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.