Animal Volunteer Specialist

Minimum Qualifications

Associate’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, social sciences, or a related field, and one year of experience in volunteer coordination or program management; or any equivalent combination of related training and experience. Applicants within six months of meeting the education and experience requirements may be considered for trainee status.

A Valid Florida Driver License is required and a Motor Vehicle Record that meets the requirements of Alachua County policy #6-7; Motor Vehicle Records will be reviewed prior to employment. If, in the past 24-month period, the applicants Motor Vehicle Record has more than three (3) moving tra?c infractions or three (3) or more at fault motor vehicle accidents (or combination of both and /or a conviction/pending charge for driving under the in?uence) or is in violation of any standard mandated by Federal or State Law or Regulation, the minimum quali?cations are not met for the position. 

Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen and successful completion of all applicable background checks pre-hire and ongoing are required. 

Position Summary

This is responsible professional work coordinating, designing, planning, and implementing the animal volunteer program in the Alachua County Animal Resources & Care Department.

An employee assigned to this classi?cation is responsible for the recruitment, training, scheduling, supervision, and retention of volunteers who support animal care, outreach, and organizational operations. This role ensures a safe, effective, and mission-aligned volunteer program that enhances animal welfare outcomes and community engagement.

Work is performed under the direction of a higher-level supervisor and is reviewed through conferences, reports, and observation of results obtained.

Examples of Duties

This is an emergency essential classi?cation. Upon declaration of a disaster and/or emergency, all employees in this classi?cation are required to work.
 
Exudes a positive customer service focus.

Advocates building organizational culture through aligning decisions with the County's core values.

Designs, implements, and continuously improves the volunteer program in alignment with organizational goals.

Develops volunteer roles/descriptions, and workflows that support animal care, enrichment, adoption, foster, transport, and administrative functions.
Maintains accurate volunteer records, hours tracking, and compliance documentation. 

Plans and executes volunteer recruitment strategies, including outreach events, partnerships, social media, and digital campaigns.

Screens volunteer applicants, conducts orientations, and coordinates background checks as required.

Matches volunteers to roles based on skills, interests, availability, and organizational needs.

Develops and delivers training curricula covering animal handling, safety protocols, humane practices, and organizational policies.

Coordinates role-specific training.

Ensures volunteers meet competency standards before independent service.

Schedules volunteers and ensures adequate coverage for programs and events.

Provides ongoing supervision, coaching, and performance feedback.

Fosters a positive, and respectful volunteer culture that promotes retention.

Enforces animal welfare standards, biosecurity, and workplace safety policies.

Collaborates with animal care staff to ensure volunteers support best-practice humane outcomes.

Addresses incidents, injuries, or policy violations promptly and professionally.

Develops volunteer recognition initiatives and appreciation events.

Monitors satisfaction and retention metrics; implements improvements based on feedback.

Supports volunteer roles and committees as appropriate.

Partners with program staff, development, and communications teams to support events and campaigns.

Prepares reports on volunteer engagement, hours, and impact.

Assists with budget planning related to volunteer programs and supplies.

Drives a County vehicle and/or personal vehicle to work sites in order to perform required duties.

Performs the duties listed, as well as those assigned, with professionalism and a sense of urgency.

NOTE: These examples are intended only as illustrations of the various kinds of work performed in positions allocated to this class. The omission of speci?c statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations related to the assigned program area.

Knowledge of federal, state, and local education programs related to departmental goals and objectives.

Demonstrated knowledge of humane animal care and handling principles.

Strong interpersonal, organizational, and conflict-resolution skills.

Skills in volunteer management systems and standard office software.

Skills in time management and work organization.

Ability to effectively utilize social media and community outreach as strategic tools to expand the volunteer network.

Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.

Ability to work in animal care environments (e.g., shelters, clinics, outdoor settings).

Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with co-workers, volunteers, animal welfare groups, and other partners, elected o?cials, and the general public.

Ability to work independently and/or as part of a team to solve problems and make sound decisions based upon available information.

Ability to follow through on assigned tasks while maintaining attention to detail, patience, and professionalism.

Ability to coordinate and prepare reports, general audience presentations, and campaigns.

Ability to communicate e?ectively, both orally and in writing.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear, and use hands to ?nger, handle, or feel.

The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, and reach with hands and arms.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Speci?c vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 
While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes, or airborne particles. Potential hazards include animal bites, scratches, and exposure to zoonotic diseases (e.g., ringworm).

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to high.

Supplemental Information

Related fields: public relations, communications, marketing, hospitality management, & tourism.

Acceptable education and experience:
High School diploma or equivalent and three years of experience in volunteer coordination or program management.

Preferred experience:
Experience with volunteer management software or volunteer databases.
Experience with social media platforms.

An organization is only as good as the people it employs. To attract and retain the best team possible, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners offers a competitive benefit program. We believe that if we expect our employees to support the County, we must first support the health and financial well-being of our employees and their families, now and as they plan for their future. BoCC-Contributed Benefits

• Medical/Health Insurance  
• Employee Life Insurance  
• Florida Retirement System  
• Employee Assistance Program

Optional Benefits

• Dental Insurance  
• Vision Insurance
• Supplemental & Dependent Life Insurance
• Deferred Retirement Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Roth IRA
• Tuition Assistance Program  

NOTE: For detailed information regarding available benefits click here.

You may also view Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding benefits. 

• FLORIDA RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FRS) The Florida Retirement System is a retirement plan designed to provide an income to a vested employee and his/her family when the employee retires, becomes partially or totally disabled, or dies prior to retirement.  A defined benefit or defined contribution option may be chosen by the employee.
• TUITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Permanent, full-time employees are eligible for educational assistance funds. Contact the Human Resources Office for program details.
• HOLIDAYS Holidays are as follows: 

1. New Years Day  
2. Martin Luther King Day  
3. Memorial Day  
4. Juneteenth
5. Independence Day  
6. Labor Day  
7. Veterans' Day  
8. Thanksgiving Day  
9. Friday following Thanksgiving  
10. Christmas Eve (IAFF*)  
11. Christmas Day  
12. Additional Christmas Holiday (All non-IAFF employees)  
13. 2 Floating Holidays  (All non- IAFF employees)

*IAFF – International Association of Firefighters Pay periods are every two weeks, Monday through Sunday. Payday is Friday. International Association of Firefighters follow the General Contract 7k regarding holidays.

Vacation Leave – Generous vacation accrual rates with payout of unused accrued leave, with some restrictions. For more detailed information regarding vacation leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-2.

Sick leave is earned at a rate of 4 hours per pay period by all permanent, full-time employees*. At the end of each fiscal year, eligible employees can convert up to 10 days of accrued sick leave to vacation leave on a 2:1 basis. For more detailed information regarding sick leave refer to Employee Policy Manual, Section 7-3 *Accruals slightly different for IAFF employee.

$20.11 Hourly