Adoption Coordinator - Northern Hub

CommonSpirit Health•Huntersville, NC

15h•Onsite

About The Position

The Adoption Coordinator - Northern Hub plays a vital role in saving lives by providing hands-on animal care, facilitating adoptions and foster placements, and serving as a key connection between the Austin hub transport team and adopters. Based at the Petco Adoption Center in Huntersville, NC, this role provides hands-on animal care while ensuring a smooth and positive foster and adoption experience. A significant part of this position is working alongside volunteers as a teammate, guiding them in daily care and adoption facilitation to maximize efficiency and lifesaving impact. This role is instrumental in establishing and expanding a Direct to Adopter (D2A) model for Austin Pets Alive! (APA!), increasing the save rate for APA!’s target shelters. The Adoption Coordinator will ensure that all animals at the center receive the highest standard of care while also focusing on building a strong foster and adoption network. By prioritizing open, adopter-friendly placements rooted in lifesaving, this position will help shape a more inclusive and effective future for animal welfare. The Adoption Coordinator - Northern Hub plays a key role in advancing the goals of APA!’s transport program. This position contributes directly to APA!’s mission to increase the live release rate across Texas by supporting a sustainable, inclusive, and high-impact model for shelter operations and placement coordination. The Adoption Coordinator - Northern Hub is responsible for managing their daily responsibilities, maintaining clear priorities, and delivering consistent, high-quality work that aligns with APA!’s values and goals. This includes staying organized, using data or feedback to inform decisions, and following through on key tasks and responsibilities with minimal oversight. This is a hands-on, mission-driven role focused on results, reliability, and teamwork. APA! is a volunteer-powered organization, so every staff member is expected to work alongside and support volunteers. The Adoption Coordinator - Northern Hub collaborates closely with volunteers to complete day-to-day tasks, helps create a positive and inclusive environment, and actively contributes to a culture of shared effort and mutual respect. This position may involve shift flexibility, weekend hours, and responsiveness during times of high need. Every individual at APA! is responsible for working in collaboration with volunteers; making sure volunteers are recruited, trained and feel impactful through their efforts at APA!. A core part of this role is creating a welcoming and empowering experience for volunteers, including assisting with onboarding, training, and volunteer engagement as part of the day-to-day workflow.

Requirements

At least 2 years of animal handling (cats and dogs) experience preferred
Some veterinary medical experience or knowledge preferred
Excellent networking and customer service skills
Desire to engage in regular networking and partnership building
Solution oriented, positive attitude when encountering challenges or barriers
Interest in growing and expanding a program on a state and national level
Must have a valid driver's license and insurance
Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills
Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings
Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues
Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and support volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis
Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned
Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment
Comfortable working autonomously when given goals and deadlines

Nice To Haves

At least 2 years of animal handling (cats and dogs) experience
Some veterinary medical experience or knowledge

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the APA! transport team to market and place dogs most in need, maximizing lives saved.
Facilitate communication regarding Texas dogs in need, ensuring all placement options are explored before arrival.
Provide excellent customer service by processing adoptions through an inclusive, adopter-friendly approach.
Perform hands-on animal care, including feeding, providing fresh water, cleaning kennels, facilitating daily outings, and offering enrichment to support animals’ physical and emotional well-being.
Administer vaccinations, oral medications, and medical treatments, while also coordinating veterinary care with external Veterinary clinic partners.
Support adopters and fosters with pre and post placement guidance, including behavioral, medical, and transition assistance.
Coordinate logistics for animal drop-offs and pick-ups, ensuring smooth transitions for animals entering and leaving the center for adoption.
Counsel adopters, answer questions, and strive to ensure that every visitor leaves with a pet.
Lead and support volunteers by working alongside them, providing training, and ensuring effective teamwork.
Assist in development of foster, volunteer, and adopter network for NC Hub location.
Assist in developing standard operating procedures (SOPs), streamlining processes for efficiency, and training new team members.
Coordinate and physically pick up dogs and cats from the airport or transport or designated arrival locations as needed.
Be available for contact from transport drivers and the Texas hub during all scheduled transports.
Ensure the adoption center is clean, organized, and well-maintained at all times.
Promote a culture of philanthropy by encouraging fundraising support and engaging others in the organization's mission.
In the event of a natural disaster (e.g., winter storm, hurricane, etc.), this position will be expected to help lead rescue effrts along with APA! and AmPA!. This could include communication with affected shelters, organizing national transport efforts, managing volunteers, coordinating donations, and other duties as assigned.
Ensure the APA! Shelter Hub embodies the new model of transport programs, always centering equity, and providing non-judgmental support to adopters, fosters, and all stake-holders
Actively contribute to a volunteer-powered culture by partnering with volunteers during every shift and helping create an inclusive, welcoming environment
Work alongside volunteers to complete daily tasks, ensuring the work is shared and collaborative—not siloed
Support the recruitment and onboarding process by welcoming new volunteers and helping them get oriented to the program
Help retain volunteers by offering encouragement, guidance, and feedback during shared work
Recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles to your supervisor or volunteer manager
Contribute to a positive culture by recognizing volunteer contributions through appreciation, gratitude, and shoutouts
Help set volunteers up for success by clearly explaining tasks, providing hands-on guidance, and offering in-the-moment support
Must demonstrate dependability, accountability, time management, use of reasoning, and good judgment skills
Attend and participate in all required training sessions and meetings
Maintain open and consistent communication with Program Manager or designee, supervisor, and other colleagues
Partner with Volunteer Managers to learn about the volunteer programs and support volunteers interested in your department on an ongoing basis
Able to react to change productively and perform other related duties as assigned
Able to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
Able to work in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment
Comfortable working autonomously when given goals and deadlines