Specialist, Lifesaving Programs

This position is supervised by: Supervisor, Lifesaving Programs 

This position Supervises/Manages: N/A

Job Summary: The Specialist of Lifesaving Programs supports operations for the Adoption and Foster teams, ensuring consistent service delivery, animal care continuity, and a seamless experience for adopters and fosters. The Specialist collaborates with medical, behavior, intake, and volunteer teams to maintain smooth workflows and maximize lifesaving while providing exceptional customer service to our community. 

Summary of Essential Job Tasks:

Adoptions Support:

•    Greet visitors and assist prospective adopters in matching with adoptable pets.

•    Counsel prospective adopters on adoption, including the behavioral and medical needs of their intended pet and the post adoption support they receive by adoption from the SPCA of Texas.

•    Confirm animals are up to date on vaccines, preventatives, and medications before adoption.

•    Assist with retail purchases, post-adoption follow-up, and customer inquiries via phone and email.

•    Maintain accurate records in the shelter database, track visitor data via Trello, and support end-of-day reconciliation tasks.

•    Assist with animal care responsibilities as needed and report any medical or behavioral concerns as appropriate.

Foster Support:

•    Monitor and respond to foster inquiries via email and phone.

•    Assist with foster pick-ups and drop-offs, including preparing supplies and paperwork.

•    Provide medication, preventatives, and basic medical explanations to foster parents.

•    Support weekend medical needs such as administering vaccines and delivering prescriptions.

•    Track foster placements and update animal records as needed.

•    Support social media and internal communications by drafting weekend plea posts or updates.

Summary of Expectations:

•    Provide excellent customer service as a representative of the SPCA of Texas.

•    Must be committed to providing exceptional care and a loving home for every animal.

•    Safeguard the confidentiality of foster, adopter, and donor information.

•    Actively support and engage volunteers to strengthen the volunteer program and staff collaboration.

•    Serve as an SPCA of Texas ambassador by promoting our mission and understanding ways to support our work.

•    Proactively address concerns that could compromise internal and external customer service or animal care and safety.

•    Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications:

•    Experience in animal sheltering, animal welfare, public service, or working with rescue organizations preferred.

•    Experience handling animals and/or fostering animals is a plus.

•    Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to deliver sensitive information with empathy, clarity, and a nonjudgmental approach.

•    Comfortable engaging with the public in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

•    Able to work both independently and collaboratively within a team.

•    Detail-oriented, organized, and able to manage multiple tasks and priorities effectively.

•    Must be dedicated to providing every animal with exceptional care and committed to supporting positive outcomes for animals and people.

•    Must be willing and able to work variable hours, including weekends and shifts longer than 8 hours or more than 40 hours per week, depending on operational needs.

•    Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

•    Must be at minimum 21 years old to meet insurance requirements and must be qualified and licensed to operate a motor vehicle in the state of Texas.

•    Must be eligible to be a “driver” for the SPCA of Texas and must perform “driver” duties as directed by the immediate Supervisor. Such “driver” duties may include, but not be limited to, driving an SPCA of Texas Van, Box Truck, or Mobile Adoptions Vehicle.

Physical Demands & Work Conditions:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job.

•    Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, use hands and fingers, handle or feel, and talk and hear clearly.

•    Frequently required to reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

•    Must be able to lift and/or move up to 40 pounds regularly.

•    Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

•    Work is performed both indoors and outdoors and may include exposure to a variety of environmental elements such as heat, cold, dust, and animal-related allergens.

•    May be exposed to loud noise, strong odors, and airborne particles.

•    Will regularly interact with animals, including those who may be fearful, stressed, or fractious.