Lead Adoption Counselor

Santa Fe Animal Shelter Inc • Santa Fe, NM

3d • Onsite

About The Position

SUMMARY OF ROLE
The Lead Onsite Adoption Counselor is responsible for all duties of an adoption
counselor with additional supervisory responsibilities over the front desk staff as
outlined below.
PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Management Support
? Communicate with the Manager of Adoptions of any ongoing positive or
negative situations within the adoptions team.
? Participate in on-going education/training when required, developing programs
with the Manager of Adoptions
? Participate in Employee Evaluations, commendations and discipline as needed for
the adoption team.
? Contribute to development of training materials as required.
? Work with the Manager of Adoptions to ensure budget targets are met on both
income and expenses and help to establish these goals on an annual basis.
? Help recruit, train, and retain volunteers in the adoptions area
? Participate in regular FLOW meetings.
? Provide constructive feedback to leadership to help improve shelter policies and
protocols.

Direct Supervision
? Model our Guiding Principles and Rules of Engagement at all times, including
holding all team members accountable to them.
? Initial and ongoing training of new adoptions counselors.
? Conduct daily huddles with the team at the start of the day.
? Provide encouragement and motivation to the team to keep a positive
atmosphere within the organization.
? Team delegation according to interest, skills, and departmental needs
? Ensure that the team is staying on task and completing all tasks in a timely
manner on a daily basis.
? Ensure that end of day cash handling tasks are understood and completed
accurately by adoption staff.
? Communicate information accurately, compassionately and professionally from
the Flow, HART, or other operational meetings.

Operational Responsibilities
? Provide excellent customer service at all times.
? Ensure adoptions work areas are welcoming and safe
? Independent decision making and problem solving for difficult animals,
customers, and situations faced by the Adoptions Department
? Schedule flexibility and reliability
? Regular attendance is a requirement of this job including weekends.
? Support the offsite program including but not limited to; prepping animals and
adoption paperwork, transporting animals to and from offsites including kennel
location in town, maintaining in town kennels as needed.
? Monitor, maintain and develop the stock at the retail store in the adoptions
building.
? Other duties assigned.
? Knowledge of shelter policies, procedures and programs
? An understanding that SFAS is a managed admissions facility and the
euthanasia and cremation of animals are regular functions of the Shelter.

Requirements

• High School Diploma or GED
• Prior supervisory skills preferred
• Spanish language skills a plus
• Ability to use common software platforms, including but not limited to, Google Suites, Excel, Word, and Canva.
• Competence in Chameleon kennel management software (training provided).
• High tolerance for emotional interactions.
• Able to thrive in a fast paced work environment.
• Excellent self-care and boundary-setting skills.
• Energetic, flexible, approachable, curious, collaborative, courteous.
• Ability to perform multiple tasks and manage several projects simultaneously.
• Strong sense of professional judgement and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Potential for exposure to zoonotic diseases, dangerous and fractious animals, hazardous chemicals, anesthetics, and sharp objects.
• The employee should be comfortable interacting with animals of various size, breeds, and temperament.
• A valid New Mexico Driver’s license is required.
• Ability to lift 50 pounds, stand, walk, reach and bend.
• Tolerate odor, noise, allergens, cleaning chemicals
• Be on your feet more than 4 hours a day.

Nice To Haves

• Prior supervisory skills preferred
• Spanish language skills a plus

Responsibilities

• Communicate with the Manager of Adoptions of any ongoing positive or negative situations within the adoptions team.
• Participate in on-going education/training when required, developing programs with the Manager of Adoptions
• Participate in Employee Evaluations, commendations and discipline as needed for the adoption team.
• Contribute to development of training materials as required.
• Work with the Manager of Adoptions to ensure budget targets are met on both income and expenses and help to establish these goals on an annual basis.
• Help recruit, train, and retain volunteers in the adoptions area
• Participate in regular FLOW meetings.
• Provide constructive feedback to leadership to help improve shelter policies and protocols.
• Model our Guiding Principles and Rules of Engagement at all times, including holding all team members accountable to them.
• Initial and ongoing training of new adoptions counselors.
• Conduct daily huddles with the team at the start of the day.
• Provide encouragement and motivation to the team to keep a positive atmosphere within the organization.
• Team delegation according to interest, skills, and departmental needs
• Ensure that the team is staying on task and completing all tasks in a timely manner on a daily basis.
• Ensure that end of day cash handling tasks are understood and completed accurately by adoption staff.
• Communicate information accurately, compassionately and professionally from the Flow, HART, or other operational meetings.
• Provide excellent customer service at all times.
• Ensure adoptions work areas are welcoming and safe
• Independent decision making and problem solving for difficult animals, customers, and situations faced by the Adoptions Department
• Schedule flexibility and reliability
• Regular attendance is a requirement of this job including weekends.
• Support the offsite program including but not limited to; prepping animals and adoption paperwork, transporting animals to and from offsites including kennel location in town, maintaining in town kennels as needed.
• Monitor, maintain and develop the stock at the retail store in the adoptions building.
• Other duties assigned.
• Knowledge of shelter policies, procedures and programs
• An understanding that SFAS is a managed admissions facility and the euthanasia and cremation of animals are regular functions of the Shelter.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees