Adoptions Associate - Spanish proficiency required April 2026

Description

Department: Community Programs
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Organizational Relationships
This position is supervised by: Adoptions Manager

Job Summary:

Responsible for providing assistance to visitors and clients with AWLA-related business including, but not limited to adoption counseling, completing retail transactions and purchases by customers; answering phones; issuing licenses; receiving surrendered animals. Current schedule is  Sunday 8:30am -5:30pm, Monday 8:30am -7:30pm, Wednesday 8:00am -7:00pm and Thursday 8:30am -7:30pm.

Requirements

Essential Functions of the Job Include:

Facilitating Adoptions:

• Use customer service skills to facilitate potential adoptions in a positive manner in support of the AWLA’s mission and Core Values
• Provide a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment for all visitors to the facility
• Assist the public in making appropriate adoption matches
• Explain AWLA adoption policies and procedures to potential adopters
• Answer questions from potential adopters regarding adoptable animals
• Show available animals to potential adopters
• Facilitate safe meetings between adoptable dogs and potential adopters’ dogs.
• Conduct adoption and behavior consultations
• Maintain a complete and accurate file regarding all actions associated with the adoption
• Ensure that all required actions are completed prior to releasing the animal to their new home

Intake of animals:

• Coordinate the intake of stray, injured and owner-relinquished animals into our facility
• Gather all necessary information regarding the intake, properly document paperwork, and enter all information into the Chameleon database.

Administrative:

• Ensure that paperwork and records are maintained accurately and that Chameleon information is updated
• Learn and use the descriptive identification used by the AWLA, and develop a current working knowledge of commonly seen dog and cat breeds.
• Develop a basic working knowledge of the AWLA's procedures, guidelines, and protocols for the safe handling of animals:
• Legal and statistical reporting procedures, and veterinary protocols
• Federal and Commonwealth of Virginia substance regulations, and Commonwealth of Virginia and municipal animal regulations
• Understand and follow AWLA Adoption Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Accurately complete all animal intake paperwork
• Retrieve general voice mail messages and respond to calls and/or forward them to the appropriate department
• Accurately complete the daily tracking for lost and found including matching lost reports with any stray animals in the AWLA's care
• Contact potential owners when a stray animal matches their description of their lost pet

Financial:

• Sell Spay/Neuter vouchers and process licenses, accurately completing all paperwork and input into database
• Accept monetary and in-kind donations from the public, thank the donor and forward notices of donation to the Development department
• Accurately process cash, check and credit card transactions, adhering to AWLA accounting policies
• Assist clients with retail item purchases, maintain inventory and ensure displays are stocked and orderly.

Other Duties/ Functions:

Provide support to the AWLA's team effort including, but not limited to:

• Safely handling animals according to AWLA protocol and following Fear Free and other best practices to limit stress in shelter animals
• Assist in keeping all public areas of the building organized and clean
• Communicate regularly with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that they are aware of any issues pertinent to their areas of responsibility
• Participate in staff meetings to share ideas and suggestions for improving animal care and the quality of the organization as a whole
• Communicating regularly with supervisors to ensure that they are aware of any issues pertinent to their areas of responsibility
• Keep the lobby neat and tidy
• Participate and attend community outreach events in support of AWLA mission
• Perform other duties as requested to ensure the internal and external well-being of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

POSITION SPECIFICATIONS:

1. Required:

• Spanish fluency required
• High school diploma or equivalent
• Current driver’s license
• Proven ability to handle multiple tasks in a busy workplace environment d. Ability to accurately perform basic mathematical calculation
• Understanding of humane care and treatment of animals
• Experience in customer service including handling difficult situations and managing conflict
• Strong interpersonal communication skills (verbal and writing) and proven ability to develop effective working relationships based on trust, positive attitude and follow through
• Strong data entry skills and the ability to in maintain accurate records in a computer database system

2. Preferred

• Experience working or volunteering within an animal shelter (open admission preferred) or busy veterinary emergency clinic
• Experience working or volunteering with a animal welfare organization
• Training and experience in safe handling of dogs and cats

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• ?Indoors in a high noise, air-conditioned/heated building, outdoors at AWLA facility, or on-location for various activities
• Equipment use? includes use of PC, laser printer, copy machine, fax machine, telephone, and ?A?WLA vehicles
• Work hours:  Sunday 8:30am -5:30pm, Monday 8:30am -7:30pm, Wednesday 8:00am -7:00pm and Thursday 8:30am -7:30pm. 
  • Later evenings may be required at certain times
  • Schedule is subject to change depending on organizational needs

MENTAL, PHYSICAL AND COMMUNICATION DEMANDS:

A successful candidate must be able to:

• Maintain a pleasant, courteous, professional, and informative demeanor with staff members, volunteers, and the public
• Regular exposure to animals, cleaning chemicals, fumes, animal feces, bites, and scratches
• Ability to work around pet dander, dust and other allergens without issue
• The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds
• The employee must frequently bend, grip and be flexible to do so
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus
• Sustain a full 8-10 hour day of driving, walking, bending, and physical activity in the shelter
• Understand that euthanasia is sometimes a humane option for some animals.
• Work alone with minimal supervision
• Resolve conflicts successfully
• Communicate clearly, including excellent writing skills and an ability to speak in public

This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, service in the military, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions. Equal employment opportunity applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leave of absence, compensation and training.