Reserve Responder - On Call Non HSUS employee

The general hourly rate for this position is $20 - $22. Salary offers will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, skills, training and education.

This is a non-HSUS position and will be employed through a 3rd party.

HSUS is hiring Reserve Rescue Responders nationwide on a rolling basis.  This position remains open year-round. The hiring process is conducted periodically as needed, when Animal Rescue Team identifies the need for specific skills and experience in our cohort of responders. Should you submit for this position, your application remains in our database for a period of time and you may be contacted some months after applying if your skills and experience fulfil the team’s need.  Because our work is unpredictable and rescue requests are beyond our control, hiring is not conducted on a regular schedule.
Reserve responders deploy as needed and as their availability allows to assist the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) Animal Rescue Team (ART) in response to large scale animal cruelty or disaster rescues. Responders serve in both field and sheltering roles as assigned in HSUS operations.  Reserve responders are required to complete at least one rotation at our MD Care and Rehab Center before being eligible to participate in field response.  In-shelter deployment is the greatest need, so Reserve Responders are most likely to be scheduled for sheltering operations. Occasional opportunities to join the core team of responders arise and reserve responders with most frequent availability to travel and versatile skill sets are considered for those roles.

As a Responder, you will be responsible for:

• Contributing to the creation of a productive and welcoming work environment for all staff, volunteers, and visitors, and working within our organizational values of Impact, Resilience, Respect, Inclusion, and One Team, as well as participating in process improvement activities such as After-Action surveys.
• Serving in various roles on deployment dictated by training/experience, as assigned by HSUS Management. 
•Working with and/or overseeing assigned HSUS Animal Rescue Team members and/or volunteers during field response activities to include rescue, transport, and sheltering operations. Positions include, but are not limited to:
Shelter-only positions:
• Shelter Lead
• Shelter Support
• Behavior Technician (CPDT, CCBC, KPA or similar required)
Shelter or field-based positions:
• Transport Lead
• Team Lead
• Transporter (CDL and non-CDL)
• Animal Health Technician (RVT, CVT, or skilled technician)
• Logistics
• Safety
• Animal Handler
• Evidence photographer 
• Scribe 

Responders may fulfill tasks from different roles in one day depending on the operation.

• Coordinating with the Senior Manager, Animal Care, the Manager, Field Response, and members of the Animal Rescue Team, implementing strategies to accomplish objectives of Animal Rescue Team operations;
• Providing accurate accounting of information for the purposes of completing daily situation reports, daily care or medical records, animal census information, or records required for legal compliance as requested;
• Maintaining animal care equipment and vehicles as assigned and in cooperation with other members of the Animal Rescue Team;
• Participating in planning for response activities as assigned;
• Performing other duties or responsibilities, as assigned.

 Qualifications and Requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent required;
• A minimum of three (3) years of experience in one of the following areas: species-specific handling (canine, feline, exotics, large animal, ranch work), veterinary technician or veterinary assistant, force free animal training, grooming, animal shelter work with direct or supervision of animal care responsibilities, disaster response, fire/EMT, law enforcement, humane law enforcement/official animal cruelty investigations, animal care and control, or similar required;
• Ability to safely and humanely handle animals. Must be versed on husbandry and care practices for those species for which the responder is engaged; 
• Applicants based within a 1 hour drive of the Nashville, TN and western Maryland areas highly desirable;
• Experience handling animals in distress; completion of Low Stress Handling or Fear Free Shelters strongly preferred.
• Ability to travel occasionally, sometimes on short notice, for 5+ days at a time to assist in animal rescue and care work at least once per year, provided opportunities are offered. 
• Ability to work holidays and outside standard business hours if necessary;
• Strong oral and written communications skills;
• PC proficiency to include word processing and the Internet;
• Ability to work independently or as a team, take initiative, and maintain good communication with HSUS staff and other responders. 
• Completed free FEMA courses IS-100, IS-200, 
• Experience in some form of emergency operations or response preferred.
• Experience with Chameleon animal sheltering software preferred.

**Responders are not guaranteed deployment opportunities.  HSUS cannot control the volume of requests made to our team for assistance and are therefore unable to predict availability of hours for responders.  

 This is a remote position. Responders are potentially deployed to anywhere in the US. Travel is required.

IMPORTANT: When applying please submit your resume and cover letter as one document and include relevant required certificates.  Applications submitted without work histories and certificates of completion for required trainings (FEMA courses IS-100 (Introduction to the Incident Command System), IS-200 (Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response, ICS-200) will not be reviewed. 

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital or parental status or protected veteran status. EOE