explain processes and paperwork to new employees.
- Respond to requests for information and appropriately release information based on policy, ensuring requests and work assignments are prioritized and completed correctly and efficiently.
- Manage information database through Microsoft SharePoint.
- Assist the Development team by documenting impactful stories and reporting notable donations occurring in shelters.
- Maintain employees’ personnel records ensuring they are accurate and up-to-date.
- Support staff in developing and expanding their medical knowledge and skill set.
- Support communication efforts by ensuring policy and procedure changes are communicated, clarified, and implemented.
- Identify and deliver performance management procedures to staff as needed.
- Responsible for facilitating partnerships with community groups, organizations, and other stakeholders to advance the SPCA’s mission and strategic priorities;
- Help lead key initiatives in partnership with community allies.
- Build relevant and lasting relationships with community contacts.
- Work with Development team to ensure that we have appropriate fundraising content for appeals and communications.
- Work with Provincial Leadership Team on various initiatives including the continued enhancement of revenue streams that align with our mission and improve our ability to support a greater number of animals in need.
- Understand the impact of financial and operational changes and demonstrate strong problem-solving skills on behalf of the animals, community, stakeholders with the Provincial Leadership Team.
- Assist with on-call and triaging support afterhours.
- Ensure positive and consistent communication between staff and management.
- Encourage and support a positive team environment.
- Work in hand with the Facilitators of Animal Care Pathing employees.
Qualifications & Required Skills
Please note the Nova Scotia SPCA is committed to the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the hiring and support of our employees. Please advise us of any accommodations that you may require in your role that would ensure you are equipped and able to do your work and meets your needs as an individual.
In addition to having the ability to travel and a valid driver’s license, the following are some of the skills required of a Nova Scotia SPCA Animal Shelter Liaison.
Leadership Skills: Ability to keep staff motivated, resolve conflicts, and make hard decisions while using a compassionate coaching approach. Animal Shelter Liaisons must be comfortable managing teams across the province remotely and be comfortable navigating multiple differing situations at the same time. Strong leadership skills are critical to this role.
Time Management: Ability to work with multiple staff, managers, and volunteers across the province, assist in crisis situations and perform reviews. Must have the ability to create schedules, order supplies and write reports. Ability to work under tight deadlines, frequently changing environments and pressure situations is essential. Strong multitasking is a must for this role.
Math and Budgeting: Expected to keep and maintain budgets, be cost conscious and make sure Shelters are staying on budget. It is essential that this position is good with computers and has extensive knowledge of marketing and sales.
Decision-Making Skills: Whether it is dealing with staff, management, government agents, veterinarians or suppliers, this position will have to make decisions that affect the Society. Having the ability to make hard decisions under pressure is crucial to success.
Speaking and Writing: required to have strong written and oral communication skills across varying platforms.
Animal Medical Knowledge: A background in the veterinary field with a history and understanding of medical terms and processes will be required. An understanding of both canine and feline behaviours is mandatory.
Additional Information
- This position requires a flexible schedule.
- Evenings and weekends will be occasionally required.
- Must have the ability to work rotational on-call shifts on evenings and weekends for remote team management.
- Have consistent and reliable access to mobile phone.
- Driver’s license is required.
- This position requires significant travel throughout Nova Scotia using a company vehicle provided for work travel.
- Covid-19 vaccination status required
Physical Requirements
- Physical ability to walk and/or stand on your feet throughout a normal workday is required.
- Physical ability to lift and carry 40 pounds regularly.
- Working conditions include working alone, working outside in varying weather conditions, frequent interruptions, and evening and weekend on-call work.
Hours of Work
Work responsibilities require a standard 40 hours per week plus additional overtime as required fulfilling the duties associated with the position.
How to Apply
Nova Scotia SPCA is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified applicants, regardless of gender, race, age, sexuality, or disability.
The Nova Scotia SPCA provides a competitive salary and a rewarding work environment.
Interested applicants are asked to submit their resume and cover letter indicating salary expectations to resumes@spcans.ca.
Please quote “Animal Shelter Liaison (Medical Focus)” in the subject heading in your email reply.
