Careers

Are you looking for a rewarding and meaningful career? A career that allows you to utilize your skills while saving the lives of countless animals? Ruff Start Rescue has a position for you. The Director of Development, a key member of Ruff Start Rescue’s leadership team, is responsible for envisioning and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that advances our mission, helps increase philanthropic support from donors, and drives our growth plan. This role focuses heavily on fundraising, program support, development, and diversifying revenue streams to maintain organizational goals and objectives. This position is also responsible for supervising a team of four direct reports and ensuring that their tasks are being completed in a timely and efficient manner. This position will oversee all aspects of the fund development program, including general donations, corporate sponsorships, major gifts, planned giving, grants, and fundraising events. The ideal candidate will be a strong relationship builder and organizational storyteller.

Availability: Ability and willingness to allow for a flexible schedule are key.  This is a salaried position with a time commitment of at least 40 hours a week. You will be required to be in the office (Princeton) 4-5 days per week, depending on off site meetings and responsibilities.  Daily emailing and/or phone calls is a must. We do have set office hours but there may be times you go over these hours if needed depending on your job duties.

Lead and Supervise:

• Development Area
  • Donor and Database Management coordinator
  • Grant Writers
  • Events Manager
  • Annual Giving Officer
  • Additional development staff as the department grows

You would have an opportunity to:

• Develop comprehensive fundraising and marketing plans and objectives in conjunction with the Executive team with targeted goals, quantifiable outcomes, and timelines.
• Prepare budgets and effectively manage financials, staff, and department resources to achieve these goals and objectives.
• Secure and maintain financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations. Forms of solicitation will include electronic, printed materials, virtual, phone calls, and face-to-face.
• Oversee in-kind donation solicitation and ensure proper recording is completed.
• Work with the grant writers to ensure the success of continued growth of grant funding, grant calendar for proposals, and reporting for secured grants.
• Assist with both annual and one-time special events.
• Create innovative fundraising opportunities to remain competitive and ensure long-term financial growth even during economic downturns. This task will require a great deal of market research collected through the web, seminar participation, word of mouth, and reaching out to animal welfare organizations nationwide on successful tools and ideas.
• Create, recruit, hire and oversee a planned giving officer in order to build and maintain a planned giving program.
• Assist with strategic planning to ensure that Ruff Start Rescue establishes and implements a long-term strategic plan with measurable outcomes and annual goals that move the organization toward achieving its long-term, strategic goals.
• Responsible for donor/sponsor acknowledgment and recognition.
• Coach management staff under your supervision to be long-term successful leaders. Set them up for success to oversee internal volunteers or other staff members under their leadership. This includes, but is not limited to: recruiting, rewarding, and retaining direct reports.
• Other duties as assigned

Specific Job Skills and Requirements

• A love for animals and the organization’s mission.
• 5-plus years of experience in funds development. A proven track record of major gift solicitation success, particularly with corporations as well as hitting aggressive contributed revenue goals.
• 3+ years of experience managing and/or leading a team of employees.
• Experience in all aspects of the grants process (prospecting, proposal development, post-award reporting)
• Understanding of major gifts process, and knowledge and resources available to ensure compliance with non-profit donation tax laws and reporting.
• Experience preferred in Planned Giving, Endowment, Grants, and Capital Campaigns.
• Proven experience working with the public, developing and maintaining excellent relationships to support goals/mission.
• Have the knowledge, experience, and ability to assist in launching a capital campaign.
• This position requires excellent time management and organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to create, plan, organize, and implement programs and events. Ability to supervise staff and direct a variety of volunteers. Must be comfortable with public speaking. Requires knowledge of fundraising strategies, resource development, and donor relations.

Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrates honesty, integrity, and discretion. Skilled at handling sensitive and confidential situations.
• Strong interpersonal skills – outgoing, patient, professional, and able to get along well with a variety of people.
• Maturity and good judgment.
• Work as a team player, supporting the overall goals of the organization.
• Possibility-driven, proactive, personable, energetic, collaborative, and tactful.
• Brings a strong drive for results, while maintaining a calm approach to managing change and working through unexpected or challenging situations.
• A deep and abiding passion for professionally advocating Ruff Start Rescue’s position on key animal welfare and No-Kill issues.

