Job Title: Adoptions Associate
Department: Shelter
Classification: Full time or Part time, hourly, non-exempt
Salary: $ 17.85 Hourly
Job Relationship: Reports to Adoptions & Retail Supervisor. Works closely with Animal Care Department and Volunteers
Position Summary: Responsible for providing quality customer service and ensuring good placement for our shelter animals
Revised: August 2021
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Essential Job Functions:
Client Services Duties
- Represents the APL in a professional and courteous manner at all times. Provides quality service to
customers, volunteers, and staff recognizing their individual contributions to the success of our
organization
- Provides prompt in-person and telephone customer service
- Actively solicits donations from clients, assists with accepting in-kind donations
- Generates revenue in retail sales through suggestive selling prior to completing transactions
- Actively promotes and markets APL animals and matches them to appropriate families
- Educates clients on responsible animal guardianship and animal care
- Conducts adoptions, provides adoption counseling/animal selection assistance, enters computer data,
completes necessary paperwork and performs follow-up services
- Assists clients seeking lost or adoptable animals
- Actively promotes the APL programs and events to clients, volunteers, and staff
- Participates on committees and special projects as assigned
- Keeps service desk areas orderly, stocked and cleaned following disinfection protocol
- Assists in the training of new staff/volunteers as assigned
- Promotes communication and cooperation between APL departments.
- Keeps up to date on organizational communications by either attending All Staff Meetings or reading
the News Hound.
Care of Shelter Animals
- Keeps Supervisor and Animal Care Department informed of animal behavior, health or concerns
- Maintains accurate kennel and computer records
- Performs Closing Supervisor duties as assigned
- Performs daily cleaning of public areas
- Stocks areas and spot-cleans kennels and public areas throughout the day
- Informs supervisor of special needs cases for potential public relations or direct mail pieces
- Follows all safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment. Takes immediate action to address any
safety concern or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, client, animal, or
the organization at risk
- Performs euthanasia as assigned
- Ensures animals are treated with a Fear Free approach in the shelter, at offsite events, and as they
transition into their new homes
Performs Other Duties as Assigned
Qualifications
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Associates degree in business, communications, Retail, or related field desirable
- Internal applicants currently in good standing
- Must possess an Ohio’s driver’s license with an insurable driving record
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a variety of people
- Ability to use a computer, working in a windows environment
- Ability to read and understand instructions
- Knowledge of animal breed, behavior, and handling
- Knowledge of animal health, able to identify illness helpful
- Ability to prioritize and perform duties efficiently and effectively with an adequate amount of independence
- Euthanasia certified or the ability to become euthanasia certified within 6 months of employment; willing to
perform euthanasia
- Committed to maintaining the Cleveland Animal Protective League’s high standard of animal care and
mission to foster compassion and end animal suffering.
- Fear Free Certified or must become certified within six months of hire
- Supports the APL’s desire to celebrate a diverse and inclusive culture that fuels the compassion that
connects us to one another.
Working Conditions
Work is performed constantly in an animal shelter that operates seven days per week with exposure to animals,
including some with questionable health and temperament concerns, high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, and
cleaning agents. Subject to animal bites and scratches. The person in this position needs to be able to stand for
up to 10 hours per day and regularly operate a computer, telephone, and other office equipment (i.e. calculator,
copier, fax machine, and printer). Constantly positions self to handle animals of all sizes in a variety of areas and
positions (low cages, high cages, on tables, on the floor, in vehicles, etc.). Frequently moves animals through
the shelter on leash or using other safe restraint and animal handling equipment, into and out of cages in the
shelter, into and out of shelter vehicles. Must be able to detect and recognize animal behavior that is potentially
dangerous. Must be able to perform physical work such as scrubbing, mopping, bending, lifting, walking and
standing and lifting up to 50 pounds with assistance. Constantly communicates with staff members and
volunteers who have inquiries about their job responsibilities and animal needs and must be able to exchange
accurate information in these situations. Must be able to modify schedule to meet the APL’s operational needs.
This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be
performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any
other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an
employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship.
Our Core Values
Compassion – We are compassion in action. We believe every animal and person has value and worth
and should be treated with respect, empathy, and kindness to support the human-animal bond.
Advocacy - We are the voice for animals, dedicated to lifesaving solutions that advance their quality of
life, and promote their place in society.
Leadership – We act with integrity, creativity, duty to community, and have the courage to change.
These are driving forces that make us a leading animal welfare organization.
Innovation – We are devoted to pioneering new approaches to the evolving challenges animals face by
developing ethical, humane solutions and working in partnership with the public and animal welfare
community.
Community – We continually strive to be a diverse and inclusive team and believe we must all work
together to best fulfill our vision.
