Animal Adoptions Associate - FULL TIME

Pasadena Humane; Pasadena (CA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

Pasadena Humane is seeking a Care Associate – Adoptions to connect adoptable animals with loving homes and educate the public on responsible pet ownership. You will work across multiple channels to assist adopters and support the placement process.

Collaborating with behavior and health teams, you will help ensure high welfare standards, assist volunteers, and promote Pasadena Humane programs and services while upholding the organization’s core values.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required.
• 1 year experience in animal care, shelter, veterinary setting preferred.
• Strong interpersonal communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to work with diverse populations and volunteers.

Responsibilities

• Engage with prospective adopters to match pets with families.
• Provide education on responsible pet ownership and Pasadena Humane programs.
• Communicate animal health and behavior information to clients.
• Facilitate meet-and-greets and support adoption processes.
• Maintain documentation and support volunteers and placement programs.

Skills

Customer service

Communication

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Microsoft 365

Chameleon/Kustomer/VolunteerMatters

Job description

PASADENA HUMANE is a non-profit animal welfare organization looking for passionate professionals to join our team.

JOIN US & MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

THE MISSION

To lead the way toward a compassionate and caring community for all animals.

OUR VALUES

LEARNING

We commit to best practice and professional development through continuous education.

INTEGRITY

We value honest and transparent communication and decision making using evidence based practices.

COLLABORATION

We value teamwork in our organization and partnerships with our community to deliver exceptional service.

KINDNESS

We show compassion, care, respect and empathy to all animals and humans without prejudice or discrimination.

JOB TITLE

Care Associate – Adoptions

FLSA

Non-Exempt

FT/PT

Full-Time

SUMMARY

The Care Associate plays a key role in connecting adoptable animals with loving homes by engaging with prospective adopters, facilitating meet-and-greets, and providing thorough education on responsible pet ownership. This role offers exceptional customer service, answers inquiries across multiple communication channels, and guides clients through Pasadena Humane programs and services.

The Placement Associate collaborates closely with behavior and health teams to identify and communicate animal care needs, ensuring the highest standards of welfare. They also support volunteers, assist in placement-related programs, and maintain accurate documentation to help keep animals successfully in homes.

Upholding Pasadena Humane’s mission, this position fosters positive relationships with the community while promoting a safe and compassionate environment for people and animals alike.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES MAY INCLUDE:

• Conduct conversations with members of the public who have an interest in adopting a pet. Help adopters find a good match for their families.
• Provide education and information about animals available for adoption to encourage responsible pet ownership and share information about Pasadena Humane programs.
• Provide clients with information, as appropriate and known, about animals in our population, including behavior, age, breed, sex, and medical history.
• Discuss animal behavior and training with adopters.
• Answer questions and provide educational information using a high level of customer service techniques to assist customers with pet ownership needs and to guide them to Pasadena Humane programs and services.
• Facilitate meet and greets with animals with potential adopters
• Respond to email, phone, web, or in-person inquiries regarding placement programs.
• Assist with the transfer, foster, off-site and mobile programs as needed and assigned.
• Identify animal care, behavior, and health needs. Document and report to the appropriate department. Work with the health department to ensure the highest standards of day-to-day care.
• Assist volunteers in the placement program.
• Educate the public on animal welfare and animal care best practices.
• Follow up with clients regarding adoption requests.
• Ensure a positive, educational approach to customer service with a goal of educating the public and keeping animals in homes as appropriate. Promote positive relations with the general public, volunteers and staff while promoting Pasadena Humane’s programs, policies and philosophies.
• Address customer complaints.
• Uphold Pasadena Humane’s mission and contribute to building a culture of philanthropy.
• Ensure a safe working environment and actively participate in Pasadena Humane’s safety programs.
• Participate as needed in special department projects.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Must be able to model Pasadena Humane’s Core Values of Learning, Integrity Collaboration and Kindness.
• Must interact positively with supervisor, management, coworkers, volunteers, and the public to promote a team effort and maintain a positive and professional approach.
• Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Must provide positive, proactive customer service
• Must have a positive attitude and a sense of humor

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma (or GED/proficiency certificate).
• Must be at least 18 years of age at the time of appointment.
• 1 year experience working in any of the following strongly preferred: animal shelter, animal rescue, veterinary medicine, animal grooming, pet stores.
• Experience working with the public and individual diverse in age, culture, and in varied settings.
• Excellent interpersonal communication (both written and verbal) skills.
• Must have a strong knowledge of animal health and behavior including knowledge of dog, cat, rabbit, and other pet breed characteristics, temperament, training, and handling.
• Strong customer service and skills. Ability to provide excellent service in a fast-paced environment serving clients with differing needs and emotional states.
• Bilingual a plus (Armenian, Spanish, Mandarin, and/or Cantonese).
• Proficient in computer applications including Microsoft 365 and email. Experience with Chameleon, Kustomer, and/or VolunteerMatters a plus.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Bilingual a plus (Armenian, Spanish, Mandarin, and/or Cantonese).
• Must be able to model Pasadena Humane’s Core Values of Learning, Integrity Collaboration and Kindness.

WORK SCHEDULE

Must come to work regularly and on time. Must be available able to work early hours according to the needs of the department schedule. Must be available to work weekends and holidays.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Fast-paced environment. Employees are exposed to numerous animals (living and deceased), including those with uncertain dispositions. They are required to act in a safe and responsible manner.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear and/or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Pasadena Humane is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is our policy not to engage in discrimination against any individual, or harassment of any person seeking employment with our organization on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, genetic information or status as a covered veteran including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices, including recruitment, selection, promotion, transfer, merit increase, salary, training and development, demotion, and separation. This policy is intended to be consistent with the provisions of applicable State and Federal laws. Federal law requires proof of citizenship or "alien right-to-work" status. Pasadena Humane maintains a drug-free workplace and performs pre-employment substance abuse testing.