Animal Welfare Social Worker

Animal Humane Society is seeking a licensed Social Worker to make an impact on pet families' lives 🐾 Come join our mission of making the world a better place for animals and for their people.

Job Summary: The Animal Welfare Social Worker collaborates closely with Community Outreach and other teams to identify pet families in need of assistance during acute crises such as financial hardship, loss of housing, domestic violence, emergency hospitalization, substance dependency treatment, or grief.  The primary focus areas of this role include delivering trauma-informed social support to clients, developing holistic advocacy plans for pet families and connecting them with the resources they need.

Salary: $61-66k annually based on licensure and experience

Benefits (see additional benefits below):

• 15+ Days of Paid Time Off
• 4 floating holidays per full calendar year
• Health, Dental and Vision Insurance
• 401k Retirement Plan

Role Duration: This is a temporary, grant-funded role which will be assessed at the end of the grant period in February 2027.

Schedule: Full-time; 40 hours per week

• Primarily Monday-Friday during business hours; occasional weekends and evenings needed

Location/Remote Capabilities: This position is a hybrid position. Must be able to regularly travel between our Twin Cities locations and surrounding area. Must be able to successfully work remotely. Subject to change as business needs dictate.

Interview Process: Phone interview followed by 2 virtual department interviews.

Application Requirements: Please include a cover letter with your application.

Essential Job Functions

• Client Support
  o   Act as liaison between clients and AHS to address animal care needs, ensuring information is communicated with empathy and in a way that is accessible to clients.
  o   Identify client needs and provide resources and referrals to social services partners as appropriate.
  o   Establish and strengthen relationships with social services agencies and client caseworkers to build a network of support for both people and pets.
  o   Identify client barriers and propose solutions to enhance access to AHS programs and services.
  o   Maintain and update the Community Outreach resource guide.
• Leadership and Training
  o   Provide guidance and education to AHS team members to help employees feel confident in working with a diverse range of clients and needs.
  o   Develop and deliver internal and external workshops and other professional development training that emphasizes a community-centric, whole-family approach to animal welfare. 
  o   Collaborate across departments to introduce programs and protocols to address service gaps.
  o   Engage subject matter experts before events to educate teams on what to expect from the target clientele and debrief after events to address any issues.
  o   Draft and update policies and procedures related to the Social Worker role.
• Compliance and Reporting
  o   Produce and maintain accurate reports, records and files.
  o   Maintain a comprehensive understanding of practices and trends in social, environmental, and cultural issues related to animal care, welfare, and client care.
  o   Ensure adherence to all relevant legislation, regulations, contracts and guidelines, including those outlined by the Minnesota Board of Social Work in The Social Work Practices Act.
  o   Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) Code of Ethics.
• Communication
  o  Communicate in a positive and professional manner with customers, other employees, and volunteers.
  o   Foster an environment of open communication and approachability.
  o   Distill and convey information in a clear, complete and timely manner.
  o   Model empathy, approach interactions with an open mind and support the shift in animal welfare toward a people-centric, whole family approach.
• Technology
  o   Monitor AHS email and other messaging software.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Schedule and Attendance

• Availability to work during daytime weekday operational hours with the occasional evening or weekend event.
• Attend and participate in regular team meetings, all staff meetings, and one-on-one meetings with direct leader.
• May be required to work at a different site based on department needs, including occasional in-home client visits.
• May be required to attend occasional off-site meetings and events.

Work Environment

• Primarily office/desk based.

• Adjacent animal shelter areas may be humid, noisy, or odorous.

Qualifications

• Experience
  o  Must either have a valid license as a LSW, LGSW, LISW or LICSW in the state of Minnesota; or obtain a temporary Minnesota licensure if licensed/credentialed to practice social work in another state and obtain a standard Minnesota social work license prior to the expiration of the temporary license.
  o   Experience with trauma counseling required.
  o   Experience with grief counseling, child protective services, or medical social work strongly preferred.
  o   Minimum of 3 years of social work or case management experience required.
• Skills
  o   Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and high attention to detail.
  o   Ability to work independently and partner collaboratively with external and internal customers.
  o   Strong multi-tasking and problem-solving skills.
  o   Multilingual strongly preferred (Spanish, Karen, Hmong, and/or Somali proficiency a plus).
  o   Proficient with computers, specifically a working knowledge of Microsoft products.
• Physical Demands
  o   Prolonged sitting at a desk.
  o   Must be able to lift and carry up to 10 lbs.
• Emotional Demands
  o   Must be comfortable with the emotional aspect of work in an animal shelter environment, including the use of humane euthanasia. 

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required for this role. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

About AHS 

Every year, Animal Humane Society provides direct care and services to help nearly 100,000 animals in need across Minnesota. 

As one of the nation's leading animal welfare organizations, AHS is transforming the way shelters care for animals and engage their communities. From innovative medical and behavior programs to investments in outreach and advocacy, we’re advancing animal welfare and creating a more humane world for animals everywhere. 

Why Work Here 

• Make a difference in the lives of animals and people 
• Join a team of coworkers who love animals as much as you do 
• Work-life balance 
• Unique animal adoption benefits and discounts on veterinary care, pet supplies, and animal training classes  
• Health insurance coverage for full time staff includes the following: medical, dental, vision, health savings account, flexible spending account for health care expenses and dependent care, voluntary accident insurance, and employee ­paid supplemental life, accidental death & dismemberment and long term disability insurance. 
• Employer paid benefits for full time staff includes the following: basic life insurance, basic accidental death and dismemberment insurance, short-term disability 
• Mental Health and Counseling Support:  
• All employees have access to our Employee Assistance Program with 3 free counseling sessions per year 
• 401k for part time and full time staff 
• Nine paid holidays for full time staff 
• Paid floating holidays for part time and full time staff (up to 4 days per year based on start date) 
• Paid time off for part time and full time staff (amount is based on hours worked and full time/part time status) 
• Paid parent leave for full time staff 

Our Organizational Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: 

As an organization dedicated to making the world a more humane and compassionate place for animals, we know that people are at the heart of all that we do. Animal Humane Society’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusivity is essential to our mission and shapes our culture, our work, and the services we provide. 

At AHS we embrace and honor the inherent dignity and diverse experiences of our team members, volunteers, board members, partners, clients, and visitors, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or income. Working together to instill equity and inclusivity within our organization will allow us to better serve the people and animals of Minnesota, and ultimately have a positive impact on animals in our care.