JOB DETAILS

Volunteer Coordinator

CompanySanta Fe Animal Shelter Inc
LocationSanta Fe
Work ModeOn Site
PostedMarch 20, 2026
About The Company
Since 1939, the Santa Fe Animal Shelter has been dedicated to its mission: support animals, save lives, spread compassion. We are northern New Mexico’s only open-admission, no-kill shelter. As a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we receive nearly all of our funding from private donors in our community and beyond. Santa Fe Animal Shelter focuses on spay/neuter programs to control overpopulation, creative adoption efforts to bring pets to loving families and dozens of programs providing support for marginalized animals. Thanks to a partnership with the City of Santa Fe and the Bureau of Land Management, the main Shelter is housed on a 100-acre campus with hiking trails and plenty of room to walk dogs. Come visit our facilities to see how Santa Fe cares for its animals.  The Shelter is not just a place to adopt an animal or find a missing one but a place to visit over and over again. This is your Shelter, built by our community – a place to find joy with animals. Thanks to our supporters, in 2017 we: * took in 5,063 animals in need. * found new homes for 2,904 animals. * returned 1,195 lost animals to their homes. * gave 179 animals a second chance with our Shelter partners. * sent 626 animals to temporary foster homes. * spayed or neutered 5,661 animals. Our Live Release Rate is currently at 94.2 percent. SFHumaneSociety.org
About the Role

Description

 

SUMMARY OF ROLE

The Volunteer Coordinator is a creative and mission-driven strategist who knows the solutions to a community’s problems come from within that community. In this position, you will galvanize, cheerlead, problem solve, and celebrate the citizen contributions that Support Animals, Save Lives, Spread Compassion


PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS    

Targeted recruitment

  • Develop strategy to support evolving organization and departmental priorities  
  • Engage volunteers as mission ambassadors to multiply recruitment impact
  • Analyze, report, and act on volunteer lifecycle trends 
  • Assist in strategic planning and department goal setting
  • Present on volunteering to civic and corporate groups, at tabling events, in written communications, and on orientation tours

Engagement and retention

  • Provide transparency and education on Shelter philosophy and policies
  • Produce mass communications to update volunteers on news and events
  • Plan and present volunteer education and appreciation events
  • Assist volunteers with issues, concerns, and resource needs
  • Provide conflict resolution in support of SFAS Guiding Principles, including facilitated conversations and documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

  • Participate in population rounds and promote volunteer-led solutions in animal pathway planning discussions
  • Assist with budget proposals, reviews, and expense management
  • Support all departments in developing and managing programs to engage volunteers in various roles across the Shelter 
  • Collaborate with the Development department on marketing, communications, and recruitment initiatives
  • Engage volunteers for fundraising events, transfers, Shelter emergencies, and disaster response, including emergency fostering

Admin support

  • Record volunteer-generated observations; report on behavior, health, and facilities concerns; hold departments accountable for doing the same
  • Perform volunteer incident and injury reporting, including animal bites
  • Write, review, and organize SOPs to promote operational consistency and departmental succession 
  • Build and maintain catalog of volunteer opportunities in our database software
  • Facilitate self-help navigation by volunteers of that software and related mobile app for scheduling and logging service hours
  • Maintain volunteer database profile records

Relationships 

The Volunteer Coordinator is the primary contact between current and future volunteers and every department of the Shelter. Likewise, the Volunteer Coordinator is charged with cultivating a sense of community and mentorship among volunteers. 


Volunteer Coordinator

  • Centers volunteerism within the Shelter’s culture of philanthropy
  • While a portion of this job is not on-site, this is not a traditional "remote" position; the expectation is significant participation directly in the community we serve
  • Weekend availability is required
  • Promotes at all times, both internally and externally, a positive attitude and image regarding the Shelter and its practices
  • Upholds all Guiding Principles, Rules of Engagement, and other standards adopted by SFAS to govern our work

Requirements

 QUALIFICATIONS  Education, Skills and Work Experience 

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders
  • Confident public speaking skills in front of small and large groups
  • Proven relationship builder with ability to maintain excellent boundaries in professional interactions, including with volunteers 
  • Experience managing volunteers and working as a volunteer is a plus
  • Professional training, budgeting, strategic planning, project management, and event planning skills preferred
  • Participate in on-going education/training, including on-line courses and in-person seminars
  • Character supersedes particular experience; candidates with mission-driven values strongly preferred
  • Animal welfare experience is a positive but not required

Physical Demands 

  • Safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with the ADA, FMLA, and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards 
  • Perform repetitive motion including computer work, sitting, standing, walking, reaching, and bending for up to eight hours a day 
  • Tolerate odor, noise, allergens and cleaning chemicals
  • Handle animals including cats, dogs, and other animals at SFAS
  • Lift and carry up to 50 lbs. and assist others as needed 
  • Accommodate frequent interruptions and maintain a great deal of flexibility in assignment and performance of job duties
  • Talk loudly over animal noises when necessary 
  • A valid New Mexico Driver’s license is required
Key Skills
Communication SkillsPublic SpeakingRelationship BuildingVolunteer ManagementBudget ProposalsStrategic PlanningProject ManagementEvent PlanningConflict ResolutionData ManagementDatabase SoftwareWriting SOPsMarketingRecruitmentCrisis ResponseAnimal Handling
Categories
Social ServicesManagement & LeadershipAdministrativeHuman Resources
Job Information
📋Core Responsibilities
The Volunteer Coordinator will be responsible for developing recruitment strategies, engaging volunteers as mission ambassadors, and analyzing volunteer lifecycle trends to support organizational priorities. This role also involves planning and presenting educational and appreciation events, providing conflict resolution, and collaborating across departments to manage volunteer programs.
📋Job Type
full time
📊Experience Level
0-2
💼Company Size
75
📊Visa Sponsorship
No
💼Language
English
🏢Working Hours
40 hours
Apply Now →

You'll be redirected to
the company's application page