Shelter Services Specialist

Foothills Animal Shelter seeks a shelter services specialist to provide quality, compassionate customer service to patrons visiting Foothills Animal Shelter.

Who We Are  

As an open admissions shelter, we are committed to being here for families and their pets in Jefferson County, Colorado. We identify as a socially conscious shelter, caring for over 9,000 dogs, cats, and small animals every year with a compassionate team of staff and volunteers who are committed to the physical and emotional wellbeing of every pet and person we serve.   

What You Bring  

• You are a people person. You enjoy working with individuals of all ages, backgrounds, personalities, and abilities – and you enjoy working with them on their best days as well as their worst. You are friendly, outgoing, and have a way of putting people at ease.   
• You are detail-oriented. You recognize that every person and animal’s situation is unique, and you are hyper-aware of the importance of capturing every relevant piece of information so that nothing is over-looked. 
• You enjoy a fast-paced, physical work environment. Sitting at a desk is not for you! You like to be on your feet, and you are constantly on the move. You believe there is no such thing as downtime – there is always something that you can do to improve the customer or animal experience. 
• You are reliable. You are on-time or early for your commitments, and your team knows they can count on you.   
• You recognize the significance of the human-animal bond, and you are proud to support the formation and continuation of these powerful relationships.  

What You’ll Do  

• Facilitate animal visits with individuals and families who are considering adoption. This includes regular handling of a variety of sizes and species of companion animals from dogs and cats to reptiles and birds! Most of our visitation occurs on weekends, so all of our staff are scheduled for at least one weekend day each week. 
• Communicate with our patrons via phone, email, and in-person, providing accurate information about Foothills Animal Shelter’s programs and services. 
• Serve as a compassionate and understanding partner in the admissions process for individuals and families making the difficult decision to relinquish their pets for adoption or end-of-life services.  
• Provide exceptional customer service across all of Foothills Animal Shelter’s programs and services.  

What We Offer  

• Let’s start with the obvious: we offer truly meaningful work that positively impacts the lives of thousands of animals and people each year.   
• You will work with a team of animal welfare professionals who work hard, care deeply, and are 100% dedicated to the well-being of our shelter animals.  
• We strive for a healthy work-life balance, and we offer generous time off including six paid holidays for full-time employees, additional floating holidays (awarded annually on your employment anniversary), three weeks of accrued vacation, and paid sick leave.  
• We offer a full spectrum of employee benefits to full-time employees including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, health savings accounts, flexible spending accounts, and a retirement plan with up to 4% employer match and immediate vesting. Currently, two of our medical plans and our dental and vision plans are offered at no cost for employee-only coverage.  
• The pay rate for this position will be $21.00 per hour with the opportunity to increase to $22.00 per hour upon successful completion of training and demonstrated proficiency in daily tasks. Bilingual (Spanish/English) specialists receive an additional $1.00 per hour upon passing a Spanish language oral proficiency exam.  
• Foothills Animal Shelter is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer.

Please view full job description here. 

Education and Experience

• Prior customer service experience in a fast-paced environment preferred
• Experience in animal welfare or other professional animal care field preferred

Licenses and Certifications

• Must obtain Fear Free Shelter certification within 60 days of employment

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated aptitude for providing excellent customer service to a diverse clientele
• Strong interpersonal and written communication skills
• Working knowledge of common animal breeds and colors
• Demonstrated organizational skills
• Ability to utilize effective problem solving/decision making skills
• Ability to extend compassion and empathy to patrons under a variety of circumstances
• Ability to multi-task and maintain composure in a fast-paced environment while providing courteous service to potentially difficult, emotional, or frustrated clients
• Ability to maintain the highest levels of confidentiality when dealing with proprietary information and sensitive situations
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with a variety of people and personality types
• Ability to leash and manage animals of all sizes
• Computer proficiency in Microsoft Office including word processing, spread sheets, meeting software and email; proficient with animal management software and databases

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for the majority of scheduled shift on hard surfaces with minimal sedentary work
• Ability to bend, twist, kneel, and squat frequently throughout the shift
• Ability to lift, carry, and move up to 50 pounds regularly throughout the shift
• Ability to physically restrain and handle animals of all sizes and temperaments, including dogs weighing over 100 pounds
• Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions year-round including heat, cold, rain, and snow
• Ability to respond quickly to emergency situations requiring immediate physical intervention
• Fine motor skills and manual dexterity for handling leashes, animal handling equipment, processing paperwork, and providing veterinary restraint
• Ability to push and pull kennel doors, carts, and equipment

Working Conditions

• Ten-hour shifts with at least one weekend day required; schedule may include holidays
• Regular exposure to noise, odors, chemical fumes, and animal hair/dander due to equipment and animals
• Regular exposure to common allergens including animal dander, feathers, hay/straw, latex, peanut butter, dairy products, and other food items used for animal enrichment
• Exposure to zoonotic diseases and infectious agents through contact with animals and their bodily fluids (urine, feces, vomit, blood, saliva)
• Regular exposure to cleaning chemicals, disinfectants, and sanitizing agents used in animal care and facility maintenance
• Regular exposure to emotionally challenging situations including sick, injured, or deceased animals; euthanasia procedures; end-of-life decision-making; and interactions with grieving or distressed patrons
• Frequent hand washing and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) as required
• Subject to animal bites and scratches
• Work in areas with fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and limited climate control
• Fast-paced, high-volume environment with frequent interruptions

Equipment Used

• Computer using Internet based animal management software
• Maintenance equipment and tools
• Cleaning equipment, hoses, and laundry machines
• Animal handling equipment
• Occasional need to drive a vehicle on behalf of the Shelter