Neonatal Team Manager at CommonSpirit Health Mountain Region

Austin, Texas, United States -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

15 Jul, 26

Salary

47000.0

Posted On

16 Apr, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Team leadership, Volunteer management, Animal care, Medical treatment administration, Staff supervision, Strategic planning, Data analysis, Performance management, Customer service, Foster program coordination, Training and development, Crisis management, Time management, Communication, Problem solving, Record keeping

Industry

Hospitals and Health Care

Description

Neonatal Team Manager APA! BACKGROUND: Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is one of Austin’s most dynamic and beloved nonprofits. The organization leads the No Kill movement nationally and is considered a national thought leader in animal welfare. APA! locally rescues, treats, and adopts out 10,000 homeless dogs and cats each year, providing the safety net for Austin’s most at-risk shelter pets, which helps Austin to be a No Kill city, while also assisting other communities in saving homeless animals. The organization is distinguished by its large volunteer workforce and the scrappiness of its grassroots and its non-traditional, community-based animal rescue work. The organization continues to innovate best practices to save lives and spreads its impact by offering resources and mentorship related to its renowned lifesaving model through American Pets Alive!, APA!’s national division. In 2020, American Pets Alive! began the Human Animal Support Services (HASS) - an innovative initiative aimed at rethinking the traditional model of animal sheltering. It focuses on supporting both people and pets in the community to reduce the number of animals entering shelters and improve outcomes for both. The project encourages collaboration between animal welfare organizations and community-based services, with a goal of providing personalized, proactive support that positions animal welfare as a social service. BRIEF POSITION SUMMARY/OVERVIEW: The Neonatal Team Manager leads and oversees the strategic direction, growth, and daily operations of APA!’s Neonatal Nursery Program, with a focus on neonatal animals. This role ensures alignment with APA!’s broader mission to increase the live release rate across Texas, while building a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact model for neonatal lifesaving. The Neonatal Team Manager is responsible for managing daily workflows, supervising staff, and setting clear, mission-aligned goals. This includes creating structured plans, tracking progress toward outcomes, and ensuring accountability and follow-through on team priorities. The role uses data to guide decisions and helps keep the team focused on consistent, measurable impact. This is a leadership role rooted in empowerment, facilitation, and values-driven oversight. Rather than working independently, the Neonatal Team Manager sets the tone that APA! is a volunteer-powered organization—every staff member is expected to work collaboratively with volunteers and to help create meaningful opportunities for them to lead and contribute. This includes pairing with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, modeling strong partnership, and developing a culture of shared effort and team accountability. This position requires a high level of responsiveness and Manager on Duty availability. The work is often fast-paced and dynamic, with weekend or shift flexibility expected. While APA! strongly encourages work-life balance, during on-duty shifts, the Neonatal Team Manager is expected to be highly present, solutions-oriented, and ready to support the team with real-time problem-solving. Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS : * Foster and model a volunteer-powered culture across the team by ensuring that every staff member is partnered with volunteers on every shift, with the goal of empowering volunteers to lead and grow within the program. * Serve as a facilitator and coach to staff and volunteers, ensuring the work is shared, not siloed, and that volunteers are supported in completing daily tasks. * Ensure active recruitment, onboarding, and engagement of volunteers using volunteer engagement tools and resources * Support retention by matching volunteers to appropriate tasks, offering guidance, and providing regular check-ins and staff mentorship. * Identify strong volunteers for deeper roles and seek out customer to volunteer conversion opportunities. * Recognize volunteer contributions through consistent appreciation and shoutouts. * Provide clear expectations, hands-on training, and in-the-moment coaching to set volunteers up for success. * Provide team leadership, training, and support to all members of the Neonatal Program team, including medical staff, placement staff, and volunteers, as assigned. * Supervise daily duties for all Neonatal Program staff; create and manage working schedules. * Administer check-ins, performance reviews, performance improvement discussions, and disciplinary actions for team members, with the Senior Manager. * Work with APAtec to implement and support initiatives to continuously enhance knowledge and skills across the team. * Model exemplary behavior for staff, especially regarding patient care, attendance, professionalism, and customer service. * Support the Senior Manager with the development and updates of policies, procedures, and protocols; manage job descriptions and the program’s document inventory. Clinical Care and Medical Oversight : * Provide hands-on medical treatments as required to all kittens, pregnant and nursing cats in the program — whether in the Nursery, Panleukopenia Ward, or in Foster. * Oversee and perform intake exams on kittens and nursing/pregnant cats, including blood draws for FeLV tests. * Administer oral, topical, and subcutaneous medications and vaccines, as well as nebulizer treatments. * Assess illness and oversee the prescription and filling of proper medications per established protocol; complete corresponding medical charts and paperwork. * Oversee ringworm treatment using lime dip; decontaminate rooms, crates, carriers, and supplies. * Assist in feeding nursery kittens, including tube feeding when needed; maintain nursery cleanliness and efficient operation. * Track efficacy of medical protocols and kitten mortality, as needed. * Oversee recruitment, management, training, and recognition of neonatal foster caregivers to ensure adherence to all APA! policies, procedures, and protocols. * Achieve a 1:2 volunteer to staff engagement target through strategic recruitment initiatives, robust retention programs, and comprehensive training development. * Develop and maintain foster caregiver training materials, resources, and communication channels across staff, volunteers, and foster caregivers. * Lead and participate in orientations, presentations, committees, manager meetings, all-staff meetings, and town halls related to foster programs. * Create strategies and benchmarks to reduce the length of stay for animals awaiting a foster placement, tracking key performance indicators to maximize program capacity. * Handle customer service issues and incidents related to foster animals and transfer partners; maintain an onsite presence to support foster placement experiences. * Collaborate with the Cat Team to create toolkits for fosters, adopters, and partner shelters. * Support Senior Manager in the intake process of bringing kittens from partner shelters. * Implement a standard case management/mentor schedule from the point of foster through to graduation to Cat Program. * Support the Cat Team in developing a streamlined foster to cat team graduation plan – creating a handoff system, and informing 100% of foster on the options for graduation. Working with Cat Team to develop the process of