About Us: Berkeley Humane provides the highest quality care for our furry patients while delivering an exceptional experience for their families. We seek a passionate and professional Community Program Manager to lead our team and ensure smooth operation.
SUMMARY: Berkeley Humane is looking for a compassionate, professional individual to fill the position of Community Program Navigator. This role involves connecting pet owners with essential resources, offering support and counseling, addressing community needs, developing new programs and resources, and tracking results. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, with a passion for animal welfare and helping people in need.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: This job description reflects the assignment of essential functions; it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
PRINCIPAL DUTIES:
• Embracing Volunteers: Invest in creating a positive environment for volunteer engagement.
• Leading with Empathy: Work with individuals in crisis with sensitivity and empathy. Possess a strong desire to contribute to both human and animal welfare.
• Community Partnership Development: Establish and maintain a network of community resources to support the well-being of both pets and their owners/guardians.
• Partner Support: Assist organizational partners by identifying pet-related needs and providing support when possible.
• Program Creation & Management: Design, implement, monitor, record data, and report progress on new programs and initiatives based on evolving community needs.
• Generate Resources: Assist with research and identifying funding opportunities through private and corporate foundation prospects. Help review requests for proposals to make recommendations as to appropriate funding leads.
• Collaboration with Staff and Volunteers: Work closely with all internal stakeholders on shared projects and goals.
• Public Support & Counseling: Manage public requests for assistance (via phone and email) in a timely and appropriate manner, offering guidance and resources.
• Cooperation with Shelter Partners: Work alongside partner Shelter Managers and Animal Control officers to provide support, especially in cases involving cruelty, domestic violence, and hoarding.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
• Educational Requirements: Master of Social Work (MSW) preferred; California Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) preferred. Certification or enrollment in a Veterinary Social Work (VSW) program is highly desirable.
• Valid California Driver’s License, clean driving record, and commit to safely drive Berkeley Humane’s vehicles.
• Background in animal welfare or a related field such as veterinary settings, animal shelters, or rescue organizations strongly preferred.
• Proven experience in program management, including goal setting, grant writing, data collection, and assessment.
• Experience helping low-income or crisis-affected individuals access resources.
SKILLS & REQUIREMENTS:
• Language Skills: Proficiency in Spanish/English preferred.
• Interpersonal Skills: Ability to adapt communication styles to diverse audiences, with excellent verbal and written communication, active listening, de-escalation, and non-violent communication skills.
• Ethics and Confidentiality: Strong commitment to maintaining confidentiality and adhering to the NASW Code of Ethics.
• Attention to Detail: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple urgent situations while maintaining high attention to detail.
• Technical Proficiency: Comfortable with Microsoft Office, Outlook, and shelter management software (e.g., Shelter Buddy). Familiar with online resources and apps (Google Spreadsheets, Zoom).
• Independence and Teamwork: Capable of working independently with minimal supervision while also being a collaborative team member.
SKILLS AND TRAITS:
• Customer Service Excellence
• Sales and Client Relationship Management
• Team Collaboration and Support
• Process Improvement and Innovation
• Financial Management & Reporting
• Positive Attitude and Professionalism
• Determination and Resilience
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: This job is primarily performed in office and shelter environments. Employees may be required to walk or stand for extended periods, lift and carry items up to 50 pounds, and humanely restrain animals when necessary. The role also involves climbing stairs, bending, reaching, holding, grasping, and turning objects, and operating a computer mouse and keyboard.
WORK ENVIRONMENT: This role may involve exposure to intense and/or unpleasant odors, including those from excrement, cleaning agents, and various chemical compounds. Employees will frequently be exposed to noise and may encounter parasites and infectious diseases that animals can carry and transmit. There is also a risk of animal bites and scratches due to the constant interaction with animals. Workers will be continuously exposed to animal-related noises and allergens.
While every effort is made to find loving homes for the animals in our care, some may be humanely euthanized due to disease, quality of life concerns, or behavioral issues that prevent them from being safely adopted into our community.
Why Join Us:
• Competitive salary and generous benefits package
• Opportunity to work with a passionate, pet-loving team
• Positive and supportive work environment
• Ongoing career development opportunities
• Puppies!
If you're ready to make a difference in the lives of pets and their owners while leading a dedicated team, we'd love to hear from you!
Berkeley Humane is an Equal Opportunity Employer
At Berkeley Humane, we are dedicated to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connection. We believe that we grow and learn more effectively when we work together as a diverse team of volunteers and staff. The unique blend of individual differences—from life experiences and knowledge to innovation, self-expression, and talent—shapes our culture, reputation, and achievements.
In our recruitment efforts, we embrace and welcome the unique contributions everyone brings, including their education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, languages spoken, veteran status, color, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.