Ruff Start Rescue offers a Competitive Salary & a desirable benefits package including health insurance, PTO, and retirement plans. The organization recognizes seven paid holidays / year.

Applicants: to be considered for this position, please send a cover letter and current resume to: apply@ruffstartrescue.org.

Description: Provide examinations, patient care, and surgical services for animals belonging to Ruff Start Rescue as well as participating rescues and shelters in accordance with the ideals and standards of Ruff Start Rescue. Work alongside the DVM to provide treatments to the rescue animals, based on their recommendations. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Evaluate and examine incoming surgical patients for previous sterilization surgery, hernias, pregnancy, cryptorchidism, or health problems that may preclude them from having surgery. 
• Complete medical and surgical procedures in a competent, safe, and efficient manner
• Perform diagnostic tests such as UA’s, fecals, cytologies, skin scrapes, etc 
• Assist in all aspects of surgical sterilization and medical care on all patients presenting for care.
• Enter required data into medical records legibly, whether it be paper or computer-based. 
• Help with set up, check-in, recovery, checkout, and cleaning
• Work collaboratively with all other staff and volunteers to ensure animals are being cared for properly and getting the required treatments to prepare them for adoption.

Qualifications:

• Certification as a Veterinary Technician preferred with experience as a high quality, high volume spay and neuter program veterinary technician.  
• Preferred candidates need at least 1 year of anesthetic and surgical experience. 
• The ability to be able to lift 50 lbs and be physically able to bend, stoop, kneel, squat, twist, reach, and climb steps.
• Ability to accurately evaluate the health and condition of animals, while providing safe restraint.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written or typed.
• The right candidate will be able to effectively work independently and will be self-motivated.

 Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrates honesty, integrity, and discretion. Skilled at handling sensitive and confidential situations.
• Strong interpersonal skills – outgoing, patient, professional, and able to get along well with a variety of people. 
• Ability to show compassion and empathize with the foster families. 
• Work as a team player, supporting the overall goals of the organization. 
• Possibility-driven, proactive, personable, energetic, collaborative, and tactful.
• Brings a strong drive for results, while maintaining a calm approach to managing change and working through unexpected or challenging situations.
• Well organized.
• Deep and abiding passion to professionally advocate Ruff Start Rescue’s position on key animal welfare and No-Kill issues.

Availability:  8-10 hours shifts. Ability and willingness to allow for a flexible schedule are key.

Hourly rate: DOQ

Reports to: Senior Medical Manager and Director of ProgramsApplicants, Please note: Send cover letter, resume, and three professional references to apply@ruffstartrescue.org. Interested applicants who do not include both items in their submission will not be considered.

Are you looking for a rewarding and meaningful career? A career that allows you to utilize your professional background while saving the lives of countless animals?  Ruff Start Rescue has a position for you. As a key member of the leadership team, the Chief of Staff reports directly to the Executive Director and develops strategies, and oversees the execution of plans to attain short and long-term goals. The COS establishes policies and procedures that promote organizational vision, support business sustainability, and growth, and minimize risk. They are responsible for overseeing and handling the day-to-day operations of the rescue. The COS will act as the executive director’s right hand and trusted advisor, allowing the ED to free up their time to focus on moving the mission forward. The COS will have a bird’s eye view across teams and departments, allowing them to connect the dots in ways others can’t.

Availability:

 This is a salaried position with a time commitment of at least 40 hours a week. These hours are a mix of work-from-home days and required in-office days (Princeton) of at least three days a week.  Daily emailing and phone calls are a must.

You would have an opportunity to:

Directly Support the Executive Director: 

• Work with leadership to set strategic priorities: help identify areas where leadership should direct their focus and metrics for success. Ensuring those metrics are revisited regularly and evaluating progress against them.
• Strategically help manage the executive director’s time by looking at external opportunities, including meetings, travel time, and assess their fit against priorities.
• Act as gatekeepers: Ensure the executive director’s involvement in project or decision-making processes occurs at key times when their input and authority are most needed.
• Prepare for and follow up on meetings: prepare ED for upcoming meetings by ensuring they have all the information necessary to be productive and engaged.
• Manage internal and external communications: As partners to the ED, the chief of staff often drafts organization memos, reports, pitch decks, speeches, and presentations on their behalf.
• Ability to serve as a true business partner and second-in-command to the Executive Director
• Serve as backup to the Executive Director and in Ed’s absence.

Project Management

• Oversee large, often cross-functional, organization-wide projects or initiatives; bring together important stakeholders and help drive decisions.
• Research, perform benchmarking, analyze data, and make recommendations.
• Propose the creation of new systems and processes to streamline operations.
• Identify opportunities for expanded/new programs and develop proposals for pursuing those opportunities while continuously looking for ways to increase efficiency in current programs and processes.
• Participate in the budgeting process. Ensure expenses and revenue projections are appropriate and fiscally responsible. Budget creation and an understanding of nonprofit financials

Strategic Planning and Alignment

• Lead annual strategic planning process for the organization by acting as a project manager and ensuring alignment with the Executive Director and leadership team.
• Help determine key performance indicators and update dashboards as needed.
• Establish a culture of high performance, collaboration, innovation & commitment to delivering impact
• Ability to lead through change
• Developing and implementing strategies, procedures, and business plans & budgets needed to enhance Organizational growth.
• Work with the Executive Director to ensure that the organization is up to date on trends and best practices. Provide updates to the Board of Directors as requested

Hiring and Management

• Manage the hiring process for leadership roles reporting to the Executive Director: In partnership with HR
• Manage staff or consultants outside of the leadership team that falls under the executive director:
• Cross-train on director roles: serve as a backup for direct reports under ED
• Serve as ‘integrator’ between department leaders, managing day-to-day operational activities and escalations as they arise.
• Participate in the recruitment & retention of staff
• Other duties as assigned

Specific Job Skills and requirements 

• Bachelor’s Degree in business, human services, non-profit management, or related field
• 5-plus years of business operations management experience plus P&L responsibility
• Strong business financial acumen
• Experience leading and managing employees
• Understanding, knowledge, and resources are available to ensure compliance with non-profit laws and reporting.
• Background in Animal welfare preferred

Meetings/Participation

• Attend/Take part in yearly volunteer appreciation events, holiday partys, galas, staff retreats, etc.
• Attend and take part in any major RSR events

Personal Characteristics

• Results-driven and meet adversity with tenacity. Master organizer and project planner who can consistently look ahead and anticipate needs before they arise
• Strategic mindset: natural problem solver who is analytical and structured in thinking. Create order out of chaos by identifying systems and processes in need of adjustment. Deeply understand business operations and can synthesize information to recommend a plan of action
• Emotional intelligence: highly self aware and perceptive towards the ED and other key relationships. Positive, empathetic, flexible and curious
• Demonstrates honesty, integrity, and discretion. Skilled at handling sensitive and confidential situations
• Strong interpersonal skills – outgoing, patient, professional, and team player who is able to get along well with a variety of people
• Deep and abiding passion to professionally advocate Ruff Start Rescue’s position on key animal welfare and No-Kill issues.

Do the duties listed fit your skills and experience? We are looking for a master organizer who has a passion for animal welfare.

Ruff Start Rescue offers a Competitive Salary & a desirable benefits package, including health insurance, PTO, and retirement plans. RSR recognizes seven paid holidays per year.

Reports to: Executive Director

Applicants, please note: to be considered for this position, you must submit a cover letter in addition to a resume to apply@ruffstartrescue.org

Are you looking for a part-time position that impacts thousands of animals’ lives each year?

Ruff Start Rescue is seeking a Driver to drive our weekly surgery shuttle. The driver will drive a company-provided vehicle to and from a Golden Valley location on surgery days. The Shuttle driver will provide transport for Ruff Start Rescue’s animals who currently live in the metro up to our Princeton location.

Time Commitment:

• The surgery shuttle generally runs on Thursdays but may be on other weekdays on occasion.
• 8 hours a week (4 hours am shift and 4 hours for the pm shift)

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Safely and securely transport the animal(s) to their destination, stacking and securing crates as needed
• Inform foster and RSR representatives of any pertinent information passed along from the vetting team, or that may have happened during the ride.
• Communicate with designated contacts if any unforeseen circumstances occur.

Specific Job Skills and requirements 

• A passion for making a positive difference in the lives of animals.
• Proven experience working with the public, developing and maintaining excellent relationships to support goals/mission.
• Must be 18+
• Must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record.
• Ability to work courteously and cooperatively with all members of RSR and the public. Collaboration skills are necessary to value differences, build rapport and effectively discuss Ruff Start policies, procedures, and changes.
• Smartphones are a must, with access to FB, Google Drive, and Gmail.
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimal supervision and direction.
• Familiarity with animals, knowledge of animal behavior, and experience working with animal welfare programs are preferred.

Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrates honesty, integrity, and discretion. Skilled at handling sensitive and confidential situations.
• Strong interpersonal skills – outgoing, patient, professional, and able to get along well with various people.
• Maturity and good judgment.
• Ability to show compassion and empathize with the foster families.
• Work as a team player, supporting the overall goals of the organization.
• Possibility-driven, proactive, personable, energetic, collaborative, and tactful.
• Brings a strong drive for results while maintaining a calm approach to managing change and working through unexpected or challenging situations.
• Well organized.
• Respect for all people and animals.
• Ability to handle stressful and awkward situations with new fosters or RSR volunteers. Must be able to approach problem-solving logically, research history, avoid biases and focus on what is in the best interest of the rescue data to draw the right conclusions—even under pressure.
• A deep and abiding passion for professionally advocating Ruff Start Rescue’s position on key animal welfare and No-Kill issues.

Salary: $18 an hour

This is a temporary grant-funded position. The grant is intended to fund this position during the 2023 calendar year.

Applicants, please note: to be considered for this position, you must submit a cover letter in addition to a resume to apply@ruffstartrescue.org

Overall Summary and Description:

Ruff Start Rescue is a 501(c)3 nonprofit foster-based companion animal rescue based in Princeton, Minnesota, that serves the entire state. RSR rescues thousands of animals annually, including dogs, cats, and critters.

Job Description:

Are you looking to gain some work experience and build your skills in fundraising and development? We are seeking an ambitious, energetic, and collaborative individual to serve as the organization’s Development Assistant. The Development Assistant is responsible for providing general administrative support to the development team, working effectively with team members to achieve development goals. You will be responsible for managing Ruff Start Rescue’s donor database and donation process, as well as gift processing, donor acknowledgment, database management, donor cultivation, and donor stewardship. You will work closely with the development team, as well as our accounting manager. The Development Assistant will represent the organization with a high level of professionalism, organization, and friendliness.

Availability:

This is a part-time hourly position of 15-20 hours per week. Workload may fluctuate based on the volume of donations per wee. This is a fully remote position with the opportunity to work at our Princeton office location if desired. You must be able to check in daily.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Gift Processing and Data Management (45%)

• Actively maintain the Development Team’s DMS (Donor Management System), updating pertinent information as it relates to donor actions, proposals, appeals, reports, gifts, and relevant contact information.
• Responsible for all gift processing in our DMS, along with designating donations for the accounting manager.
• Ensure data integrity through accurate data entry and ongoing clean-up efforts
• Manage the timely acknowledgment of gifts and ensure that all types of donations (cash, pledges, matching gifts, grants, special events, planned gifts, etc.) are properly documented and in accordance with IRS requirements.

Administrative Support (25%)

• Provide administrative support to the Director of Development,
• Assist with the writing and editing of appeals, acknowledgments, donor news, reports, and proposals
• Prepare accurate research and reports on prospects and assemble materials for cultivation and solicitation visits for the Development Director, Development Officer, and Executive Director.
• Collaborate with Accounting Manager.
• Oversee the development membership subscriptions and renewals
• Other duties as assigned

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship (15%)

• The Development Assistant will respond to internal and external constituents and project a professional image for Ruff Start through customer interaction and maintain a high degree of confidentiality as they work with donors, volunteers, staff, and the public.
• Communicate with donors in person, on the phone, and by email.

Volunteers (15%)

• Train and oversee volunteer Animal Supply Gift Coordinators to handle all incoming in-kind donation requests
• Train and oversee volunteer Donation Recorders
• Hold quarterly meetings with volunteers; fill in whenever volunteer vacancies exist.
• Update Donation Procedures and other donation training materials as needed
• Ensure processes are efficient and effective; make recommendations and changes as needed

Required qualifications:

• A passion for animals and Ruff Start Rescue’s mission.
• Minimum of two years of experience with data entry and data management
• Curiosity and interest in being part of a development team and learning the function of philanthropy within a nonprofit organization
• Proficiency in advanced computing functions such as downloads and merge/purge operations from the database, querying, and data analysis to generate ad hoc reports to meet specifications and create complex presentations, including advanced formatting.
• Ability to research and find pertinent information effectively and efficiently.
• Significant attention to detail and superior organizational skills
• Excellent interpersonal and public relations skills, professional phone skills, and excellent written and verbal communication skills – within and outside the organization
• Ability to self-start, prioritize, and multi-task, along with the ability to work quickly and efficiently.
• Ability to quickly adapt to new equipment and technology
• Ability to work alongside and provide guidance to volunteers
• Have access to reliable smartphone and computer with Zoom capabilities to host trainings/meetings.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience with fundraising and/or program-related databases.
• Experience using DMS (donation management software)
• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in business, non-profit administration, finance, or a related field
• Animal welfare experience

A successful candidate will:

• Have a positive attitude
• Take initiative
• Be a self-starter
• Be extremely reliable
• Be trusted with very sensitive and confidential information
• Be reliable and consistent in thought with the ability to make common-sense decisions

Lead and Supervise:

• Volunteer Donation Recorders
• Volunteer Animal Supply Gift Coordinators

Reports To: Director of Development

Compensation: $18/Hr

Applicants, Please note: Send a cover letter and resume to apply@ruffstartrescue.org. Interested applicants who do not include both items in their submission will not be considered.

Summary:  The Veterinary Board Member is an active member of the Ruff Start Rescue Board of Directors who is responsible for adhering to general board responsibilities, along with governance authority and responsibility to determine important policies, overall operations, and maintain general, active management of and ultimate control over matters involving professional judgment regarding veterinary medicine and publicly owned animals under Ruff Start Rescue’s care/supervision/treatment. This individual will also provide broad-level overview information and guidance to current staffed veterinarians, CVTs, and program staff. Topics may include but are not limited to, high volume spay/neuter, best practices for veterinary medicine, protocols, shelter medicine. They will help give guidance regarding policies for internal foster animals, as well as the care of public animals performed by Ruff Start Rescue.

