Intake Specialist (Part-time)

Asheville Humane Society; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 19,000 - 26,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

30 hours PTO first year

Employee Assistance Program

Paid Holidays

Pet Bereavement Leave

Pet prescription discounts

Job summary

Asheville Humane Society is seeking a dedicated Intake Specialist for a part-time role at the Buncombe County Animal Shelter. The position involves processing admissions, RTO outcomes, and maintaining accurate records while caring for animals and assisting the public.

You will handle vaccinations, microchips, and general intake duties, balancing administrative tasks with hands-on animal care in a fast-paced environment. Prior shelter or animal care exposure is valued.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED is required.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work professionally with coworkers, volunteers, and the public.
• Ability to learn and follow animal handling, safety, and medical protocols.
• Reliable attendance for scheduled shifts.

Responsibilities

• Process animal admissions and Return to Owner outcomes with accurate records.
• Identify animals via microchips, photography, and other checks.
• Provide preventive medical care including vaccinations and deworming.
• Assist Animal Control Officers and document information.
• Maintain clean, organized admissions processing areas.
• Support community members with animal-related inquiries per AHS policies.
• Handle and restrain animals using safe techniques.

Skills

Computer skills

Interpersonal skills

Written and verbal communication

Ability to learn protocols

Reliable attendance

Education

High school diploma or GED

Tools

Multiline phone system

Job description

Description

Location: Asheville Humane Society - Buncombe County Animal Shelter

Regular schedule: Part-time, 24 hours/week. Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday from 8:00 am - 5:00 pm.

Pay: $17.00/hour

Since 1984, Asheville Humane Society has dedicated itself to ensuring every animal has the quality of life they deserve—a life worth living.

Today, our work goes beyond our walls as we help create a more humane community for pets and the people who love them. As the only open-intake animal shelter in Buncombe County, we're always here for the animals in our community.

What You'll Do

As an Intake Specialist, you’ll play an important role in welcoming animals into our care and helping reunite lost pets with their families. This position is responsible for processing animal admissions and Return to Owner (RTO) outcomes, including completing paperwork, maintaining accurate records, identifying incoming animals, and providing preventative medical care such as vaccinations, deworming, and microchipping.

Intake Specialists also provide hands‑on animal care, communicate with community members and Animal Control Officers, and help ensure our admissions and processing areas remain clean, organized, and ready to safely receive animals. This is a hands‑on, fast‑paced position that requires someone who is comfortable balancing administrative responsibilities, animal handling and care, and interactions with the public.

Responsibilities include:

• Process animal admissions and Return to Owner outcomes, including required paperwork and computer records.
• Identify incoming animals through microchip scanning, photography, and other identification checks.
• Provide preventative medical care, including vaccinations, deworming, microchipping, and other intake procedures.
• Assist Animal Control Officers with animal admissions and accurately document information provided by Animal Control.
• Monitor and respond to processing‑related emails and voicemails in a timely manner.
• Provide guidance and support to community members regarding animal‑related concerns in accordance with AHS policies and programs.
• Safely handle and restrain animals using appropriate animal‑handling techniques.
• Monitor animals housed in processing throughout the day, ensuring they have clean housing, fresh food and water, and appropriate walks and care.
• Clean and disinfect animal areas, dishes, laundry, and other equipment used in daily animal care.
• Move animals from processing into the general shelter population as space allows.
• Observe, report, and document animal health and behavior concerns.
• Maintain a working knowledge of AHS programs and services to appropriately assist members of the community.
• Assist with opening and closing Admissions program spaces, including the Community Sheltering Center.
• Keep processing areas clean, organized, and presentable in both public-facing and staff areas.
• Monitor Admissions supplies and equipment and notify leadership when supplies are low or equipment needs repair.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Intermediate computer skills and experience using a multiline phone system.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work professionally and collaboratively with coworkers, volunteers, Animal Control Officers, and members of the public.
• Ability to learn and consistently follow animal handling, restraint, medical, and safety protocols.
• Dependable and able to maintain regular and reliable attendance for the position's scheduled shifts.

Preferred

• Previous experience working with animals.
• Experience handling animals with a variety of temperaments and comfort levels.
• Previous animal shelter, veterinary, customer service, or similar experience.

Physical Requirements

This position requires frequent standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting, and handling animals throughout the day. Applicants should be able to safely lift items weighing up to 50 pounds to a height of 4 feet and safely handle and restrain dogs weighing up to 150 pounds.

The position involves working with animals of varying sizes, ages, temperaments, and behavioral needs in a shelter environment that may include cleaning products, animal dander, noise, and occasional exposure to bodily fluids. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Benefits

• 30 hours of paid time off during the first year
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program that provides free, confidential counseling
• Paid Holidays
• Pet Bereavement Leave
• Pet prescription discounts