Outreach & Training Coordinator and Response Specialist

American Humane is seeking an experienced Outreach & Training Coordinator and Response Specialist to act as a multifaceted resource for the internal and external coordination and implementation of American Humane’s Rescue program operations.  This position will be remotely based in the SE U.S. (FEMA region 4) with a priority to candidates in Florida and reports directly to the National Director, Rescue.  American Humane is committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. As we seek to fill this position, we highly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.

For more than 100 years American Humane has been first in promoting the welfare and safety of animals and strengthening the bond between animals and people.  We are first to serve, wherever animals are in need of rescue, shelter, protection or security. Through our innovative leadership initiatives – from our “No Animals Were Harmed®” program in Hollywood to broad-based farm and conservation animal welfare certifications, to rapid response rescue and care across the country – American Humane sets the gold standard as the most visionary and effective animal welfare organization in the nation.

Position summary:  

The Outreach & Training Coordinator and Response Specialist is responsible for working collaboratively to plan, publicize, manage, coordinate, implement and track outcomes of outreach and training efforts of the American Humane Rescue program.  The person in this position will serve as an educational resource, liaising with the public and key stakeholders and will take the lead in ensuring continued quality, up-to-date Rescue trainings and a strong return on investment for all programmatic outreach efforts.  The Coordinator will work cross-collaboratively with other departments to ensure goals and outcomes are being met.

As a member of the Rescue team, it is also expected that this position will be trained and serve as an emergency responder in times of man-made and natural disaster, at times leading other staff and volunteers on deployment.  This position reports to the National Director, Rescue.

Role expectations:

• High degree of collaboration across different programs and departments including Rescue, Marketing/Communications, Development, Legal, and Finance to help broaden and grow the reach of AH programming.
• Maintain regular communication with the National Director and Rescue team to keep abreast of activities, opportunities, and challenges; ensure collaboration by helping to facilitate cross-team and cross-departmental communication.
• Responsible for planning and conducting outreach activities and serving as an educational resource nationally, but with a specific focus for the southeast region of the U.S. to ensure visibility of the American Humane brand and programmatic work of the organization.
• Represents American Humane at selected public events, reflecting the mission and values of the institution.
• Deploy as a trained and experienced responder to disaster situations.

Responsibilities:

Outreach & Training (estimated 65%)

• In collaboration with National Director and program staff, lead the development and implementing the outreach strategy and goals for the Rescue program.
• Serve as primary point of contact to respond general questions about the program as well as inquiries about training, animal protection issues, disaster preparedness and emergency response.
• Promote, plan, coordinate and deliver multi-day Rescue trainings including Basic Animal Emergency Services training, a Disaster Sheltering for Companion Animals course, and other related trainings for volunteers, first responders and others; ensures appropriate MOUs from host agencies are secured.
• In coordination with leadership and program staff, maintain up-to-date training information and materials; issues training certificates to attendees that meet training criteria.
• Lead evaluation and review of training programs and provide recommendations for revisions; collaborates with Rescue Volunteer Coordinator to develop and/or update trainings for continued education and engagement.
• Plan, publicize, direct, attend and track outcomes for various national, regional, and local Rescue outreach and training events, including trainings, speaking engagements, fundraisers, and community events.
• As needed, provide on-site support to Rescue Logistics Coordinator during Rescue events, trainings, and emergency responses.
• In collaboration with the Development team, manage and administer various organizational grantmaking programs, including Emergency Relief grant, Second Chance grant, and Feed the Hungry grant.
• Actively network and build relationships with local and regional animal welfare and animal sheltering organizations, proactively assist agencies/organizations through AH programs and services.

Emergency Response & Readiness (estimated 35%):

• Respond to emergency situations as part of the AH Rescue response team; this could involve filling a variety of roles, including assisting with planning, initial on-site set-up, operations, logistics, media relations, and administrative needs; provide extended remote assistance throughout the duration of response.
• As needed, serve as liaison to support internal AH departments including communications, fundraising, or finance departments by providing information, photos & videos, press release support, talking points, and daily blog report.
• Serve as subject matter expert on emergency animal sheltering. Assist in emergency operations center by managing shelter operations, serving as section lead, and providing/advising on animal care.
• Work collaboratively with shelter teams to provide emergency animal sheltering services; ensure safety and well-being of animals, staff and volunteers while providing direction and delegating responsibilities to appropriate staff and volunteer leads.
• As needed, direct or assist staff and volunteers deployed on the ground with the search for injured, displaced or stranded animals in the field and care for rescued or sheltered animals.

• Monitor Eastern Tropics (Atlantic cost and Western Gulf coast) for severe weather and provide weekly reports to program
• As directed by the National Director and Logistics Coordinator, assume responsibility for all fleet, equipment, and inventory located in the SE region by ensuring proper maintenance and compliance with all state and/or federal laws and regulations as related to documentation and licensing for vehicles, maintenance, etc.
• Works with Logistic Coordination to tracks expenditures for vehicles and responses.
• Operate non-CDL required Rescue equipment, which could include a full-size pick-up truck, small boat trailer, and/or 38-foot gooseneck trailer; manage trailer and other equipment while on deployment or during outreach.
• Advance and develop relationships regionally to ensure MOU’s are in place with agencies and partners in key disaster cities, counties and states.

• Provide regular reports and documentation of activities to leadership during both times of disaster/emergency and non-response.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Essential experience, knowledge, skills and abilities:

• High school diploma or GED required, college or technical training strongly desired or equivalent experience in combination of community outreach and training coordination, emergency management, animal rescue and response, animal control, dispatch and/or sheltering.
• Direct experience or background in a combination of the following:
  • Animal response and emergency management/response
  • Animal welfare/protection- including animal care, shelter operations, humane education and/or animal cruelty investigations
• Minimum one year experience with both emergency response and animal handing strongly preferred; would be expected to complete an animal handling course within 60 days of hire if minimum experience not met.
• Proven experience and knowledge of planning and developing outreach strategy and implementing successful outreach events that demonstrate strong ROI.
• Proven ability to coordinate and lead trainings; experienced at providing both group and individual instruction; comfortable with public speaking.
• Adept at building collaborative relationships and demonstrating diplomacy with diverse constituencies, including first responders, emergency management representatives, animal rescue organizations and the public.
• Ability to deliver technical information to diverse groups of people in an easy-to-understand manner.
• Exudes high levels of professionalism and detail orientation even in high-stress situations.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective, timely leadership decisions in crisis situations.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills; effectively handles multiple tasks and manages concurrent projects and responsibilities; meets deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• High level of sound judgement and personal integrity; maintains confidentiality and handles sensitive information in an appropriate manner.
• Excellent spelling and proofreading skills, especially to ensure accuracy of names and contact information and data entry and in general correspondence.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office: Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; must be comfortable learning and using new technology.
• Completion of Incident Command System 100, 200, 700, 800 preferred or completed within 60 days and ICS 300 and 400 within one year of hire.
• Qualified for animal search and rescue or the ability to become qualified within one year of hire.
• Experienced or has ability and willingness to learn to drive regional equipment, which could consist of a full-size pick-up truck, small boat trailer, and/or 38-foot gooseneck trailer.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Familiarity with various emergency services organizations and their functions, i.e. state offices of emergency management, state veterinarians, the USDA and FEMA.

Direct reports:  

• None, but may manage portions of operations, which could include staff and volunteers, during response for a week or two at a time.

Physical demands and work environment: 

• Position will be remotely based in the SE U.S. (FEMA region 4) with a priority to candidates in Florida.
• Significant local, regional and national travel required for outreach events, trainings and deployments; travel required during deployments, potentially for up to 1 month and often on short notice.
• Position will maintain a regular work schedule, but at times will include irregular work hours on nights, weekends and potentially holidays during a deployment or for outreach and training activities.
• Talking, hearing and exchanging information of the spoken word over the phone, virtually and in-person is required to successfully perform these duties.
• Must meet physical requirements for responding to rescue animals during cruelty and disaster situations which may include bending, lifting, pushing, pulling, standing for long periods of time, swimming, etc.
• Must be able to pass the Wildland Fire Moderate Pack Task (2-mile walk with a 25-pound pack in under 30 minutes) as a minimal level of fitness.
• May require lifting 70 pounds or more on occasion.
• Possible exposure to hazardous conditions such as fire, flood, hazmat, compromised structures, and other hazards.
• Exposure to potential animal hazards such as animal bites and zoonosis.
• May require immunizations such as Hepatitis A & B, Rabies, Tetanus, COVID-19 and others.
• Must be comfortable working with animals.

American Humane’s core values define our workplace, and these values serve as the cornerstone for interactions in advancing our mission and institutional goals. Employees are expected to adhere to all organizational policies and to act as role models, demonstrating American Humane’s core values:

Compassion – Being kind and caring in our interactions with others.

Accountability - Holding ourselves to the highest standards. Following through on commitments and owning our actions, behavior, and decisions.

Respect for All – Being professional, listening to others and honoring diversity in all its forms.

Loyalty to Mission – Staying focused on our purpose and our mission – our nation’s most vulnerable depend on us.
Sustainability - Contributing to being a great place to work and achieving our shared mission and goals to make a difference, now and in the future.

Honesty, Integrity, Trust – Demonstrating transparency, as trusted stewards of donor resources, supporting our leadership and one another.

American Humane (AH) is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to fostering and growing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace and the humane space.