Admissions and Placement Specialist

Summary:

Overview:

Join our Adoption Center team as an Admissions and Placement Specialist to make a direct and meaningful impact on the vulnerable animals and owners who need us most.

Are you a positive, engaging people person? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment with lots of changing needs and priorities? If so – and you love animals – you should consider the role of Admissions and Placement Specialist  at the ASPCA Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery.

Who We Are:

The Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery is dedicated to helping animals by engaging community members directly in the work of caring for animals. The role of Admissions and Placement Specialist is crucial in making a positive impression on visitors, volunteers, and potential adopters. Admissions and Placement Specialists will help animals get ready for new homes, ensure their welfare and help adopters find their ideal animal match. Admissions and Placement Specialists facilitate adoptions by engaging in conversation with potential adopters and counseling adopters in ways to prepare their home and family for their new pet. Admissions and Placement Specialist s also assist and support pet owners seeking to surrender their animals, first exploring available and creative solutions that may find alternatives to surrendering their pet.

What You’ll Do:

Admissions and Placement Specialists are part of a high-performing staff and volunteer team providing care for up to 3,000 at-risk pets per year and will work collaboratively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders to further the ASPCA’s ultimate desired outcome that all animals live good lives. They ensure that all visitors, virtual or in-person, to The Center receive prompt attention and exceptional customer service.

The Center currently provides shelter and adoption for five groups of animals:

• Animal victims of cruelty and neglect brought to us by the NYPD
• Animals brought to us through our Community Engagement team
• Underage kittens and other medically compromised stray animals 
• Animals surrendered by their owners and in need of adoption into new homes
• Animals transferred in from shelter/rescue partners

Admissions and Placement Specialists report to the Manager of Admissions and Placement and are located at the 92nd St. location in NYC. Admissions and Placement Specialists perform a wide range of duties in order to foster an engaged and informed community and ensure pets and people experience positive outcomes.

Where and When You’ll Work 

This role is located at our 92nd Street location. The schedule for this role is 4/10 hour days and includes a weekend day. This position requires a high level of flexibility. The successful candidate should be prepared to work nights, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Compensation 

Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of factors, including but not limited to education, training, experience, location, business needs, internal equity, market demands or budgeted amount for the role. The target hiring range is for new hire offers only, and staff compensation may increase beyond the maximum hiring range based on performance over time. The maximum of the hiring range is reserved for candidates with the highest qualifications and relevant experience. The expected hiring salary range for this role is set forth below and may be modified in the future. 

The target hiring range for this role is $23.33 - $24.77.

Stay Connected – Join Our Talent Community

If you are interested in joining our team but do not see a position listed that fits your experience or interests, please visit our website to join our Talent Community and stay connected to future opportunities with the ASPCA.

Benefits 

At the ASPCA, you don’t have to choose between your passion and making a living. Our comprehensive benefits package helps you live a rewarding life at work and at home. Our benefits include, but are not limited to: 

• Affordable health coverage, including medical, employer-paid dental and optional vision coverage. 

• Flexible time off that includes vacation time, paid personal time, sick time, bereavement time, paid parental leave, and 10 company paid holidays that allows you even more flexibility to observe the days that mean the most to you. 

• Competitive financial incentives and retirement savings including a 401(k) plan with generous employer contributions — we match dollar-for-dollar up to 4% and provide an additional 4% contribution toward your future each year. 

• Robust professional development opportunities including classes, on-the-job training, coaching and mentorship with industry-leading peers, internal mobility, opportunities to support in the field and so much more. 

Responsibilities:

Responsibility buckets are listed in general order of importance, and include, but are not limited to:  

Adoption Matchmaking – 70%

• Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our clients by using low-stress handling techniques.

