Volunteering with us

apply to be a foster coordinator!

The primary role of a New Collar Collective (NCC) Foster Coordinator (FC) is to actively contribute to and support the NCC Foster Program. This includes supporting Fosters paired with NCC animals, interview and onboard Foster Program applicants, and supporting the growth and development of the Foster Program. FCs actively engage with our Fosters from the initial application screening through to the adoption of their foster animal. This can be a rich and rewarding position as you get to build meaningful relationships within the Foster Program community and share in their experiences throughout their's and the foster animal's journey to their forever home.  

Time commitment: 

Roughly 5 - 10 hours per week, self regulated. Ability and willingness to allow for a flexible schedule is ideal. 

Daily commitment to ensure you monitor your communication channels (email, Slack,  and respond to any issues, concerns, or questions raised by your Foster Managers and Fosters.

Responsibilities include:

Foster Team Administrative Responsibilities:

  • Screen fosters (reviewing applications, phone interview, references, home visits) and adhere to the timelines for screening set by the organization’s management. 

  • Follow information management, guidelines, and other administrative requirements (inputting of fosters into database, email management). 

  • Contribute to Foster Team operations to ensure applications are actioned within 3-5 days, or ideally faster, of receipt with prompt and professional communication. 

  • Respond to emails/calls (non-emergency) within 24hrs, and emergency situations immediately. If unavailable, pre-arrange with Foster Manager for coverage of your team and maintain out of office notification best practices. You are not expected to be available 24/7. However, the team relies on you to utilize out of office replies when you are unavailable, and the manager is aware that you are offline and for how long. 

  • Contribute to the development of resources, tools, and the like within the Foster Team, and occasionally NCC at large.

Foster Coordinator Role in relation to Fosters:

  • You will be the primary contact for assigned foster families: provide regular follow up, support and encouragement; provide training advice; ensure New Collar Collective program policies are followed. 

  • Ensure that foster(s) are prepared for their role as a foster, this includes explaining to them the associated concerns/risks/training expectations associated with their incoming animal. Communicate any concerns over their preparedness to Foster Managers.

  • Support the vetting, community outreach (if applicable), and adoption teams to ensure foster volunteers are effectively communicating and completing vetting appointments/follow-ups adequately. 

  • Coordinate submission of information from fosters (behaviour info, animal bios, photos, cat test, etc.), to support information sharing with Adoptions Team. 

  • Track vetting requirements to ensure fosters do not miss appointments to support the Vetting Team. 

  • Ensure you are providing updates in the animal thread and updating additional NCC members, as required, with foster animal information.

Additional Responsibilities:

  • Assist Community Outreach and Events Teams in coordination and communication with fosters to ensure that foster animals are available at outreach and adoption events, photoshoots, etc. 

  • Actively participate in the NCC community, which includes the private Facebook groups.

  • Attend events, as available, to participate in the promotion of New Collar Collective and available foster animals.

  • Provide assistance and support to all New Collar Collective teams and community as required/able. 

Qualified candidates should: 

  • Be a team player and be willing to collaborate with others on the Foster Team and broader NCC community. 

  • Be able show compassion, patience and empathy with foster families and the issues or concerns they raise regarding their foster animals.

  • Be able to maintain a positive and calm attitude under stressful or emotional situations.

  • Have excellent interpersonal skills, be extremely organized, detail oriented and able to multi-task in an ever-changing and high-stress environment.

  • Commit to monitoring communication channels (email, Slack, etc) at least once per day.

  • Understand and respect confidentiality, where expected and necessary.

  • Have a computer and be proficient with various software platforms/database management and/or willing and open to learn.

  • Have strong communication skills (oral and written).

  • Have a willingness to learn and be open to feedback, suggestions, and discussions with others in the NCC Community.

  • Be respectful and considerate towards people and animals and be committed to upholding New Collar Collective’s mission, values, processes, policies, and embody the organization’s values. 

  • Familiarity with animals, knowledge of animal behavior, and experience working with animal rescue programs is preferred.

TO APPLY: Please fill out our general volunteer application and send an email to foster@newcollar.co with the subject ‘Foster Coordinator Application’