FRONT DESK RECEPTIONIST
Ames Pet Resort | Ames, Iowa
Pay
- Training rate: $13.00 per hour
- After successful completion of initial training and approval:
o $13.50 per hour without prior relevant experience
o $13.75 per hour with relevant reception, customer-service, scheduling, administrative, or cash-handling experience
- Saturday and Sunday shifts receive an additional $0.50 per hour weekend differential
- Designated holidays are paid at time-and-a-half when worked
The weekend differential does not stack with holiday pay.
Pay progression is based on completed training, demonstrated accuracy, consistent performance, and approval—not simply the number of shifts worked.
Job Type
Required Availability
Applicants must have:
- Flexible availability for morning, daytime, and late-afternoon, or evening shifts
- Regular evening availability
- Availability for at least two weekends per month
- Availability to participate in the holiday rotation
- The ability to work different shifts based on front-desk coverage and business needs
Reception shifts may include daytime coverage, including a 7:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. shift. However, evening and weekend availability is required for all applicants. Applicants who are only available during weekday daytime hours may not be considered for this opening.
About the Position
Ames Pet Resort is looking for a dependable, organized, and welcoming Receptionist to support morning, daytime, evening, weekend, and holiday front-desk coverage, with a particular need for dependable evening and weekend availability.
This is a fast-paced client-service and administrative position in an animal-care environment. The Receptionist is often the first and last person a client interacts with.
A large portion of the work involves accurate reservations, phone communication, check-ins and check-outs, payments, client and pet records, vaccination information, messages, and coordination with the kennel, daycare, grooming, and leadership teams.
Previous professional pet-care experience is not required. New Receptionists receive structured training and are not expected to manage every service, reservation type, or client situation immediately.
Independent responsibility grows as the employee demonstrates accuracy, professionalism, consistency, and sound judgment.
Initial Responsibilities
New Receptionists will begin by learning and completing responsibilities such as:
- Greeting clients and providing a welcoming, professional front-desk experience
- Answering incoming calls, taking complete messages, and responding to routine questions using current APR information and policies
- Completing boarding, daycare, grooming, and other approved check-ins and check-outs accurately
- Creating and updating reservations within established availability, capacity, deposit, and scheduling procedures
- Verifying and updating client information, pet information, vaccination records, service instructions, and authorized pickup information
- Collecting payments and deposits and processing transactions accurately
- Documenting client requests, staff messages, concerns, and follow-up needs clearly and promptly
- Coordinating pet handoffs and client communication with kennel, daycare, grooming, Shift Leads, and Management
- Maintaining an organized, clean, and client-ready lobby and front-desk area
- Following opening, closing, confidentiality, phone, and computer procedures assigned to the shift
Responsibilities Employees May Grow Into
As employees complete training and demonstrate accuracy, they may be approved to assist with additional responsibilities such as:
- More complex or multi-service reservations
- Approved recurring daycare reservation maintenance
- Deposit reminders and other approved client follow-up
- Grooming scheduling support and communication
- Approved facility tours or client education
- Additional opening, closing, reporting, or administrative responsibilities
- Training or leadership support when appropriate
Employees are not expected to learn every front-desk responsibility immediately. Additional responsibility is based on demonstrated readiness, accuracy, consistency, communication, and business need.
Role Scope and Escalation
Receptionists are expected to handle routine client-service and scheduling needs within established APR procedures.
The following matters must be escalated to a Shift Lead or Management unless the employee has specific authorization:
- Refunds, credits, discounts, pricing changes, or deposit exceptions
- Overriding capacity limits, reservation rules, vaccination requirements, or company policies
- Major client complaints, unresolved conflicts, threats, or liability concerns
- Animal-care, medical, behavior, or safety decisions
- Changes to feeding, medication, or individualized care instructions without proper approval
- Staffing decisions or operational direction outside the Receptionist role
When unsure, Receptionists are expected to pause, gather accurate information, and ask for direction rather than guess or promise an exception.
Essential Functions
The employee must be able to perform the following essential functions, with or without reasonable accommodation:
- Communicate clearly and professionally with clients and coworkers in person, by phone, and in writing
- Use a computer, phone system, payment equipment, and scheduling or client-record software throughout the shift
- Read, enter, and verify detailed reservation, payment, vaccination, and care information accurately
- Manage frequent interruptions and changing priorities without losing accuracy or professionalism
- Remain seated or standing, walk through the lobby and designated work areas, and bend or reach as needed during the shift
- Perform occasional lifting and carrying associated with client belongings, pet supplies, carriers, and front-desk materials
- Work safely around dogs and cats, loud barking, animal hair and dander, odors, and occasional exposure to animal waste or cleaning products
- Respond promptly to client, animal, or facility safety concerns and follow APR’s incident and emergency procedures
- Maintain client confidentiality and protect payment, contact, and pet-care information
- Maintain reliable attendance and arrive ready to work at the scheduled start time
Qualifications
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Previous reception, customer-service, scheduling, administrative, or cash-handling experience is preferred but not required
- Comfort working in a busy animal-care environment around dogs and cats
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to double-check information before finalizing it
- Professional, friendly, and clear verbal and written communication
- Basic computer confidence and willingness to learn APR systems and procedures
- Dependable attendance and communication
- Ability to remain calm and respectful when clients are frustrated or the front desk is busy
- Ability to work independently within assigned responsibilities while cooperating with the full team
- Willingness to accept coaching, take accountability, and ask questions rather than guess
What Success Looks Like
Successful Receptionists:
- Create a warm and professional client experience while following APR procedures
- Enter reservations, payments, records, and messages accurately and completely
- Balance multiple clients, phone calls, and tasks without becoming careless or dismissive
- Communicate important information promptly to kennel, daycare, grooming, Shift Leads, and Management
- Do not make promises, policy exceptions, or animal-care decisions outside the role’s authority
- Keep the lobby and front desk organized, clean, and ready for clients
- Protect confidential client, employee, and business information
- Maintain dependable attendance and work cooperatively with the team
- Take accountability for mistakes, communicate them promptly, and apply coaching
Benefits and Perks
Benefits may include or be subject to eligibility requirements:
- Health insurance for eligible full-time employees
- Dental insurance for eligible full-time employee
- Vision insurance for eligible full-time employees
- Retirement plan with a 3% employer match for eligible employees
- Paid time off for eligible full-time employees
- Discounted boarding services
- Discounted grooming services
- Structured training and opportunities for skill advancement
- Approved employee dogs may attend work subject to APR policy, facility capacity, vaccination requirements, and temperament approval
Equal Employment Opportunity
Ames Pet Resort is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants are considered without regard to disability or any other status protected by applicable law.
APR provides reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees when required by law. Applicants who need an accommodation during the application or interview process may notify Management.
Pay: From $13.50 per hour
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
