Birthday Party Host (Part-Time)

Richmond SPCA • Richmond, VA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Richmond SPCA is a nonprofit animal welfare organization in Richmond, Virginia, working to save, protect, and enrich animal lives and to achieve and sustain a no-kill community. Birthday Party Hosts are dependable, creative people who enjoy working with children and host birthday parties at the Richmond SPCA. No prior birthday party host experience is necessary, though experience working with children is strongly preferred.

Hosts prepare and set up the Exploratorium for parties, supervise attendees, lead activities and educational programs, communicate professionally with parents and guardians, and clean the party space afterward. The role requires weekend daytime availability and availability on some weeknights, reliable transportation, and comfort handling or learning to handle dogs and cats. Hosts must be at least 18 and successfully complete a background check.

This position involves working around animals, including sick or injured animals and animals with behavioral challenges, as well as noise, animal waste, cat litter, and cleaning chemicals. Physical demands include standing for up to eight hours, routinely lifting 40–50 pounds, pushing or pulling a large cart, stooping, repetitive arm use, and performing cleaning duties. The work environment is supportive and collaborative, with a rapid pace, occasional high noise, and potential exposure to animal bites, scratches, and zoonotic disease.

The position pays $17 per hour for up to 15 hours per week. Employees may use the low-cost, full-service Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital and access an Employee Assistance Program. Employees averaging 15 or more hours per week are eligible for voluntary employee-paid accident, hospital indemnity, and critical illness insurance. Employees averaging 20 or more hours per week can participate in the 401(k) retirement plan and access paid wellness leave.

Requirements

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Successfully complete a background check.
• Be available during the day on weekends and on some weeknights.
• Have reliable transportation.
• Be comfortable handling and learning to handle dogs and cats, including petting, leash-walking, some lifting and carrying, and placing pets in carriers.
• Have effective, professional, and empathetic customer service and written and verbal communication skills with the public, volunteers, and Richmond SPCA employees.
• Be self-motivated, organized, and enthusiastic.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, reliability, and punctuality.
• Be able to multitask, follow written and verbal directions, adapt, and accommodate changing demands productively.
• Have public speaking skills.
• Be able to work around animals, including sick or injured animals and animals with behavioral challenges, loud noises, cat litter, animal waste, and various chemicals.
• Be able to remain on your feet for up to eight hours at a time.
• Be able to routinely lift 40–50 pounds and push or pull a large cart.
• Be able to stoop and use your arms repetitively, and have the physical strength to perform cleaning duties effectively and efficiently.
• Align with the Richmond SPCA’s mission to achieve and sustain a no-kill community, including promoting pet adoption and spaying/neutering, and use reward-based, positive reinforcement training methods.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with children is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and set up parties in the Richmond SPCA’s Exploratorium.
• Supervise party attendees.
• Lead birthday party activities and educational programs.
• Communicate professionally and courteously with parents and guardians.
• Clean the Exploratorium party space after each party.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Access to the low-cost, full-service Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital for employees.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Voluntary, employee-paid accident insurance, hospital indemnity insurance, and critical illness insurance for employees averaging 15 or more hours per week.
• 401(k) retirement plan for employees averaging 20 or more hours per week.
• Paid wellness leave for employees averaging 20 or more hours per week.

What This Job Offers

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