Volunteer Services Coordinator

Position Summary

The Volunteer Services Coordinator plays a key role in recruiting, onboarding, training, supporting, and retaining volunteers and foster volunteers who contribute to the SPCA of Wake County’s mission. This position helps maintain a growing and engaged volunteer program by ensuring volunteers receive the training, communication, resources, and support necessary to successfully perform their roles.

 

This role serves as a primary point of contact for volunteers and prospective volunteers, helping guide individuals through the onboarding process, coordinating training opportunities, maintaining volunteer records, and supporting ongoing volunteer engagement efforts. The Volunteer Services Coordinator works closely with volunteers, fosters, staff, and leadership to promote a positive and rewarding volunteer experience while ensuring organizational needs are met.

 

The position also supports foster-related operations and collaborates closely with the Director of Volunteer Operations, Foster Coordinators, and Caregiver Assistance Program (CAP) Coordinator and cross-functional teams to identify volunteer opportunities, support foster placements, and assist with departmental initiatives. This role requires strong organizational skills, customer service excellence, attention to detail, independent judgment, project ownership, and a passion for animal welfare.

 

This role is ideal for individuals who thrive in fast-paced, mission-driven environments, enjoy building relationships with volunteers and community members, and are passionate about supporting both people and animals.

Schedule

Monday – Friday, typically 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Schedule may vary based on operational needs. Position requires flexibility to support weekend, holiday, occasional evening, training, event, and foster-related coverage as needed. Occasional on-call availability may be required to support foster-related needs.

Our Core Values:
1- Hell, Yeah!
2- Be Kind
3- Do What You Say
4- Forward Focused
5- Loose & Wiggly
6- Drop the Mic

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Support volunteer recruitment efforts by responding to prospective volunteer inquiries and assisting candidates through the onboarding process
• Coordinate volunteer onboarding activities, orientations, and training opportunities
• Ensure volunteers are properly trained, equipped, and prepared to perform assigned duties safely and effectively

• Develop, update, and maintain volunteer-friendly standard operating procedures, training materials, and resources

• Support ongoing volunteer education and engagement initiatives
• Monitor volunteer participation and identify opportunities to improve volunteer retention and satisfaction

• Serve as a liaison between volunteers and staff, promoting positive communication and collaboration
• Communicate clearly, accurately, and professionally with volunteers on a consistent basis
• Provide guidance, support, and problem resolution for volunteers as needed
• Help recognize and celebrate volunteer contributions through retention and recognition efforts
• Coordinate volunteer shift coverage and assist with volunteer scheduling needs
• Maintain positive relationships with volunteers while reinforcing organizational policies, procedures, and expectations
• Assist Foster Coordinators and department leadership with foster program initiatives and projects as needed
• Assist CAP Coordinators and departmental leadership with CAP initiatives and projects as needed
• Provide occasional on-call support related to foster and CAP operations when assigned

• Independently manage assigned Volunteer Services, Foster Care, and CAP projects from planning through implementation, ensuring timely follow-through and alignment with organizational needs
• Evaluate and identify opportunities to improve existing volunteer workflows, training processes, communication methods, and administrative practices to identify opportunities for improvement
• Recommend and implement process improvements that strengthen volunteer engagement, operational efficiency, communication, and program consistency
• Use sound judgment to prioritize competing responsibilities

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date volunteer and foster records within Salesforce and other organizational systems
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism when handling volunteer, foster, and organizational information

• Collaborate regularly with Animal Care, Medical, Intake, Adoptions, Community Impact and Foster teams to support organizational goals
• Assist with volunteer participation in organizational events, programs, and special projects
• Perform additional operational and administrative duties as needed to support Volunteer Services, Foster Care, and organizational priorities

Supervisory Responsibility

No direct staff supervisory responsibility. Provides guidance, training, coordination, and support for volunteers.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent
• Experience working in animal welfare or veterinary medicine
• Previous customer service, or volunteer coordination experience
• Working knowledge of veterinary terminology, animal care practices, and humane animal handling techniques
• Strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, changing environment
• Ability to problem solve independently while recognizing when leadership support is needed
• Strong attention to detail and ability to maintain accurate records
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays
• Commitment to the mission and values of the SPCA of Wake County

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience recruiting, onboarding, training, or coordinating volunteers
• Knowledge of animal health, welfare, biosecurity, and disease prevention practices
• Experience developing training materials, volunteer resources, or standard operating procedures
• Experience managing projects, improving workflows, or implementing process improvements

Work Environment
This role operates within a fast-paced animal welfare environment and involves frequent interaction with volunteers, foster caregivers, staff, visitors, and animals. Responsibilities are performed in office settings, animal housing areas, medical spaces, adoption environments, training settings, and during volunteer-related events and activities.

 

The position requires maintaining professionalism and effectiveness while working in an environment that may include high noise levels, strong odors, emotionally sensitive situations, and animals of varying sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions. The role requires regular onsite presence to support volunteer operations, foster activities, training programs, project implementation, and cross-functional collaboration.

 

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, bend, reach, crouch, kneel, and remain physically active for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and pull up to 50 pounds
• Ability to safely handle canines, felines, and small animals of varying ages, sizes, temperaments, and medical conditions
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through electronic communication methods
• Ability to work in environments with high noise levels, strong odors, and exposure to cleaning chemicals and disinfectants
• Ability to work both indoors and outdoors in varying weather and temperature conditions
• Exposure to zoonotic diseases, parasites, viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other animal-related environmental conditions
• Ability to consistently perform onsite volunteer support, training, animal handling, and operational responsibilities at SPCA of Wake County facilities and event locations as needed

Benefits:

• Medical and Dental: Employer pays 90% of employee coverage (full-time)
• Insurance includes wellness, dental, vision, life, mental health care, prescriptions, emergency & urgent care, chiropractic care, and physical therapy
• Telemedicine options, 24/7 access to virtual health & wellness care and virtual behavioral health care

PAID TIME OFF –

• All part-time and full-time staff receive paid time off.
• Paid Holidays - 9 paid holidays per year (full-time)
• Vacation Time - 10 paid vacation days per year (full-time) with scheduled increases at milestone anniversaries of hire date
• Sick Time - 6.5 paid sick days per year (full-time)

FINANCIAL –

• Healthcare: Flexible Spending Account
• 401k Plan
• Coastal Federal Credit Union Membership
• 20% discount on pet adoptions and in SPCA Wake retail store

OTHER –

• Bereavement time off 
• Federal & State Leave of Absence options

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Responsibilities may change based on organizational needs. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position, consistent with applicable federal, state, and
local laws.

Only the most qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews. No phone calls or emails, please — we’ll have our people call your people