Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Paws for Youth, founded in 2000, is a nonprofit that uses animal-assisted programs to support the social and emotional growth of young people who have experienced trauma. The Program Coordinator will lead youth programs across Southern Arizona, recruit, train, place, and support volunteers, build community partnerships, and coordinate statewide volunteer onboarding and operations across Arizona.
Responsibilities
- Lead local recruitment to bring new volunteers into the Southern Arizona program, and grow the region's network of volunteer teams
- Represent Paws for Youth at community and awareness events across the region
- Guide new pet therapy teams and Helping Hand volunteers from first contact through placement at a school or partner site
- Lead an interview and welcoming orientation with each new team, screening, covering policies, procedures, and what to expect
- Coach volunteers on working with youth, our programs and trauma-informed practices, and attend the first visit for every new team or site so they feel supported from day one
- Plan and deliver volunteer trainings, virtual and in-person, live and recorded
- Supervise and support 25 or more volunteer teams delivering programming across Southern Arizona, checking in regularly to keep quality high and volunteers connected
- Plan a spring (formal) and fall (informal) volunteer appreciation event, and host volunteer meetups throughout the year
- Plan, facilitate, and deliver volunteer roundtables and ongoing trainings for volunteers
- Build and maintain strong relationships with schools, districts, and nonprofit partners so volunteers always have meaningful places to serve
- Be the warm first point of contact for volunteer inquiries from anywhere in the state, answering questions and helping people picture themselves in the work
- Keep prospective volunteers moving through the pipeline so no one gets stuck between steps
- Walk volunteers through obtaining their Level One IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card, making a confusing process feel simple
- Guide volunteers through national therapy-animal registration with our partner organizations, each with its own evaluations, paperwork, and timelines
- Plan and co-facilitate virtual information sessions with your fellow coordinators, giving every prospective volunteer a consistent, welcoming introduction to the work
- Coordinate scheduling and follow-up so interested people always know what comes next
- Each year, determine what supplies our programs will need for the coming year and place orders with a range of vendors
- Travel to the Phoenix office twice to sort ordered supplies after arriving, and host supply kit preparation party with volunteers
- As each coordinator sets visit schedules with their volunteers and partners, enter those schedules into our Volgistics scheduling system
- Keep scheduling accurate and current so everyone is working from the same calendar
- Work shoulder to shoulder with a small team of coordinators, sharing the load and covering for one another, and help improve the systems that make onboarding smoother for everyone
- Keep volunteer files accurate and up to date in Volgistics
- Track program data for impact reports, and prepare monthly updates for staff and the board
- Contribute ideas and stories to our newsletter and possible media opportunities, and partner with therapy-animal registration and evaluator organizations
- Join weekly Programs and all-staff meetings, and pitch in on other events, community engagements, and donor meetings as needed
Skills
- A genuine passion for helping kids, especially those who have experienced trauma
- Experience working with children
- A natural motivator and teacher who brings out the best in volunteers and enjoys building relationships
- Strong organization and time management, with the ability to juggle many moving pieces
- A flexible self-starter who stays solution-focused when things change
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Comfort and confidence around animals, especially dogs
- A valid Level One IVP Fingerprint Clearance Card, or the ability to obtain one
- Comfort with database management (Volgistics) and Microsoft Office
- Able to lift up to 50 pounds, and available for occasional evenings and weekends
- A valid driver's license, auto insurance, and the ability to travel across Southern Arizona, plus occasional trips to Phoenix
- Experience in volunteer management strongly preferred
- Experience in a teaching or counseling setting desired
- An understanding of animal behavior, or interest in learning more
- Bachelor's degree preferred
Benefits
- Mostly remote schedule with real freedom over how you shape your days
- Regular time with therapy pets in volunteer interviews and on program visits
- Medical (we cover 50% of the employee premium)
- Vision
- Dental
- Paid time off
- 13 paid holidays
- Reduced summer hours
- Mileage reimbursement
- Sick leave
Company Overview