Adoption Counselor (Hourly/Non-Exempt)

The Arizona Animal Welfare League (AAWL) – the largest and oldest no-kill shelter in Arizona – is seeking a part time Adoption Counselors. Adoption Counselors are responsible forfacilitating dog and cat adoptions by advocating for the animals in our care, to include making appropriate recommendations to potential adopters. Provide exemplary customer service to create relationships with community members and facilitate adoptions thru AAWL’s conversational adoption/meet & greet process. Collect adoptions fees, retail sales, and solicit donations; cash management; various clerical, reception, and data entry duties. Participate as needed in the overall mission of intaking, providing care and finding homes for our animals. Bilingual Spanish speaker is a plus, but not required.

AAWL is looking for someone to fill this role who has solid communications and interpersonal skills and is comfortable working and interacting frequently with volunteers, the public and co-workers. The Adoption Counselor position also requires attention-to-detail and decision-making skills, and the ability to work independently. Adoption Counselors are expected to interact with all animals on site daily, and with the general public.

This position reports to the Adoptions Manager. This is a part time position (approx. 25 hours/week), non-exempt position in Phoenix. Hours range from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Shifts needed are Friday and Saturdays with additional Tuesday and/or Sunday availability. Weekends are required.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for the animals in our care as part of the conversational adoption process. Learn our animals’ strengths and personalities thru enrichment activities to better advocate.

• Ask appropriate questions of potential adopters to gather information with respect and empathy. Turn down inappropriate adopters in a professional and compassionate fashion.

• Complete the PUFA process for animals to be made available.

• Adoptions and Slumber Parties, to include dog to dog intros, showing individual animals, completing paperwork in PetPoint, provide resources, encourage pet insurance and training, updating boards, selling merchandise, soliciting donations, taking & uploading photos, reporting.

• Follow up emails with adopters, other assigned clerical and/or reception duties.

• Retail inventory functions, cleaning and sanitizing work & common areas, laundry.

Qualifications

• 6 months of work experience, including retail or customer service required. Animal handling experience other than your own animals is preferred, but not required.

• Bi-lingual Spanish speaker is a plus, but not required.

• This position requires working both indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions, and the ability to lift 50 pounds occasionally.

• Must be able to read and write English.

• Ability to adapt to change and accept new duties within a fast-growing organization; and

• Ability to work with diverse individuals within the organization and broader community.

Requirements

Requires periodic sitting at a computer station with prolonged standing and walking. Use of personal computers, phones, and general office equipment. Must be comfortable handling dogs and cats daily on a continuous basis. Will be exposed to disinfectant solutions and subject to bites and scratches while handling animals of questionable temperament. Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with animals, the public, volunteers, and staff. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a fast-paced changing environment and the ability to work weekends and holidays.

To Apply for This Position

Please submit a resume to Zoe at: [email protected] your subject line, please reference “Adoption Counselor” in your email. No phone calls or walk-ins, please.

Employment Details

AAWL offers compensation that is commensurate with experience and competitive with animal welfare salaries. This position pays $15.78/hr. to start; $16.08 post training. This is a part-time, non-exempt position that accrues paid sick time and twelve paid holidays.