About

• 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.