Coordinator, Emergency Response Volunteer

Location: Remote -The job duties and responsibilities of this role are unable to be performed in Washington state at this time.

Hiring Range: This position's hiring range is anticipated to be $60,000 to $75,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Schedule -This schedule is anticipated to be Tuesday - Saturday, but is subject to change based on department needs, especially during periods of emergency response.

Position Summary: The Emergency Response Volunteer Coordinator plays a key role in expanding and supporting Best Friends' national network of trained volunteers ready to respond to natural and man-made emergencies where animal welfare agencies are impacted. This position is responsible for recruiting, onboarding, and engaging volunteers who support lifesaving efforts during disasters and critical incidents, as well as maintaining readiness for rapid deployment across the country. The coordinator ensures volunteer participation aligns with organizational priorities, strengthens partner capacity, and enhances Best Friends' ability to respond swiftly and effectively when communities and animals are in crisis.

Culture Statement and Responsibility:We believe in treating everyone with kindness and compassion, building trust through authenticity and following through on commitments. We prioritize well-being alongside our mission, fostering strong relationships through open communication and transparent feedback. Diversity and inclusion are integral to our culture, enriching team dynamics by valuing diverse perspectives. Each team member is responsible for creating an inclusive environment where all voices are respected and contributing to a workplace that embodies our shared values and commitment to progress. By consistently aligning our actions with our Guiding Principles, we strengthen our culture and ensure that our values are lived every day.

Essential Duties andResponsibilities:

Volunteer Recruitment and Retention

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies to build a nationwide network of skilled, mission-aligned volunteers available for emergency response; engage prospective and current volunteers through outreach, information sessions, and ongoing communication to ensure readiness for deployment.

• Expand the strategic use of volunteers by aligning roles, projects, and engagement opportunities with organizational mission priorities and evolving program needs; ensure volunteer efforts directly advance lifesaving outcomes, operational efficiency, and community impact.

• Serve as the first point of contact for volunteer questions, feedback or conflict resolution; provide coaching and corrective action when needed; plan and implement volunteer appreciation efforts, such as recognition events, awards and public acknowledgments to encourage long-term engagement and retention; communicate updates, opportunities, policy changes and important reminders to the volunteers through all channels, email, newsletters, social media, and/or in-person meetings; reciprocate communication to staff when needed.

• Ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and communication of volunteer activity, impact, and engagement trends; routinely audit internal processes to identify needs, source additional resources, and coordinate implementation of new workflows, or systems that enhance volunteer support and experience when deployed in the field; support the development, or updating of SOPs and operational processes related to volunteer deployment to ensure consistency, efficiency, and alignment across all response programs.

Training and Deployment Coordination

• Collaborate across internal departments and program areas to identify training and credentialing needs, evaluate existing learning frameworks, and design scalable solutions that strengthen volunteer readiness and compliance. Lead development and implementation of consistent standards for training, documentation, and credentialing that ensure rapid mobilization across all active and potential response scenarios. Partner with user experience and national volunteer teams to maintain accurate systems for tracking volunteer qualifications, participation, and deployment readiness.

• Partner strategically with Emergency Services Specialist and Department leadership to plan, organize, and execute volunteer deployments for local, regional, and national emergency response operations. Provide high-level oversight of deployment logistics, coordination, and communication, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, safety standards, and partner expectations. Serve as the primary point of contact for volunteers and field leaders throughout activations, maintaining clear communication channels, supporting problem-solving in real time, and ensuring cohesive collaboration and a positive, mission-aligned volunteer experience.

• Lead post-deployment evaluation and continuous improvement efforts by coordinating after-action reviews and debriefs with volunteers, staff, and other departments and teams. Apply feedback and operational data to identify systemic strengths, resource gaps, and process improvements that enhance efficiency, volunteer preparedness, and organizational agility. Present findings and recommendations to leadership to inform future strategy, training content, and operational planning for large-scale and emergent response efforts.

• Oversee financial and logistical planning for deployment and readiness activities, including expense tracking, logistics coordination, and resource allocation to support effective mobilization. Coordinate with Finance and Department Leadership to ensure funding and materials are available for supplies, travel, equipment, and volunteer support. Monitor costs and resource utilization during and after deployments, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and accuracy of spending.

• Travel for the job is expected to range from 30% up to 50% depending on the location of the jobholder and specific responsibilities and tasks assigned.

Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge and/or experience in disaster field response is preferred.

• Prior experience managing large volunteer programs and volunteers is required.

• Volunteer or employment experience with an animal shelter for a minimum of 1 year is required. Basic ability to identify and speak to medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.

• Experience with coordinating animal transports is preferred.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with public speaking and presentation experience.

• Bilingual or multi-lingual skills are preferred but not required.

• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues; familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.

• Strong interpersonal skills, a team player, personable, professional, and able to get along with people from different backgrounds, as well as the ability to handle sensitive and confidential situations.

• Self-starter with the abilityto work in a fast-paced environment withwell-developedorganization skillsto manage multiple competing tasks, projects, and demands.

• Resourceful, get-it-done attitude; initiative to assist in any area or process; problem solving, seeking answers independently and enthusiastically; flexibility to persist until goals are achieved.

• Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends' positions on issues; experience in supporting, engaging with, and developing relationships with volunteers and donors.

• Must have strong proficiency in MS Office skills including Outlook, Teams, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Physical Requirements:

• Routinely lift 40 pounds and perform daily strenuous activity including, but not limited to lifting, bending, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing stairs, ladders, or traversing uneven and unstable terrain.

• Perform repetitive tasks for extended periods of time including typing, sitting, walking, arm, and hand motion.

• Work indoors and outdoors in a variety of weather conditions including extreme or rapidly changing weather conditions, including heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, flooding, or debris-filled environments.

• Exposure to dogs, cats and other animals of all sizes, temperaments, and medical status, including in emergency situations.Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including those with health and/or behavior conditions/concerns.

• Must be able to work in confined spaces, low-visibility environments, and hazardous conditions.

• Must have adequate manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to operate tools, medical equipment, and emergency response devices.

• Must be able to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including respiratory protection and weather-specific gear, for prolonged periods.

• Must have visual and auditory acuity sufficient to identify hazards, read instruments, and communicate effectively in noisy or chaotic environments.

• Must have a valid driver's license for at least 3 years, ability to qualify to be added to Best Friends insurance, ability to travel and/or drive on behalf of Best Friends, including overnight stays, when needed.Ability to travel via various forms of transportation.

• Able to workvarying hours,which may include early morning and/or late evening hours. Must be available to serve on an on-call capacity, monitoring emergencies and be willing to work through weekends and holidays during response operations, if needed.

Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career at Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends Animal Society is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, marital status, or domestic partner status.

Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now and/or will not in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the U.S. by Best Friends Animal Society.