Are you passionate about animal welfare, community engagement, and creating programs that make a meaningful impact?
Join the City of San Bernardino’s Animal Services Department as a Community Services Program Coordinator and play a vital role in strengthening our rescue, foster, and community outreach efforts. In this role, you will help develop and coordinate programs that support animal care, promote responsible pet ownership, and enhance the quality of life for both residents and the animals we serve.
About The City
As a future member of our team, you’ll be joining a city with deep roots, cultural diversity, and exciting momentum. Located in the heart of Southern California’s Inland Empire, San Bernardino is the county seat and largest city in San Bernardino County, home to more than 222,000 residents. Its rich history — shaped by Native American, Mexican, and Spanish influences — continues to inspire the city’s evolving identity.
San Bernardino offers access to major transit corridors, natural beauty, and a wide range of housing and lifestyle options. It’s a place where public service careers are supported by a strong sense of community and purpose — and where motivated professionals can grow, contribute, and be part of something meaningful.
About The Position
The Community Services Program Coordinator plays an important role in the Animal Services Department by overseeing and advancing community-based programs that support positive outcomes for animals in the City’s care. Under general direction, this position coordinates and implements a variety of programs including rescue partnerships, foster care, volunteer services, and community outreach initiatives. The Coordinator assists with marketing and digital engagement efforts to promote adoptable animals, responsible pet ownership, and lifesaving services.
The Coordinator collaborates with rescue organizations, volunteers, community members, and other City departments to expand placement opportunities and strengthen public engagement. This position requires strong organizational skills, effective communication, relationship-building abilities, and a commitment to providing compassionate, high-quality service. Through strategic coordination and community partnerships, the Community Services Program Coordinator supports the Department’s mission to ensure animals are protected, promoted, and provided every opportunity to find safe and permanent homes.
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an organized, compassionate, and community-focused professional with experience in animal shelter operations, rescue and foster coordination, and volunteer engagement. They demonstrate sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. The successful candidate understands animal care and safe handling practices, is proficient in maintaining accurate records (experience with shelter management software such as Chameleon is desirable), and provides excellent customer service while building strong working relationships with rescue partners, foster caregivers, volunteers, staff, and the public.
Desirable But Not Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Recreation Administration, Public Administration, Community Services, or a related field.
- Background in animal shelter operations, rescue and foster coordination, volunteer programming, community outreach, or animal care services.
- Experience working within local government or a public agency.
- Experience in marketing, outreach, and community engagement.
A Day In The Life Consists Of
A typical day includes coordinating volunteer and community service programs, responding to inquiries from the public, and providing guidance and support to volunteers and foster caregivers. The Coordinator plans and conducts volunteer recruitment efforts and facilitates pre-service and ongoing training to ensure program effectiveness. They assist in developing and implementing program goals, policies, and procedures, while helping resolve concerns or conflicts that may arise.
The Coordinator also meets with staff to review assignments, evaluate program needs, and ensure services are delivered efficiently and in alignment with Department and City goals. This role may require flexibility to support special events, outreach efforts, or operational needs to ensure a positive experience for volunteers, partners, and the community.
For more information on this position please CLICK HERE to view the job description.
Education And Experience
High School diploma or G.E.D.
AND
Two (2) years of major college course work in animal welfare or a related field or three (3) years of animal welfare or community service experience, preferably in a municipal government environment; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
Licenses, Certifications, And Equipment
Possession of a valid California State Driver’s License
Knowledge Of
- Public relations techniques, including social media platforms, website content management, press releases, and preparation of staff reports.
- Principles and practices of program development, coordination, and administration.
- Principles and practices of grant writing and fund raising.
- Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.
- Animal care coordination and placement planning.
- Applicable City policies, procedures, and standards.
Skills In
- Formulating, implementing, and managing volunteer programs.
- Counseling and providing guidance and support to volunteers.
- Selecting, supervising, training, and evaluating assigned staff and volunteers.
- Participating in the development and administration of program goals, objectives, and procedures.
- Working effectively with department staff to ensure appropriate placement and matching of volunteers and foster caregivers with animals in the Animal Services Department.
Physical Requirements And Work Environment
When assigned to the Animal Services Department the employee frequently works in extreme outside weather conditions and on slippery and uneven surfaces. The employee is often exposed to dangerous, injured, or diseased animals. The employee is frequently exposed to wet or humid conditions; fumes or airborne articles; toxic or caustic chemicals; and zoonotic and other communicable diseases. The noise level in the work environment is frequently loud within confined areas. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to use hands to manipulate, handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, walk, sit, talk and hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Employee is regularly required to sit; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle and feel computers and standard business equipment; and reach with hands and arms.
Recruitment Timeline
This recruitment will close on
Sunday, March 08, 2026, at 11:59 pm, or until a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Applications review: Week of Monday, March 08, 2026
1st Interview: Tentatively scheduled for the week of March 15, 2026
2nd Interview: Tentatively scheduled for the week of March 22, 2026
- All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the personnel officer**
All applicants are required to submit an online application through the City’s official website at www.sbcity.org.
This recruitment will remain open until March 08, 2026, at 11:59 PM or until a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.
Applications must be fully completed and clearly demonstrate that the minimum qualifications for the position are met. All information provided is subject to review, investigation, and verification. While resumes may be uploaded as supplemental documentation, they will not be accepted in place of a fully completed City application.
Following the initial screening, the most qualified candidates whose backgrounds best match the needs of the City will be invited to continue in the selection process. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement. Candidates will remain under consideration until a final selection is made and an offer is accepted. The City of San Bernardino reserves the right to close the recruitment at any time and may determine that none of the applicants, including those who meet the minimum qualifications, are suitable for the position.
Pre-employment Process May Include, But Is Not Limited To
- Pre-employment Medical Exam, including drug and TB test.
- Background Investigation with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- Employment/Professional Reference Check.
E-Verify Participation
The City of San Bernardino participates in the E-Verify program. In compliance with federal law, all employers are required to verify the identity and employment eligibility of individuals hired to work in the United States.
Accordingly, the City will provide information from each new employee’s Form I-9 to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to confirm authorization to work in the United States.
For more information about E-Verify, please visit the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website at www.uscis.gov
Disclaimers
The City of San Bernardino is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The City follows a nepotism policy, which may impact hiring decisions if an applicant has relatives currently employed by the City.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the City provides reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Each request is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. To request an accommodation, please contact the Human Resources Department directly at (909) 998-2060.
This bulletin is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract, expressed or implied. Its contents may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice.
For questions regarding this recruitment, contact Janet Sirob at Sirob_Ja@sbcity.org. Additional information is available at www.sbcity.org.
