Shelter Services Specialist

FOOTHILLS ANIMAL SHELTER•Golden, CO

2d•$21 - $21•Onsite

About The Position

Foothills Animal Shelter seeks a shelter services specialist to provide quality, compassionate customer service to patrons visiting Foothills Animal Shelter. As an open admissions shelter, we are committed to being here for families and their pets in Jefferson County, Colorado. We identify as a socially conscious shelter, caring for over 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers who are committed to the physical and emotional wellbeing of every pet and person we serve.

Requirements

Prior customer service experience in a fast-paced environment preferred
Experience in animal welfare or other professional animal care field preferred
Must obtain Fear Free Shelter certification within 60 days of employment
Demonstrated aptitude for providing excellent customer service to a diverse clientele
Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
Working knowledge of common animal breeds and colors
Demonstrated organizational skills
Ability to utilize effective problem solving/decision making skills
Ability to extend compassion and empathy to patrons under a variety of circumstances
Ability to multi-task and maintain composure in a fast-paced environment while providing courteous service to potentially difficult, emotional, or frustrated clients
Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality when dealing with proprietary information and sensitive situations
Ability to communicate and collaborate with a variety of people and personality types
Ability to leash and manage animals of all sizes
Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office including word processing, spread sheets, meeting software and email; proficient with animal management software and databases
Ability to stand and walk for the majority of scheduled shift on hard surfaces with minimal sedentary work
Ability to bend, twist, kneel, and squat frequently throughout the shift
Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds regularly throughout the shift
Ability to physically restrain and handle animals of all sizes and temperaments, including dogs weighing over 100 pounds
Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions year-round including heat, cold, rain, and snow
Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations requiring immediate physical intervention
Fine motor skills and manual dexterity for handling leashes, animal handling equipment, processing paperwork, and providing veterinary restraint
Ability to push and pull kennel doors, carts, and equipment

Nice To Haves

You are a people person. You enjoy working with individuals of all ages, backgrounds, personalities, and abilities – and you enjoy working with them on their best days as well as their worst. You are friendly, outgoing, and have a way of putting people at ease.
You are detail-oriented. You recognize that every person and animal’s situation is unique, and you are hyper-aware of the importance of capturing every relevant piece of information so that nothing is over-looked.
You enjoy a fast-paced, physical work environment. Sitting at a desk is not for you! You like to be on your feet, and you are constantly on the move. You believe there is no such thing as downtime – there is always something that you can do to improve the customer or animal experience.
You are reliable. You are on-time or early for your commitments, and your team knows they can count on you.
You recognize the significance of the human-animal bond, and you are proud to support the formation and continuation of these powerful relationships.
Bilingual (Spanish/English) specialists receive an additional $1.00 per hour upon passing a Spanish language oral proficiency exam.

Responsibilities

Facilitate animal visits with individuals and families who are considering adoption. This includes regular handling of a variety of sizes and species of companion animals from dogs and cats to reptiles and birds!
Communicate with our patrons via phone, email, and in-person, providing accurate information about Foothills Animal Shelter’s programs and services.
Serve as a compassionate and understanding partner in the admissions process for individuals and families making the difficult decision to relinquish their pets for adoption or end-of-life services.
Provide exceptional customer service across all of Foothills Animal Shelter’s programs and services.

Benefits

Generous time off
Six paid holidays for full-time employees
Additional floating holidays (awarded annually on your employment anniversary)
Three weeks of accrued vacation
Paid sick leave
Medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Health savings accounts
Flexible spending accounts
Retirement plan with up to 4% employer match and immediate vesting
Two of our medical plans and our dental and vision plans are offered at no cost for employee-only coverage.