Cat Program Coordinator

Cat Program Coordinator West Columbia Gorge Humane Society - 5.0 Washougal, WA Job Details Full-time $20 an hour 1 hour ago Benefits Paid holidays Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Vision insurance Employee discount Paid sick time Qualifications Companion animal handling Teamwork Collaboration Copy machines Attention to detail Driving Behavior analysis Organizational skills Computer skills Full Job Description Are you looking for a position where you can make a difference in the lives of homeless pets, and support the individual needs of people and their pets within the community? Does the idea of working with adorable pets and connecting them with loving families bring a smile to your face? Then our Cat Program Coordinator position might be the perfect role for you! The Cat Program Coordinator oversees the overall welfare and placement outcomes of cats in the program. This role ensures coordinated, humane, and effective shelter operations through collaboration across care, medical, behavior, and placement teams, with a focus on improving outcomes for at-risk cats.

Reports To:

Operations Manager Supervisory Responsibilities:

No direct supervision of employees, but will direct and assist volunteers and program assistants as needed.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with current cat sheltering industry standards.
• Monitor daily care, health, and welfare, including feeding, kennel sanitation, and medication administration; assist medical staff with veterinary care; perform intake exams, and vaccinations as needed.
• Provide customer service by giving tours, educating the public on cat care, sharing resources, and responding to inquiries via email, phone, and in person.
• Assist with the volunteer program by providing training and ongoing guidance in cat handling, safety protocols, daily care, enrichment practices, and adherence to organizational policies.
• Review, and process applications for adoptions, surrenders, fosters, and community assistance programs; communicate with applicants throughout the process.
• Coordinate intakes, including surrender scheduling and incoming transfers, to maintain appropriate population levels; process intake and release of impounded cats in collaboration with the City of Camas and Washougal Designated Animal Control Agents.
• Develop and implement enrichment, exercise, and socialization programs; observe and document behavior; complete incident reports; and oversee behavior assessments, safe handling, housing, and pairing decisions; communicate with appropriate staff and volunteers.
• Create individualized foster placement solutions for cats unable to remain in shelter care due to behavioral or medical needs, and match them with appropriate adoptive or alternative placements based on behavior and ongoing care needs.
• Maintain accurate records for adoptions, surrenders, stray intakes, releases, fosters, and lost/found reports across all systems.
• Manage adoption and foster programs, including applicant screening, counseling, foster training and placement, and coordination of adoptions at on-site and off-site events.
• Organize cat transport to medical, foster, and adoption-related appointments as needed.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to improve adoption visibility and placement outcomes by capturing and providing photo and video content and accurate animal information.
• Oversee community assistance programs, including the Pet Supply Pantry, Veterinary Assistance, Home-to-Home programs, and ensure accurate recordkeeping.
• Provide coordination and support for community TNR efforts, including trap rentals, guidance on humane trapping and return practices, and referrals to organizations that provide spay/neuter services.
• Receive, record, organize, and securely store in-kind, cash, and check donations according to organizational and financial protocols.

At-Risk Cat Support & Case Management:

• Identify cats within the program who are behaviorally or medically at risk, including those experiencing stress, behavioral decline, or prolonged length of stay.
• Develop and implement individualized care plans for these cats, including enrichment strategies, behavior modification support, and placement considerations.
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers, and medical personnel to ensure consistent implementation of care plans.
• Monitor progress regularly and adjust care plans based on behavior changes, medical updates, and response to interventions.
• Provide behavior consultation to volunteers, fosters, and adopters.
• Track and document outcomes, behavioral changes, length of stay, and progress toward placement goals in the animal management system.
• Proactively identify adoption, foster, or transfer opportunities for at-risk cats and lead marketing and outreach strategies to achieve successful placements.
• Provide input on complex behavioral cases, including considerations for long-term management or humane outcome decisions when applicable.
• Recruit, manage, and train focused teams of volunteers in safe handling, enrichment, behavior modification, communication, and outcome pathways.
• Review, revise, and monitor protocols for urgent, at-risk, and long-stay cats.
• Communicate with medical staff regarding behavioral concerns potentially linked to medical conditions and care needs, and develop methods for consistent team communication on changes in cat status, progress, needs, and potential outcomes.
• Track caseload progress, outcomes, and trends, and provide at least weekly reports to leadership on program results and cat status.

Position Specifics:

Hours:

This position is a non-exempt, full-time, permanent position with 40 hours per week. Must be available to work weekends and some evenings, if needed.

Benefits:

Paid time off is accrued at .040 per hour worked for a maximum of 80 hours per year; sick time is accrued at one hour per 40 hours worked in accordance with WA State Paid Sick Leave Law, four paid holidays; annual scrub allowance.

Health Insurance:

Full-time employees are eligible to participate in our group health care plan.

Closing Date:

Position is open until filled.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Experience working with animals is required. Experience working in an animal shelter, humane society or other professional animal facility is preferred but not required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of animal behavior, body language assessment, and common shelter behavioral challenges.
• Experience developing and implementing behavior modification or enrichment plans preferred.
• Ability to safely handle animals of all sizes and temperaments, including animals exhibiting (fear, arousal, or reactive behaviors).
• Must have working knowledge of business equipment such as a computer, printer, copy machine, telephone, digital camera, etc.
• Excellent verbal and written skills, as well as organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to be self-motivated and disciplined.
• Strong work ethic and a commitment to teamwork and customer service excellence.
• Able to operate all vehicles and have a clean driving record.
• Love of animals and passion for animal welfare.

Working Conditions:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to noxious odors, fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals. Exposure to animal diseases and in the presence of injured, vicious, or frightened animals and potentially volatile situations which can present risk of violence or injury. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to occasionally loud. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Ability to work in varying temperatures and climate change.

Application Process:

Submit resume, cover letter, and references to: This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job related duties required by the Executive Director. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an "at-will" relationship. West Columbia Gorge Humane Society is an

Equal Opportunity Employer Pay:

$20.00 per hour

Benefits:

Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Paid time off Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person