Adoptions Supervisor - Pima Animal Care Center

Pima County; Tucson (AZ); On-site; USD 27,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Pima Animal Care Center is seeking an Adoptions Supervisor to lead the Adoptions and Behavior teams, ensuring excellent customer service and successful pet placements. You will supervise frontline staff, coordinate scheduling, and support compassionate adoption strategies in a fast-paced shelter environment.

The role requires a high school diploma or GED with four years of animal care or enforcement experience, including supervisory responsibilities; weekends and evenings are required.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED and four years of animal care or enforcement experience including one year in a lead/supervisory role.
• National Animal Control Association Training Academy Levels I and II may substitute for up to two years of the general experience.
• Relevant education/experience from an accredited college or university may be substituted.

Responsibilities

• Supervises daily operations of Adoptions and Behavior teams, including staff management and scheduling.
• Provides front-facing support for staff and the public in animal handling, playgroups, behavior evaluation, matchmaking, and counseling.
• Maintains staff schedules and coverage for time-off, holidays, and events.
• Delivers high-level customer service, addresses complaints, de-escalates conflicts, and connects the public with resources.
• Handles animals safely, including potentially fractious ones, to support care and adoption processes.
• Assesses adoption suitability by evaluating interactions and providing home-management guidance.
• Directs departmental training for onboarding and ongoing staff development.
• Monitors animal behavior and enrichment, coordinating with the behavior team.
• Keeps accurate notes in the shelter management system.
• Assists with euthanasia procedures per shelter protocols.

Skills

Staff leadership

Scheduling

Customer service

Animal handling

Behavior evaluation

Conflict resolution

Adoption counseling

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Shelter management system

Job description

Job Description

OPEN TO CURRENT PIMA COUNTY EMPLOYEES ONLY.

Job Type: Classified.

Job Classification: 5673 - Animal Care Placement Supervisor.

Salary Grade: 8.

Hiring Pay: $23.98 Per Hour.

Are you passionate about helping pets find homes, supporting people, and leading a team through the fast-paced world of animal sheltering? Pima Animal Care Center (PACC) is looking for an Adoptions Supervisor who is ready to lead with compassion, flexibility, and a strong commitment to lifesaving. PACC serves thousands of pets and people each year and our Adoptions Supervisor plays a critical role in helping animals move from the shelter into loving homes while ensuring adopters receive welcoming, thoughtful, and supportive service. This position leads and develops frontline staff, helps problem-solve challenging situations, supports creative adoption strategies, and keeps the team moving forward even on our busiest days.

PACC is open 7 days a week. This position will include non-traditional work hours including weekends, evenings, and schedule rotations.

Job Description Summary

Department - Pima Animal Care Center.

Essential Functions

• Supervises daily operations of Pima Animal Care Center’s (PACC) Adoptions and Behavior teams, including staff management, scheduling, daily task coordination, and operational support to ensure exceptional animal care, customer service, and outcome-focused decision-making;


• Provides real-time, front-facing support for staff and members of the public, particularly in key areas such as animal handling, playgroup management, behavior evaluation, customer service, matchmaking, de-escalation, and adoption counseling;


• Updates and maintains staff schedules, ensuring all shifts are adequately staffed, including coordinating coverage for time-off requests, scheduling around holiday closures and special events;


• Provides high-level customer service, including addressing complaints or concerns, resolving conflicts, discussing realistic pet ownership expectations, de-escalating tense situations, and proactively connecting the public with appropriate resources or staff;


• Handles animals safely and confidently, including fractious or potentially dangerous animals, to support animal care needs, oversee enrichment playgroups, facilitate behavioral evaluations, or assist the public during the adoption process;


• Assesses adoption suitability by evaluating potential adopter and animal interactions, reviewing history and behavioral data, counseling on home management plans and facilitating successful and safe placements;


• Directs and organizes departmental training for staff and volunteers including developing and leading onboarding training for new hires as well as continued training for current staff to support skill development and consistency in animal handling, customer service and animal behavior;


• Monitors animal behavior and well-being, coordinating with behavior team staff to ensure appropriate enrichment, handling, and behavioral support for animals in care;


• Ensures timely and accurate updates to notes in the shelter management system;


• Assists with euthanasia procedures and supports euthanasia decision-making processes in accordance with shelter protocols and humane practices;


• Collaborates across departments to support interdisciplinary animal care, effective placement, behavior modification efforts, and timely communication regarding shared goals and case management.

Minimum Qualifications

High school diploma or General Education Development (GED) certificate AND four years of experience caring for and treating animals, or enforcing animal control laws, regulations and ordinances INCLUDING one year of lead or supervisory experience.

(National Animal Control Association Training Academy Levels I and II certification may be substituted for a maximum of two years of the general portion of the aforementioned experience.)

(Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.)

Or

Two years of experience with Pima County as an Animal Care Technician or Animal Care Field Officer.

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Preferred Qualifications

• Minimum two (2) years experience working or volunteering in a supervisory or leadership role.


• Experience coaching employees, providing feedback, addressing performance concerns, and/or supporting staff development.


• Bilingual (English/Spanish).


• Experience working or volunteering while handling animals in an animal shelter environment.

Selection Procedure

Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information

Licenses and Certificates: Valid driver license is required at time of application. ValidAZdriver license is required at time of appointment. The successful applicant will be subject to a 39-month DOT Motor Vehicle Record review to determine applicant’s suitability to operate county vehicles in accordance with Pima County administrative procedures. Failure to obtain and maintain the required licenses and certifications shall be grounds for termination. Any offer of employment resulting from this recruitment is contingent upon Fleet Services’ review and approval of the candidate’s driving record.

Special Notice Items: The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County.

Within nine months of appointment, employees must receive the full series of pre-exposure rabies immunizations. Medical inability to be immunized or previous immunization must be verified by the County Physician prior to employment. Recommended boosters are required for the duration of employment, unless medically excused or physiologically unable to develop immunity.

This position will require a post-job offer physical and/or drug screen. This position will require post-job offer proof of immunization(s) or immunization(s) and/or a TB screening.

Pima County determines whether a position is eligible for visa sponsorship at the time of recruitment. Eligibility is based on the requirements of the position and applicable laws and regulations. Not all positions with Pima County are eligible for visa sponsorship.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: Frequently positions self to access and care for animals. Frequently operates tools and equipment to care for and restrain animals. Frequently required to exchange accurate information. Frequently required to lift and carry animals weighing up to 50 pounds. Action Activity - bending and reaching; Motion Activity - simple and firm grasping and fine movement; Hearing Activity - in noisy areas; Speaking Activity - in person; Vision - have depth perception and peripheral vision. Frequently required to lift, push or pull objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Working Conditions: Frequently exposed to unpleasant sounds and odors from animals. Frequently exposed to ill, injured or dead animals in potentially hazardous conditions. Exposed to adverse weather conditions when working outside with animals.

EEO Information

Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law.