Intake and Pathways Coordinator - Methuen Animal Adoption Center

This is a full time 40 hour per week position. Some weekends and some holidays required.

The Position

The Intake and Pathways Coordinator works collaboratively with the operations, clinic, and behavior teams to coordinate the intake and movement of shelter animals, ensuring efficient and humane pathways throughout the organization. This role is responsible for facilitating animal intake and coordinating transfers between MSPCA shelters and partner organizations. In the course of their work, the coordinator will actively model and promote the organization’s core values—Compassion, Integrity, Collaboration, Excellence, Service, and Positivity—in all daily responsibilities and interactions.

Some Of The Duties Include

• Driving animal pathway coordination and decision-making by developing and monitoring processes, applying knowledge of intake, behavior, and capacity, and ensuring timely progression through medical, behavioral, foster, transfer, and adoption outcomes.
• Managing animal flow and reducing length of stay (LOS) by tracking individual cases and population trends, participating in case planning and strategy discussions, and implementing solutions that improve outcomes, especially for harder-to-place animals.
• Leading cross-functional collaboration and communication by serving as the liaison between shelter, clinic, and behavior teams to ensure timely medical and behavioral care, maintain accurate records, and support daily operations.
• Coordinating intake processes and staff training by facilitating exams and vaccinations using fear-free techniques, training staff on intake procedures and documentation, and supporting consistent, high-quality intake practices.
• Overseeing transfers and driving adoption promotion efforts by coordinating inter-shelter movement and leading marketing, website, social media, and PR initiatives to increase visibility and placement of adoptable animals.
• Ensuring high standards of animal care and operational excellence by upholding care protocols and compliance, supporting enrichment programs, maintaining sanitation and disease control practices, assisting with daily shelter operations, and contributing to ongoing staff development and continuous improvement.
  
  

Who We Are

The MSPCA is the largest animal welfare organization in New England- caring for and placing over 11,000 animals annually across our four adoption centers. The MSPCA at Nevins Farm, in Methuen, Massachusetts, is a unique 55-acre animal care complex that provides shelter and adoption services for both farm and companion animals as well as a low cost community clinic and community outreach. In 2025, the MSPCA at Nevins Farm took in a total of 3,500 animals and had a live release rate of 92%. Take a virtual tour!

Applicant Requirements

Education & Experience:

• Fear Free Certification within 6 months of hire or promotion date.
• A valid driver's license and the ability to drive a MSPCA vehicle.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience working in an animal shelter, veterinary services or equivalent social services field
  
  

Skills

• Exceptional communication skills to communicate clearly and effectively with staff, volunteers, and the public, including leading meetings, navigating sensitive conversations, and explaining complex or difficult decisions.
• Ability to manage a high-volume, fast-paced shelter environment by prioritizing tasks, multitasking across departments, and staying focused under pressure.
• Making informed, outcome-driven decisions related to animal placement, care, and pathways, including handling challenging or time-sensitive situations.
• Coordinating projects and workflows with strong organizational skills, ensuring follow-through on animal movement, intake processes, and operational priorities.
• Applying hands-on knowledge of animal welfare practices, including safe animal handling, zoonotic disease protocols, and engaging the public on animal care and adoption.
  
  

Physical Requirements And Work Environment

• Performing physically demanding tasks, including lifting up to 50 pounds, and frequent bending, standing, and crouching for extended periods.
• Working in a fast-paced, high-volume shelter environment with prolonged standing and computer use.
• Maintaining focus and professionalism while regularly exposed to stressful and emotionally challenging situations, including cases of animal illness, injury, or neglect.
  
  

Our Benefits

Our compensation package includes health, dental and life insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, tuition reimbursement, paid holidays, sick, and vacation time, employee discounts for pet health care, and free on-site parking.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We believe that a diverse workforce is integral to our organizational culture, and that employing a workforce with varied and unique perspectives that emerge from racial, gender, sexuality, religious, linguistic, neurological, physical and other differences fuels our ability to fulfill our organizational mission, surpassing our goals and visions. The MSPCA-Angell needs a diverse, well-supported workforce of staff and volunteers to best understand and serve our patients, clients, and communities. We are committed to attracting and retaining a highly talented diverse workforce for our future and appreciate your interest in pursuing a career at the MSPCA-Angell.

Equal Opportunity Employer

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.