Retail Associate

Shelby American, Inc.; Richmond (VA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 35,000; Part time

Job summary

Join a passionate team at a non-profit organization dedicated to animal welfare! In this part-time role, you will engage with customers, assist in the retail shop, and support the adoption process, ensuring every pet finds a loving home. Your excellent customer service skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment will be essential. You'll contribute to a mission that rescues and rehabilitates thousands of animals, making a meaningful impact in the community. If you're ready to make a difference and work alongside fellow animal lovers, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Benefits

401(k) Retirement Plan

Paid Wellness Leave

Employee Discounts at Veterinary Hospital

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service and empathetic communication skills.
• Ability to handle a variety of animals with care and respect.

Responsibilities

• Perform cashier duties and assist customers in the retail shop.
• Maintain an appealing store layout and ensure cleanliness.

Skills

Customer Service Skills

Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

Time Management

Ability to Multi-task

Education

High School Diploma or Equivalent

Tools

Point of Sale System

Job description

Description

Part-time, hourly position

Scheduled approximately 24 hours per week: Friday (11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.), Saturday (10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.) and Sunday (11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.)

Reports to Director of the Adoption Center

The Richmond SPCA is a non-profit organization located in the heart of Richmond, Virginia. As a leader in the field of animal welfare, we are cultivating a community committed to saving, protecting and enriching animal lives with a mission to provide education and resources to achieve and sustain a no-kill community. Annually, we rescue, rehabilitate and find homes for about 4,000 homeless animals while also providing our region with vital safety net programs designed to keep thousands of pets in loving homes and out of shelters. Our values of collaboration, creativity, honesty, inclusion and respect guide not only what we do – but how we do it.

The Retail Associate is part of our Adoption Center. We embrace progressive adoption guidelines, and we are grateful to our community for visiting us in search of giving a loving home to a pet in need. Because of this, we adopt many pets into homes each day, particularly on the weekends. Our Retail Associate plays an important role at the end of the adoption process. Adoption Counselors bring each adopter into our retail shop to pay the adoption fee as well as purchase important supplies that will help adopted pets transition easier into their new homes. All proceeds from purchases and any donations made in our retail shop directly benefit the pets in our care and the services we provide to our community. Our Retail Associate will also help provide support to the adoption department on an as needed basis.

Essential Functions

• Maintain a non-judgmental attitude and treat every customer with kindness and respect
• Perform cashier duties and complete accurate sales tender reconciliation bundle reports
• Assist potential adopters by gathering information about their expectations of pet ownership to help best match them with supplies in our retail shop
• Perform daily retail shop opening and closing duties, including data entry into point of sale system and securing the cash drawer
• Stock inventory, as well as provide inventory count to Adoption Center management to assist with weekly and monthly orders
• Research and identify potential new products that would be helpful for adopters and inform Adoption Center management of findings
• Assist with bank deposits
• Maintain an appealing store layout and product displays
• Ensure that the retail shop is clean and presentable by performing general cleaning including sweeping, dusting, mopping, taking out the trash and recycling, and restocking products
• Work with our awesome volunteers and respond to their questions in a professional manner
• Assist other colleagues in the Adoption department with various tasks as needed, including animal introductions
• Perform side duties daily
• Participate in the yearly retail inventory count
• Attend and participate in all required trainings and meetings

Requirements

Requirements

• Excellent customer service skills; effective, empathetic communication
• Treat animals and people with respect and use humane handling techniques
• Comfort handling/learning to handle dogs and cats with a variety of medical and behavioral needs
• Address adopter and customer concerns in a professional manner
• Be able to react to change professionally
• Be able to work in a high volume, fast-paced, high-stress environment
• Have reliable transportation including during inclement weather
• Aged 18 years of age or older
• Have availability on both weekend days, holidays and Mondays

Qualifications, Skills and Expectations

• Excellent attention to detail
• Uncompromising commitment to the wellbeing of every pet in our care
• Punctual with a sense of urgency
• Strong work ethic
• Resourceful, positive, get-it-done attitude
• Team oriented mindset with a willingness to communicate
• Excellent communication skills
• Good time management and prioritization skills
• Willingness to follow directions and to provide productive feedback to management
• Independent worker who also thrives as part of a team
• Ability to multi-task
• Bilingual a plus (but not required)

Physical Job Requirements

• Able to routinely lift 50 lbs.
• Able to push/pull a large cart
• Able to work around animals (including those who are sick or injured or who have behavior challenges), loud noises, cat litter, animal waste, and various chemicals
• Able to bend, kneel and use your arms in a repetitive manner
• Able to stoop and use stairs
• Able to be on your feet for an entire 8-hour shift
• Have physical strength to perform cleaning duties effectively and efficiently

Work Environment

• Rapid pace with exposure to potential hazards including animal waste and disinfectants
• High levels of noise
• Potential for animal bites and scratches and diseases that are zoonotic (can be transmitted from animals to people)
• Work in a team environment with other passionate, hardworking and dedicated animal lovers

All employees are eligible to become clients of the low-cost, full-service Susan M. Markel Veterinary Hospital of the Richmond SPCA. Employees who average 20+ hours a week can participate in our 401(k) retirement plan and have access to paid wellness leave.

Full-time employees are eligible for insurance benefits, including medical, dental, and vision, life insurance, short-term disability, and paid personal leave.