Adoptions/Outcomes Specialist - West Los Angeles, CA

Best Friends • Los Angeles, LA

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Adoptions/Outcomes Specialists connect pets with potential adoptive families through customer service and relationship building, helping set animals and new families up for success. They model Best Friends’ warm, welcoming hospitality at every visitor touch point and build lasting connections with visitors and the organization’s lifesaving mission.

The role promotes and coordinates animal placements, including animals in foster care; supports adopters with information about animals’ histories, needs, medical and behavioral characteristics; and helps arrange introductions and pet-to-pet meetings. Specialists also contribute to visitor engagement, social media and public relations, animal care, operational processes, accurate recordkeeping, and workplace safety. The anticipated schedule is Thursday through Monday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., though hours and days may vary with department needs. The position is based at 1845 Pontius Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90025.

Requirements

• Well versed or experienced in providing high-level customer service and passionate about engaging with people, building connections, and providing a positive, memorable experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and comfort communicating with the public and potential adopters in person, by phone, and by email.
• Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ position on issues.
• Customer-centric, non-judgmental approach to engaging with adopters, partners, visitors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Basic ability to identify and discuss medical and behavioral characteristics of dogs and cats.
• Strong interpersonal skills; personable and professional; able to work with people from different backgrounds and handle sensitive and confidential situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and use well-developed organizational skills to manage competing tasks and demands.
• Resourcefulness, initiative, problem-solving ability, flexibility, and persistence in working toward goals.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products.
• Ability to routinely lift 40 pounds and perform strenuous activities such as lifting, carrying, reaching, stooping, squatting, cleaning, and bending.
• Ability to perform repetitive tasks for extended periods, including typing, sitting, walking, and arm and hand motions.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold.
• Ability to work with, leash, kennel, walk, and handle cats and dogs, including animals with health or behavioral conditions or concerns.
• Availability for a schedule that may vary according to department needs and includes weekends, nights, and holidays.
• Applicants for employment in the U.S. must have valid work authorization that does not now or in the future require visa sponsorship by Best Friends Animal Society.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience working or volunteering in animal welfare, including conversation-based adoptions, or willingness to learn.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills.
• Familiarity with shelter or animal management software, or willingness to learn.
• Familiarity and comfort with a conversational adoption process.

Responsibilities

• Promote, coordinate, and facilitate animal placements, including animals in foster care, by matching potential adopters with animals looking for homes.
• Counsel potential adopters on pets’ histories and needs and provide medical and behavioral information and support to help ensure successful adoptions.
• Support adoption opportunities through events and offsite meet-and-greets, and identify pet-retention opportunities.
• Develop general knowledge of animals in Best Friends’ care and gather information to match adopters with appropriate animals.
• Arrange animal introductions and pet-to-pet meetings; acquire or provide medical records and health certificates when necessary; and conduct required follow-ups.
• Create a welcoming and engaging environment for visitors, provide superior customer service, and use interactions to support constituent journey development and organizational goals.
• Assist in creating engaging social media content and collaborate with departments and marketing teams on social media and public relations opportunities that support lifesaving outcomes and center needs.
• Represent Best Friends in media relations when requested and maintain Best Friends’ voice across communications.
• Assist other teams with basic animal care, including feeding, cleaning, walking, and medicating animals housed or transported in Best Friends’ vehicles, buildings, or facilities.
• Follow policies and local standard operating procedures to uphold health and safety standards.
• Collaborate with team members across operations to develop and implement efficient processes that advance lifesaving goals.
• Follow policies, procedures, and task lists, including accurate and timely communication, task completion, data entry, and recordkeeping.
• Help maintain a safe workplace by modeling safe practices, following organizational safety rules, and communicating unsafe practices or conditions.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed