Adoption Counselor
Job title : Adoptions Counselor
Reports to : Adoptions Manager
Starting salary : $16.00
FLSA status : non-exempt, full-time hourly
Schedule : 40 hours weekly, Mandatory 9am to 5 : 30pm on Saturdays
Date created : 3 / 29 / 2024
Position Summary :
An Adoption Counselor's main purpose is to serve the public in a professional, expedient, and courteous manner and to assist in the adoption process.
The Adoption Counselor reports directly to the Adoption Manager. This is a full-time position, which works five, 8-hour shifts weekly.
The Adoptions department is staffed Monday through Friday 10pm to 7 : 30pm and Saturday 9 : 30am to 5 : 30 pm. While the weekday schedule is flexible, Saturday coverage is required.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities :
- Provide customer service excellence in all areas of the Front Office
- Conduct adoption interviews to prospective adopters, educate the public on the basics of animal care, and review applications with management to determine approval, if necessary
- Maintain records of follow-up calls
- Enter data for records including adoptions, licenses, returned animals, and other information
- Answer incoming calls on a variety of subjects that include questions about general animal information, our policies, lost animals, our programs and events, information on area vets, information on area shot clinics and spay / neuter clinics
- Handle customer complaints / issues and turn them over to the Adoption Manager as needed
- Extra office tasks may include :
- Cash and credit card reconciliations
- Preparing go home bags for adopters
- Filing
- Putting donations away
- Light cleaning and mopping
- Dog walking on completion of training
- Cat handling on completion of training
- Complete all tasks as assigned by management
Qualifications :
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Excellent customer service skills
- Knowledge of animal breeds, animal health, basic animal care and handling
- Computer literacy
- Ability to handle multiple priorities and balance the needs of each
- Accuracy with data entry, detail oriented
- Ability to multi-task and stay calm under pressure
- Ability to communicate tactfully and effectively, with the ability to diffuse tense situations
- Patience and understanding toward every individual
- Ability to maintain professionalism in varying interactions
- Commitment to and enthusiasm for the mission, programs, and services of the MD SPCA
Physical Demands :
- Frequent sitting, use of computer keyboard and telephone up to 8 hours per day with some bending, stooping and walking
- May assist kennel team with animal care / animal handling
Working Conditions :
- Work is performed in an office setting within an animal shelter
- Noise level is usually moderate
The Maryland SPCA is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind. We encourage all applicants with a passion for our mission to apply.
The MD SPCA strives to provide a safe work environment and encourage personal health. Therefore, it is a substance-free, drug-free workplace.