Time Commitment: 2-3 hours weekly, in addition to general board time commitments

Location: Current Zoom/Future In-person

Reports to: Board Chair

Responsibilities:

• Provide veterinary expertise to the board, medical department, and staff as needed
• Participate in medical meetings with the programs management team/medical team as needed
• Evaluate quality medical/compliance reports as needed and make recommendations for improvement/expansion of services/revenue opportunities
• Advise staff and board on medical standards, guidelines, protocol, etc. within the clinic and to ensure compliance with MVMA, AVMA, OSHA, and the MN Board of Animal Health

Qualifications:

• An active member of the Ruff Start Rescue Board of Directors
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations within the veterinary field
• Knowledge of issues, concerns, and challenges facing animal welfare organizations, as well as veterinary medicine in general
• Clinical experience in and/or willingness to learn about fast-paced shelter medicine, treating health conditions common in shelter populations, as well as owned pets
• Must have an active DVM License in Minnesota and is willing to keep license active during Board terms
• License must be in good standing with the MVMA

Summary: The Marketing and Development Board Member is an active member of the Ruff Start Rescue Board of Directors who is responsible for adhering to general board responsibilities, along with providing the board insights, recommendations, and discussion specific to their fundraising and donor expertise.  This individual will also provide the marketing department and staff guidance when needed on topics including, but not limited to: fundraising, revenue planning, events, marketing strategies, and maintaining current donor relations, along with cultivating new ones, etc. 

Time Commitment: 2-3 hours weekly in addition to general board time commitments

Location: Current Zoom/Future In-person 

Reports to: Board Chair

Responsibilities:

• Provide fundraising and donor expertise to the board, executive director, and development department. 
• Member of the Ruff Start Rescue Advancement Committee, which meets virtually, monthly, on the second Tuesday of the month from 3:00-4:00 PM CST.  
• Make recommendations on marketing plans, events, donor relationships, social media strategies, etc.
• Analyze relationships with current and prospective major donors, along with corporate donors, and provide guidance to board, executive director, development department, to cultivate or strengthen those relationships.

• Determine board fundraising expectations and goals with the board chair.
• Engage in advocacy and networking through participation in Ruff Start Rescue Fundraising events and other opportunities to expand Ruff Start Rescue brand

Qualifications: 

• Active member of the Ruff Start Rescue Board of Directors 
• Prior experience with event planning, fundraising, and donor relationships
• Animal welfare and rescue/shelter experience preferred
• Experience with grant writing and application process
• Strong background/knowledge of social media (mainly Facebook/Instagram) preferred
• Experience in public appearances, events, and marketing strategies

Applicants, please note: to be considered for this position, you must submit a cover letter in addition to a resume to apply@ruffstartrescue.org.

Summary: The Secretary is responsible for ensuring that accurate and sufficient documentation exists to meet legal requirements, and to enable authorized persons to determine when, how, and by whom the board’s business was conducted. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, and subject to the organization’s bylaws, the Secretary records minutes of meetings, ensures their accuracy, and availability, proposes policies and practices, submits various reports to the board, maintains membership records, fulfills any other requirements of a Director and Officer, and performs other duties as the need arises and/or as defined in the bylaws.

Time Commitment: 3-4 hours weekly in addition to general board time commitments

Location: Current Zoom/In-person

Reports to: Board Chair

Responsibilities:

• Draft and finalize monthly board meeting agenda with the Board Chair and/or Executive Director.
• Document board meeting notes, create meeting minutes for board review and approval, and maintain board meeting records.
• Ensures board members have access to by-laws.
• Maintain and update board membership records, including, but not limited to terms, contact information, committee membership, etc.
• Manage the general correspondence to the Board of Directors except for such correspondence assigned to others.
• Ensures that board records are available when required for reports, elections, referenda, other votes, etc.
• In the absence of the Executive Director/Board Chair, the Secretary calls the meeting to order, presiding until a temporary chairperson is elected.
• Coordinate guest speakers at board meetings as needed.

Qualifications: 

• Active member of the Ruff Start Rescue Board of Directors
• Ability to maintain organization of records and documents for ease of access.
• Ability to organize communications and follow-up on outstanding items as needed.
• Knowledge of animal welfare is desirable.
• Familiarity with non-profit documents such as Annual Reports, 990, grant requirements, etc. is ideal.
• Effective communication skills and ability to stay on top of regular board communications.
• Experience with Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel

Applicants, please note: to be considered for this position, you must submit a cover letter in addition to a resume to apply@ruffstartrescue.org.