Program Coordinator

Maryland SPCA

Job Description

Job Title: Kibble Connection Coordinator

Department: Community Care & Advocacy

Reports to: Outreach Manager

Salary Range: $20-$21.50

Schedule: Tuesday-Saturday; some evenings and schedule adjustments may be required based on program needs

FLSA Status: Full-Time hourly, 40 hours

Date: October 14th, 2026

Position Summary: The Kibble Connection Coordinator manages the day-to-day operations of the Maryland SPCA’s Kibble Connection Pet Food Pantry, helping community members experiencing financial hardship keep their pets healthy and at home. The coordinator oversees enrollment, records, scheduling, distributions, volunteer support, and program communication and data. Working closely with the Outreach Manager and Outreach Logistics Coordinator, this position ensures distributions are organized, adequately supplied, accessible, and consistent with program guidelines. The role also supports the Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland pet food partnership and other food-access initiatives.

This position involves frequent direct interaction with community members experiencing financial hardship, housing instability, personal crises, and other challenging circumstances. The coordinator must be prepared to navigate emotionally difficult conversations, respond compassionately to individuals experiencing distress, and communicate program limitations or decisions that may be disappointing. The role requires emotional resilience, sound judgment, and the ability to maintain professional boundaries while providing respectful, trauma-informed support.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinate daily pantry operations, review applications, manage enrollment and assigned pickup days, and monitor program capacity and participation.
• Maintain accurate household and pet records; communicate scheduling, eligibility, guidelines, and program decisions consistently and respectfully.
• Serve as a primary contact for community members; respond promptly to inquiries and connect neighbors with appropriate Maryland SPCA or community resources.
• Provide welcoming, nonjudgmental service and communicate difficult decisions with empathy and appropriate boundaries.
• Identify access or operational concerns and recommend improvements to the Outreach Manager.
• Plan and lead scheduled Kibble Connection distributions, including staffing, participant materials, site flow, and day-of problem solving.
• Coordinate anticipated food quantities, preparation, and supply needs with the Outreach Coordinator - Logistics & Operations.
• Assist with staging, moving, and distributing pet food and supplies; adjust operations as needed to keep distributions safe and accessible.
• Support the Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland pet food partnership, including participant records, food needs, delivery preparation, partner communication, and volunteer coordination.
• Assist with other department food-access partnerships and initiatives as assigned.
• Schedule, train, assign, and direct volunteers supporting pantry distributions and related food-access activities; maintain a respectful, organized environment.
• Maintain confidential digital and paper records and track households, pets, participation, and food distribution data for reporting and program evaluation.
• Support the Outreach Manager with reporting, program trends, and process improvements.
• Maintain general knowledge of Community Care & Advocacy services, including Paw Plus Community Clinics; represent the Maryland SPCA professionally and perform related duties as assigned
• Other tasks as assigned
• Navigate emotionally challenging interactions with community members experiencing hardship, frustration, grief, or distress while maintaining a compassionate and professional approach.
• Communicate difficult program decisions, limitations, and boundaries clearly and respectfully, including situations where requested assistance cannot be provided.
• Respond appropriately to escalated interactions, using de-escalation techniques and seeking management support when necessary.
• Balance the needs of individual community members with program guidelines, available resources, and equitable access for all participating households.

Physical Demands:

The employee must be able to:

• Frequently lift and carry pet food bags, boxes, and cases weighing up to approximately 50 pounds; repeatedly bend, reach, squat, push, pull, and move materials.
• Load and unload vehicles; move carts, tables, tents, and other supplies; assist with setup and breakdown of distributions and events.
• Stand and walk for extended periods; work in warehouses with changing temperatures and outdoors in varied weather.
• Safely drive Maryland SPCA vehicles as needed and perform extended computer and administrative work.

Qualifications:

• Experience in community outreach, human services, food access, animal welfare, volunteer coordination, or a related field strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated emotional resilience and ability to work in a position involving frequent exposure to stressful, sensitive, or emotionally difficult situations.
• Valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record required; comfortable driving organizational vehicles and performing regular physical work.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, and interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Ability to manage a high-volume program, maintain accurate records, prioritize changing needs, and coordinate volunteers independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to apply program guidelines with compassion, consistency, and boundaries while working respectfully with community members facing difficult circumstances.
• Comfort with Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, databases, scheduling platforms, and digital recordkeeping systems.

Pay Range: $20.00 - $21.50 per hour