Cat Placement Specialist

Austin Pets Alive•Austin, TX

About The Position

Austin Pets Alive! (APA!) is a nonprofit animal-welfare organization that rescues, treats, and adopts out homeless dogs and cats, supports Austin’s no-kill status, and shares lifesaving practices nationally. The Cat Placement Specialist advances the goals of APA!’s cat placement team and contributes to increasing live release rates across Texas through a sustainable, inclusive shelter-operations model. This hands-on, mission-driven role matches clients with cats, with particular attention to cats who may be overlooked in the shelter. The specialist uses knowledge of cat behavior, medical care, and rescue practices to improve fostering and adoption processes and reduce cats’ length of stay. The role involves advising adopters and fosters, keeping cat information and profiles accurate, supporting placement initiatives, and collaborating with staff and volunteers. It requires independent organization and follow-through, as well as an active commitment to volunteer engagement and an inclusive customer experience. This is a full-time, non-exempt position averaging 40 hours per week. Shift and schedule flexibility is required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed. The position is based at APA! locations in Austin and may require travel to offsite locations. The listed starting pay is $17 per hour; employees may be eligible for a discretionary stipend of up to $2 per hour after completing internal APATec certifications. The role reports to the Cat Program Manager or another individual designated by APA!

Requirements

Experience working with cats and ability to handle cats safely and kindly.
Customer service experience.
Ability to recognize, understand, and address animal behaviors and illnesses.
Proficiency with email, word processing, and spreadsheets.
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to interpret rules, procedures, and instructional materials.
Strong time management, attention to detail, interpersonal skills, and ability to work independently and collaboratively.
Ability to remain calm and professional, exercise good judgment, and work autonomously toward goals and deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment.
Openness and adaptability to new procedures and ways of working.
Commitment to APA!’s Core Values of Innovation, Respect, Drive, Resourcefulness, and Inclusion, and cultural values of Humble, Hungry, and Smart.
Commitment to APA!’s customer experience expectations and to an inclusive, exceptional customer experience.
Strong commitment to volunteer engagement and support, and ability to work cross-functionally as a liaison among volunteers, customers, and team members.
Ability to work around animals, including sick, injured, potentially aggressive, and zoonotic-disease-carrying animals, as well as loud noises, chemicals, and inclement weather.
Ability to stand for long periods, work outdoors in varied weather, routinely lift 40–50 pounds, and perform the listed physical activities and movements.
Ability to focus amid noise and distractions, walk around the shelter over uneven ground, visually observe people and animals from up to 150 feet, and hear normal speech nearby and shouting up to 150 feet away.
Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Nice To Haves

Bilingual ability in English and Spanish.

Responsibilities

Partner with volunteers during shifts, share daily work collaboratively, and help maintain an inclusive, welcoming environment.
Welcome and orient new volunteers; provide guidance, feedback, recognition, and support, and recommend strong volunteers for deeper involvement or specialized roles.
Recruit and train new Cat Placement volunteers and develop positive working relationships with staff and volunteers to support team retention.
Greet clients and provide welcoming, active customer service in person and through text, email, and phone communications.
Guide clients in selecting a cat suited to their home and explain behavioral and medical needs in clear, accessible language.
Keep current on the health and behavior of cats at the shelter and in foster homes, and update internal records, documents, and online profiles when new information is available.
Ensure adopter and foster paperwork is completed accurately and educate clients on helping cats succeed at home, including safe introductions and medical care.
Monitor animals’ physical condition and advise veterinarians or appropriate staff as needed.
Receive, medicate, handle, and kennel cats and kittens, including animals that are sick, injured, of unknown temperament, or have zoonotic illnesses.
Use APA-approved cat-handling methods and demonstrate handling and medication techniques to clients with clarity and reassurance.
Communicate with the Foster and Adoption Success department and other departments to assist clients efficiently.
Respond professionally and promptly to inquiries about onsite cats and matchmaking services.
Develop, implement, and sustain placement initiatives to increase adoption and fostering of specialty-population cats.
Meet with advocates and Cat Program volunteers to discuss cat notes for marketing and participate in proactive outreach to potential adopters and fosters.
Assist with tracking appointments and placement initiatives.
Provide basic animal care, feeding, medication, and cleaning as needed, following sanitation protocols.
Attend required trainings and meetings, maintain communication with supervisors and colleagues, and manage time and responsibilities reliably.
Work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed; adapt to changing priorities and perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Subsidized employer-sponsored medical coverage.
Subsidized and voluntary life insurance options.
Voluntary dental and vision insurance.
Short-term disability options.
Voluntary wellness and emergency sick plans.
Up to 2% match on the 401(k) retirement plan.
Supplemental benefits and flexible spending accounts.
Additional life coverage.
10 paid holidays.
10 days of accrued paid time off during the first year, with an additional 5 days of PTO accrual after 12 months of employment.
Professional development opportunities through APA!’s ongoing animal-welfare training and advancement efforts.