promoting foster to family, and setting expectations for placement options (either finding adopters, foster to family, or choosing to adopt.) * Create a system for foster retention that allows people to sign up for their next litter at the time of drop off when kittens graduate from neonatal foster care to cat team. * Update shelterluv procedures so that information on neonatal kittens is kept up to date in our records. Foster Placement and Caregiver Support: * Oversee recruitment, management, training, and recognition of neonatal foster caregivers to ensure adherence to all APA! policies, procedures, and protocols. * Achieve a 1:2 volunteer to staff engagement target through strategic recruitment initiatives, robust retention programs, and comprehensive training development. * Develop and maintain foster caregiver training materials, resources, and communication channels across staff, volunteers, and foster caregivers. * Lead and participate in orientations, presentations, committees, manager meetings, all-staff meetings, and town halls related to foster programs. * Create strategies and benchmarks to reduce the length of stay for animals awaiting a foster placement, tracking key performance indicators to maximize program capacity. * Handle customer service issues and incidents related to foster animals and transfer partners; maintain an onsite presence to support foster placement experiences. * Collaborate with the Cat Team to create toolkits for fosters, adopters, and partner shelters. * Support Senior Manager in the intake process of bringing kittens from partner shelters. * Implement a standard case management/mentor schedule from the point of foster through to graduation to Cat Program. * Support the Cat Team in developing a streamlined foster to cat team graduation plan – creating a handoff system, and informing 100% of foster on the options for graduation. Working with Cat Team to develop the process of promoting foster to family, and setting expectations for placement options (either finding adopters, foster to family, or choosing to adopt.) Job duties may include some or all of the above, and other duties as assigned by manager OTHER FUNCTIONS: * Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills * Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings * Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues * Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and manage volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis * Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned * Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed * Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, & EXPECTATIONS: * Committed to embodying APA!’s Core Values: Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion and cultural values: Humble, Hungry, Smart * Commitment to APA!'s customer experience expectations * Passion for working well with staff, volunteers, and customers—helping all individuals feel successful, appreciated, and connected to APA!’s mission * Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support; dedicated to working well with volunteers across all roles * Comfortable working cross-functionally and serving as a liaison between volunteers, customers, and team members * Effective written and verbal communication skills; able to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials * Self-starter with strong time management; able to work independently and collaboratively * Excellent interpersonal skills; maintains a calm and professional presence in all situations * Strong attention to detail and high standards for quality * Adaptable to change and able to perform related duties as needed * Dedicated to delivering an exceptional and inclusive customer experience PHYSICAL JOB REQUIREMENTS: * Must be able to routinely lift 40-50 pounds * Must be able to work around animals (including diseased, injured, and/or potentially aggressive animals), loud noises, chlorine or other chemicals, and inclement weather * Must be able to comfortably interact with cats of various health levels, including cats who may carry zoonotic diseases such as ringworm, scabies, intestinal parasites, etc. * Able to be on your feet for multiple hours of the day * Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away * Ability to hear normal speech at close contact and shouting up to 150 feet away with the ability to hear and discern dog vocalizations both soft and loud * Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer * Must be able to be on your feet for long periods of time * Must be able to visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet away * If reasonable accommodations are requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job absent undue hardship to the organization. WORK ENVIRONMENT * Standard animal shelter environment, with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and near animals * Uses own transportation to travel and transport * Occasional after-hours or weekend work may be required to support program needs * Work is normally performed inside; some outside work is required * Exposure to unpleasant odors and noises. * Exposure to bites, scratches, and animal waste * Possible exposure to contagious diseases * Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste, disinfectants, and high levels of noise * Potential for animal bites and scratches and diseases that can be transmitted from animals to people TIME COMMITMENT: * This is a full-time, exempt position with an average of 40 hours per week. * Shift and schedule flexibility is required, as weekly schedule is subject to change * Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed WORKING RELATIONSHIPS: This position reports directly to the Senior Neonatal Program Manager. LOCATION(S): * APA! Neonatal Nursery at 3102 Windsor Rd, Suite D Austin, TX 78703 * May travel to offsite locations as needed BENEFITS Austin Pets Alive! is proud to offer a competitive benefits package for full-time employees, including subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage, subsidized and voluntary life insurance, voluntary dental, vision and short-term disability options, all effective the first day of employment. We also offer voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans, up to 2% match on 401(K) retirement plan, supplemental benefits, flexible spending accounts and additional life coverage. Full-time employees receive 10 paid holidays and accrue 10 days paid time off during the first year of employment, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual upon completion of 12 months of employment. Employees will also receive professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing mission to advance our animal welfare professionals in our life saving work. EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCOMMODATIONS STATEMENT Austin Pets Alive! is an equal employment opportunity employer and we value having staff who come from communities that are most impacted by the issues we engage on. We especially encourage people of color, LGBTQ people, women, transgender and gender non-conforming people, and people with disabilities to apply. Austin Pets Alive! does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Austin Pets Alive! is committed to creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion, respect and integrity, community focus, and innovation. APA! is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. To request an accommodation, please contact Talent Acquisition at job@austinpetsalive.org at least one week in advance of your interview.

Responsibilities

The Neonatal Team Manager oversees the strategic direction and daily operations of the Neonatal Nursery Program, ensuring high-impact lifesaving outcomes. This role involves supervising staff, managing volunteer engagement, and providing hands-on medical care to neonatal animals.