Coordinator, Placement & Adoptions

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals • Weaverville, NC

10h • Onsite

About The Position

Launched in March 2013, the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center is the first and only facility dedicated to the study and rehabilitation of extremely fearful, under socialized dogs, such as those confiscated from puppy mills and hoarding situations. In 2017, the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) relocated to a new permanent and expanded facility in Weaverville, North Carolina. The mission of the BRC is to share best practices, develop structured behavior modification programs for other animal welfare organizations and assist with these programs’ implementation. Our ultimate goal is to maximize lifesaving impact through partnership and collaboration with shelter partners across the country. The Coordinator, Adoptions and Placement will work alongside all departments at the BRC to gain a working knowledge of all the dogs in our care and proactively organize and execute the placement of graduates from the BRC into adoptive homes with a focus on growing our adoptions through our direct adoption program. One of the most critical functions of this role is to serve as part of a harmonious, united team with shelter operations, shelter medicine, and animal behavior experts. This united team is dedicated to collaborating with each other to provide balanced, integrative care and to ensure all work supports the behavioral health of the dogs in treatment.

Requirements

• Must provide a valid driver’s license upon hire and pass a motor vehicle history check demonstrating a safe driving history.
• The ability to work closely with behaviorally compromised animals and feel comfortable working in an environment where euthanasia is performed on a regular basis
• Detail oriented, with great organizational skills.
• Resilient; bounces back from difficult and disappointing situations quickly
• Fluent in Internet usage and research
• Fluent in the use of MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Airtable, Canva
• Excellent communication skills (spoken, telephone and written)
• Good team player: a “people person” who enjoys collaboration
• Superior problem-solving abilities; likes to troubleshoot and find solutions when facing challenges
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, potentially stressful environment; must be flexible and easily accept frequent changes to plans/protocols
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs
• Working in and around a variety of environments and weather conditions, including indoor climate-controlled spaces where it may be noisy, and outdoors where surfaces may be wet or uneven and extreme heat, cold, or precipitation is possible
• Must be willing and able to handle animals in stressful conditions
• Displays care and concern for the safety and well-being of self, animals and others, especially during stressful situations
• Ability to drive 6 hours in a day to transport animals up to once per month
• Ability to exemplify ASPCA’s core values and behavioral competencies.
• High school diploma or GED required
• 1 year experience in a client-facing customer service role is required
• 1 year professional experience working in animal shelters required
• Language: English (Required)
• High School Diploma, GED, or Equivalent Experience (Required)

Nice To Haves

• experience in a client-facing customer service role in the animal welfare field is strongly preferred
• 1 year of experience in shelter adoptions is strongly preferred
• 1 year experience working or volunteering in an animal welfare agency handling animals strongly preferred
• Experience working with under socialized dogs with extreme fear issues is a plus
• Writing and photography experience is strongly preferred
• 3 years of driving experience strongly preferred

Responsibilities

• Provide a safe and compassionate environment for animals in our care, our staff, and for our adopters by using low-stress handling techniques.
• Write compelling adoption biographies for available graduates, painting a positive and transparent picture of the individual animals for our adoption page.
• Field adoption inquiries with a sense of urgency to schedule and conduct matchmaking calls and adoption meet and greets working to maintain a positive experience for visitors to the BRC with clear communication to both internal and external parties each step of the way.
• 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
• 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, including their attributes and challenges.
• Present animals enthusiastically and objectively to potential adopters.
• Conduct adoptions onsite and using audio/video technology and electronic forms, including processing paperwork.
• Create and maintain animal records in databases, including the thorough documentation of all Matchmaking conversations and communication with the public.
• Conduct compassionate post adoption support to adopters, approaching conversations without judgement and connecting them with appropriate resources.
• Collaborate with the Behavior & Operations teams to develop and maintain a working knowledge of graduates and upcoming graduates.
• Coordinate with both teams to participate in treatments and dog activities regularly to gain a more comprehensive understanding of each dog and gather engaging photos and videos of graduates.
• Collect compelling and impactful photos, videos and details that work to tell graduate stories and market them for placement and adoption.
• Collaborate with ASPCA Media and Communications and Social Media teams to promote graduates in online postings and create compelling stories that drive adoption interest.
• Highlight success stories for potential media or Happy Tail needs.
• Stay up to date on new adoption trends and the placement landscape in animal welfare, bringing new ideas to the table to support adoption goals.
• Research, organize and participate in outreach opportunities within the community to reach new audiences and promote the BRC to a broader range of potential adopters, including flyering, tabling at events, building relationships in the community, and other people centric marketing needs.
• Treat people around you with Kindness and Compassion, build trust by demonstrating authenticity and following through on your commitments, prioritize your well-being like you do our mission, and work to build strong relationships with your colleagues by participating in communication loops to share and receive honest feedback. You are responsible and accountable for the culture you add to your team dynamic.
• Support the Operations Branch with daily care and support for the dogs in treatment, adhering to the BRC standard operating procedures and low stress handling and approach.
• Assist as requested and directed in behavior interventions as “novel person”.
• 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.
• Provide daily written behavioral and medical observations to inform and share across branches (teams).
• Support the behavioral growth of the dogs in treatment, in coordination with the Behavior Branch and treatment paradigms of the program.
• Drive an ASPCA vehicle to transport animals when needed, following all transport best practices indicated by the ASPCA Relocation Team.
• Support all other department activities which will contribute to the advancement and success of the team and the ASPCA as identified by supervisor.
• Manage adoption agreements, placement forms, and other documentation needed as part of the placement and adoption process.
• Ensure documents are fully signed and retained appropriately.
• Ensure complete and accurate data is entered and tracked in databases.
• Coordinate and actively communicate with Behavior Branch to schedule meet and greets for BRC graduates after successful matchmaking calls.
• Utilize outlook calendars and internal communication methods to track upcoming events, adoption needs, daily schedule availability and any offsite marketing time.
• Monitor shared Adoption email inbox and shared adoption phone to field any questions adopters may have about graduates.
• Verify that all required actions are complete prior to the dog leaving the BRC.
• Other duties as assigned by Senior Manager, Placement Programs

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED