The Adoption Representative assists all Humane Society customers in an efficient and professional manner, primarily those interested in animal adoption. Work cohesively with all departments of the organization.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Act as an adoption matchmaker, introducing potential adopters to their pet of interest and perform adoption visits when required.
- Perform adoption counseling, provide animal behavior information, and assist potential adopters with information that will assist them in making sound decisions when considering a new family pet.
- Provide adopters with necessary information regarding their newly adopted pet including information on medical history, microchip information, access to pet health insurance plan, etc.
- Retrieves adopted animals from the kennel area. Practices safe animal handling.
- Ask customers for monetary donations.
- Educate customers regarding animal shelter dynamics, animal overpopulation, adoption criteria, and euthanasia.
- Remain calm and courteous to customers, volunteers, and co-workers at all times.
- Provide humane care for all animals entering or housed in the facility.
- Maintain professionalism (attendance, punctuality, dress, actions, and speech) in all internal and external interactions.
- Provide accurate information and friendly service to the public.
- Collect all fees and give correct change.
- Accept in-kind donations of food and/or supplies and ensure that they are properly distributed for use or stored.
- Regularly review supply levels. Notify the supervisor if supplies are getting low.
- Keep the customer service area clean and uncluttered.
- Process dog and cat licenses.
- Provide medications (with instructions) to customers adopting sick or injured animals and direct them to veterinary care.
- Do "closing duty" procedures in the evening to ensure all entrances are locked, kennel lights are turned off and building entrances are secure.
- Report any problems with customers that you feel cannot be adequately handled to the Adoptions Supervisor or Adoptions Manager.
- Train new volunteers. Provide Adoptions Manager, Adoptions Supervisors and Volunteer Services Manager with volunteer progress reports and updates as needed. Be willing to provide volunteers with appropriate and constructive feedback if required.
- Assist with close out and financials at the end of the day as needed.
- Assist Animal Care Department with animal care duties including, but not limited to, daily kennel cleaning for cats and dogs and animal movement.
- Provide compassionate care and services for customers in various emotional states. Provide grief counseling resources as needed.
- Other duties as assigned.
Other
- Commitment to the mission, values, goals and success of HSPPR
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Supervisory Duties
None
Physical Demands
- Regularly sits at computer station.
- Must be able to lift, push, and pull a minimum of forty pounds with reasonable accommodations.
- Must be able to be on feet for extended periods of time.
- Typically stands, bends, stoops and crouches.
- Consistently exposed to animals in the workplace and animal allergens under conditions with limited alternatives available.
Schedule Requirements
Available to work evenings, weekends, and holidays. Weekend work will be part of the regular schedule for this position.
Education/Experience Necessary
- Ability to effectively read, write, interpret, communicate, perform basic problem solving, and perform basic math as commonly expected from completion of a High School Diploma or Equivalent Education.
- Must complete and pass required training and skills demonstration tests provided by the Humane Society within the established timeframe.
- 1+ years paid or unpaid experience working with animals in a kennel, shelter, doggie daycare, grooming facility, pet store, farm, veterinary hospital or equivalent highly desired.
- Advanced training and/or instruction in the field of customer service is preferred.
- Good working knowledge of animal breeds, nutrition, general care and behavior related information. Professional animal handling experience and experience using Chameleon software program is a plus.
- Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing is essential.
- Bi-lingual (English/Spanish) highly desired.
Required Skills
- Must be able to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
- Experience with Microsoft Office and Chameleon a plus.
- Possess the ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
- Ability to handle physically, mentally, and emotionally stressful work
- Ability to add and subtract.
- Ability to apply common sense and understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral or diagram form.
- Ability to manage problems involving several variables in standardized situations.
- Ability to apply critical thinking to a situation to apply the best possible solution/outcome.