• With enthusiasm and compassion, assist potential adopters and guide them towards animals that may be the best match for them

• Develop a sense of Adopter expectations through a conversation-based, empathetic approach, with attention to non-verbal behavior

• Approve appropriate matches and decline adoptions that are not a match. When declining, help adopters understand the reason for the decision, and work to help the adopters find appropriate alternatives if any exist

• Counsel adopters on the medical and behavioral care their animal has received and coach adopters on the techniques and care identified for a successful post-adoption experience for pet and pet owner

• Coach potential adopters in socialization and training of the animals they're interested in

• Be familiar with all the available dogs and cats, including their attributes and challenges. Present animals enthusiastically and objectively

• Check health and welfare status (medical, behavioral and social) of each animal daily using shelter management software, and update volunteers accordingly in order to provide the most current, accurate information for potential adopters

• Assist with onboarding training, coaching and supervision of volunteers in use of the Adopter survey and the adoption process, as well as Fear Free philosophy and techniques With Manager, Adoption Center & Kitten Nursery Marketing, write compelling feline and canine in-shelter, and website bios that showcase an animal’s attributes and challenges equally

• Conduct adoptions onsite and using audio/video technology and electronic forms from start to finish, including processing paperwork and financial transactions

• Create and maintain animal record in the database, including the thorough documentation of all Matchmaking conversations.

• Cross reference adopters in the animal abuser registry if/as required by NYC and NY state regulations

• Shadow or deploy with Community Engagement, Community Medicine, Relocation or National Response Team or shadow another ASPCA department once per year

 

Admissions and Client Support – 20%

• Assist members of the public who are surrendering or rehoming their pet by providing relevant intake support including alternatives to surrender; collect necessary information about the pet to assist in rehoming, and when appropriate, connect owner with appropriate rescue groups and other resources

• Teach the public about animal care, animal welfare, and Fear Free® philosophy and techniques

• Actively seek-out opportunities to engage the visiting public in animal welfare and the ASPCA’s work

 

Animal Care and Welfare – 10%

• Ensure the welfare of animals in our care by attending to their physical and emotional health and comfort, following all ASPCA protocols.

• Read and follow all kennel signage regarding animal treatment and care.

• Transport animals, using low-stress animal handling techniques and following applicable organizational policies and protocols, between ASPCA facilities and to partner agencies.

• Provide animal socialization, enrichment and reinforce training methods put in place by the Adoption Center Behavior team

 

Qualifications:

• Exceptional communicator and team player who thrives in a fast-paced, shelter environment

• A passion for providing exceptional customer service experiences

• Ability to communicate effectively, courteously, and professionally with a variety of individuals representing diverse cultures and backgrounds, in both spoken and written English

• Ability to work closely with behaviorally and medically compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where euthanasia is performed.

• Ability to work effectively, both independently and in a team environment, in an atmosphere of distractions, multiple projects, shifting priorities, and deadline pressures

• Embraces differences, allows others to speak, and seeks to understand their viewpoints

• Ability to build and sustain positive and productive relationships within and across departmental teams, with volunteers and the public

• Positive and engaging demeanor; enjoys working with people

• Self-motivated with a solution-oriented attitude

• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and manage conflict

• Proficiency using a computer; experience with PetPoint or similar database a plus

• Strong interest in animal welfare and advocacy

• Ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day; ability to lift to 30 lbs, ability to walk dogs up and down stairs

• Comfortable working with and around dogs and cats

Language:

• English (required)

• Spanish (preferred); other languages desirable

Education and Work Experience:

• High school degree required

• Minimum of two years of customer or client service required

• Minimum of five years of professional work experience overall

• Experience training or coaching preferred

• Animal handling experience strongly preferred

• Previous experience in behavioral animal care and enrichment, ideally in a shelter and/or veterinary setting with compromised animals.

• Fear Free Shelter certification is required within 60 days of hire

Qualifications:

See above for qualifications details.

Language:

English (Required), Spanish

Education and Work Experience:

High School Diploma (Required)

Experience caring for cats and dogs through a shelter, veterinary practice or other animal related business a plus, Experience successfully training/teaching adults preferred, Experience training, coaching or supervising preferred, Fear Free certification required, or must be obtained within first 90 days, Military, AmeriCorps, or Peace Corps experience a plus, Minimum of five years of work experience overall, Minimum of two years of customer or client service required