Job Description

The Foster Manager supports Ruff Start Rescue’s foster animals and foster homes throughout the foster-care journey, from intake through adoption. This position serves as a primary point of contact for foster homes, provides behavioral and general support, coordinates placements and animal moves, maintains accurate case information, and works across departments to keep animals moving safely and successfully through the rescue.

This is a fast-paced, communication-heavy position. The Foster Manager manages a high volume of email, phone, and social media communication while balancing routine questions with urgent and emotionally challenging situations. Responding to a foster is rarely a single-step task; one conversation may also require placement coordination, documentation, internal communication, follow-up, or updates to animal records.

The successful candidate will be able to quickly assess priorities, make timely decisions, and manage multiple active situations. This role requires compassion and strong relationship-building skills, as well as sound professional boundaries, emotional resilience, and the ability to move forward when there is not an immediate or perfect solution.

Training will be completed in phases. The employee will begin by learning Ruff Start Rescue’s administrative systems, animal records, foster workflows, and routine communication before gradually assuming responsibility for placement communication, foster matching, urgent situations, behavioral concerns, and more complex case decisions.

Availability: This is a full-time, salaried position averaging approximately 40 hours per week, primarily Monday through Friday. A regular schedule with defined working hours is expected, with reasonable flexibility to meet changing program needs.

The position includes a combination of administrative work, foster communication, and team collaboration. Some responsibilities may be completed remotely; however, the Foster Manager is required to work in the office at least two days each week. Occasional in-person meetings, events, animal transports, or other program needs may arise. On-call availability outside of regular working hours, including weekends, may also be required to address urgent foster or program needs.

This position oversees:

• Support and communication for Ruff Start Rescue foster homes

• Foster animal placement, movement, and case follow-through

• Behavioral support and coordination with trainers

• Foster Coordinators and foster-application workflows

• Volunteers assisting with foster-program activities

• Foster cats participating in PetSmart and other adoption-center programs

Essential Job Functions:

• Serve as a primary point of contact for foster homes, providing timely support, guidance, and clear communication throughout the fostering experience.

• Coordinate foster placements, temporary care, and foster-to-foster moves based on animal and household needs.

• Respond to urgent or complex situations involving animal safety, behavior concerns, lost animals, bites, fights, or placement concerns.

• Provide practical behavioral support and collaborate with trainers, Medical, Intake, and other teams when additional expertise or coordination is needed.

• Oversee foster cases from intake through adoption, including placement needs, status updates, documentation, and follow-up.

• Maintain accurate and timely records in ShelterLuv and other approved systems.

• Support foster onboarding, Foster Coordinators, and the foster-application process.

• Collaborate across departments to ensure animals and foster homes receive coordinated support.

• Help strengthen foster engagement, retention, and overall satisfaction with the foster experience.

Qualifications:

• Must be 18+
• Reliable access to the internet
• Comfortable using common workplace technology and learning new software and systems.
• Ability to work courteously and cooperatively with all members of RSR and the public
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimal supervision and direction at times
• 2+ years of leadership, supervisory, or management experience preferred.
• 2+ years of customer service, community engagement, or other people-focused experience.
• Animal welfare, rescue, shelter, veterinary, or foster program experience preferred.

Physical Demands

The physical requirements listed 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.

• The position involves sitting for extended periods of time while working at a computer terminal. Employee must be able to communicate effectively in a typical office environment with a standard level of office noise. Occasional standing, bending, walking and lifting (30 lbs) is also required.

• Employee will be required to be a part of animal transport, which will expose the employee to animals (primarily dogs/cats), dirt, dust, uneven surfaces, and outdoor weather conditions. Noise will typically be moderate.

Personal Characteristics:

• Flexibility, resourcefulness, resilience, and ability to manage stress and change

• Creativity and a drive for innovation and excellence

• Integrity, maturity, and sound judgment

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to communicate and work with a wide range of people in a participatory and respectful manner

• Approachable and responsive to people’s needs, and therefore able to enhance effective work relationships

• Good problem-solving skills, an openness to learning, and down to earth

• An ability to inspire, motivate, and influence

• An ability to accept responsibility and lead by example

• Maturity and good judgment

• Possibility-driven, proactive, personable, energetic, collaborative, and tactful

• Work as a team player, supporting the overall goals of the organization

Benefits:

• Health insurance is available to eligible employees beginning on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment. Ruff Start Rescue contributes 50% of the cost of the employee-only monthly premium. Employees who elect dependent coverage are responsible for 100% of dependent premium costs

• Retirement plan with up to a 3% employer contribution available after 90 days.

• Additional Insurance options are available after 90 days. You pay 100% premium at a discounted group rate.

• Short term disability

• Life Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Accident Insurance

• Hospital Indemnity Insurance

• Critical Illness Insurance

• Cancer Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• PTO

• First-year: 15 days prorated from hire date

• Years 1 and 2: 15 days (3 Weeks)

• Years 3 and 4: 20 Days (4 Weeks)

• Years 5 and 6: 25 Days (5 Weeks)

• Year 7 + 30 Days (6 Weeks)

• When an employee rolls over to a new year bracket, we prorate from their anniversary day.

• Ruff Start Rescue recognizes seven paid holidays each year. If a holiday falls on a weekend, it will be observed on the workday closest to the holiday.

• Employee Discount

• Professional Development courses cover up to $200 annually.

• Paid parental leave

Reports To: Senior Placement Manager

Salary: $40,000- $45,000

Applicants, please note: to be considered for this position, you must submit a cover letter in addition to a resume