Part-Time Placement Counselor

Description

Do you have a passion for animal welfare? Are you a good communicator with a sincere desire to help animals find their forever homes? Then, we may have a job for you. Animal Friends is seeking part-time placement counselors to help find loving homes for dogs, cats, and rabbits in need.

The Placement Counselor assists in fulfilling the mission and vision of Animal Friends by providing high quality, low-barrier matchmaking services to fosters and adopters, ensuring Animal Friends residents are placed into loving, appropriate homes. The Placement Counselor prioritizes providing education and a compassionate, welcoming process to connecting animals with fosters or adopters as appropriate. As one of the most public-facing teams within the Lifesaving Operations pillar, Placement Counselors must maintain high quality customer service to all visitors, volunteers, and stakeholders, helping to support Animal Friends’ positive reputation as a progressive community resource. This position requires adaptability, flexibility and strong customer services and public relations skills augmented by a compassionate spirit, as well as a willingness to work with animals from with high level medical and/or behavioral needs, prioritizing a non-aversive and humane approach. Placement Counselors must possess strong communication and organizational skills, computer knowledge and a sincere interest in serving both people and animals. Placement Counselors must be knowledgeable about Animal Friends and enhance the programs and mission of the organization.

Essential Functions:

• Engages in high quality, individualized matchmaking services for fosters and adopters.

• Facilitates the placement of animals into foster and adoptive homes.

• Promotes and educates visitors and clients about Animal Friends’ adoptable residents, proper husbandry practices and promotion of the human/animal bond.

• Assists prospective guardians in the selection of animals, ensuring matchmaking is the highest priority.

• Conducts adoption appointments by educating adopters on the animal’s complete history, facilitating a safe and positive introduction between the adopters and the animal, facilitating and/or aiding in the safe and positive introduction between the adopter’s resident animal(s) and the shelter animal.

• Advises adopters of Animal Friends’ contractual requirements, medical and behavioral disclaimers, Wellness Improvement Plans, etc.

• Educates adopters on the additional support they have with Animal Friends post adoption.

• Provides appropriate follow-up support for adopters where needed.

• Completes administrative tasks such as answering phone calls/ voicemails, responding to emails, scheduling appointments, running reports, documenting.

• Participates in the planning and execution of Adoption Promotions and Events.

• Aides in the creation of social media content to promote available animals.

• Participates in the foster placement process including helping in the matching of fosters and resident animals in need, conducting foster appointments and pickups.

• Educates foster parents on the animal’s history and needs.

• Facilitates a safe and positive introduction between the foster and the animal.

• Facilitates and/or supports the safe and positive introduction between the foster’s resident animal(s) and the shelter animal.

• Advises fosters of Animal Friends’ contractual requirements, medical and behavioral disclaimers, Wellness Improvement Plans, etc.

• Conducts formal and/or specialized training for fosters

• Assists in procuring supplies and other resources for fosters.

• Attends and completes animal handling training for all species trainings

• Handles all residents safely and in compliance with all Animal Friends policies and philosophies, including animals with high level medical and/or behavioral challenges.

• Educates the public on safe and humane animal handling techniques, husbandry, behavioral management and training options.

• Maintains a familiarity with all shelter animals including animals available for adoption and in foster care.

• Adheres to the Lifesaving Operations dog walking responsibilities and procedures

• Participates in adoption events both on-site and at partner locations.

• Writes and edits bios for animal profiles, ensuring that they outline each animal’s unique personality and needs.

• Participates in team or organizational meetings or other seminars as needed.

• Maintains a clean and organized environment including sweeping, mopping, kennel-cleaning, and other duties as assigned.

• Maintains a professional, courteous demeanor with clients, volunteers and employees.

• Leverages volunteer talent by engaging their assistance within the department, thereby helping us to further our mission and vision and to achieve the organization’s expectation of 100% integration of volunteers into our programs.

• Participates in media requests, on/offsite, as assigned

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Qualifications and Experience:

• High school diploma required and must be 18 years of age.

• Previous customer service and/or public relations experience required.

• Must be able to work in a team setting and handle difficult situations independently.

• Animal handling experience preferred but not required.

• Must be comfortable handling dogs, cats, and rabbits of varying size, age, breed, and temperament, and successfully complete required training sessions and classes for each species.

• Must have a basic knowledge of animal behavior issues and a general understanding of animal health-related concerns.

• Must possess excellent communication skills, interpersonal skills, computer literacy, organizational ability and time management skills.

• Must be able to perform in high pace and potentially high stress situations

• Must be able to defuse potentially stressful situations

• Proficiency in utilizing Microsoft programs such as but not limited to:

         Microsoft Teams

         Microsoft Excel

          Microsoft Word

• Must have access to dependable transportation and openness to local travel. Valid driver’s license preferred.

• Must be able to work flexible hours, including weekends.

• Must be able to work special events including, but not limited to, New Year’s Eve Rescue and Black Tie & Tails

• The physical demands for this job are as follows: Medium Work – Medium work is defined as lifting 50lbs maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 35lbs.

• Must have a sincere interest in the vision, mission, and culture of Animal Friends.

• Must meet essential functions within 60 days of hire.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Communication Proficiency – Ability to orally express information and ideas to others when speaking.

• Customer / Client Focus- Actively seeks out ways to aid Animal Friends guests and/or volunteers to ensure the best possible customer service is provided.

• Diversity and Inclusion – Ability to welcome, support and value individuals with similarities and differences that may vary from your own.

• Stress Management - Ability to maintain baseline behavior / composure during stressful situations.

• Teamwork Orientation – Ability to work with others to accomplish likeminded goals and tasks for the organization.