ADMISSIONS SPECIALIST na The Anti-Cruelty Society

ANTI-CRUELTY JOB DESCRIPTION 

JOB TITLE:Admissions Specialist  

DEPARTMENT:Shelter Operations—Quality and Best Care 

REPORTS TO:Admissions Managers 

STATUS:Non-Exempt 

GENERAL SUMMARY 

Under the direct supervision of the Admissions Manager the Admissions Specialist will provide courteous and empathetic service to persons seeking to surrender animals to the shelter as well as counseling and resources to those who desire to keep their pets. This person will also have advanced handling skills, basic medical knowledge, and can administer vaccines and medications. The ideal candidate will have a passion and drive for keeping and reuniting animals with their families as well as excellent customer service skills. This team will also assist guests in general direction and assistance in navigating services provided by Anti-Cruelty.  

Creating an inclusive and welcoming culture for volunteers, staff, and our community is an essential part of our work to support the human-animal bond, which is at the heart of what we do. As stated in our PETS Work Culture Agreement, we uphold Praise, Engagement, Trust and Support. We strive for excellence in all aspects of our mission from feeding hungry mouths to cultivating donors. We respect the variety of talents required to support our mission and we work together to accomplish this. We support and protect self-care managed by each individual in recognition that our work is endless, but impactful.  

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS 

• Uphold the PETS work culture agreement through Praise, Engagement, Trust, and Support.
• Stay up to date with Anti-Cruelty programs to optimize owner retention efforts.
• Accurately and safely administer vaccines and preventatives to incoming animals. 
• Maintains a strong working knowledge of animal behavior and will have the skills to objectively assess behavior upon intake. 
• Examine and assess initial health and well being of each animal and place on appropriate pathway.
• When applicable make euthanasia decisions and carry out euthanasia according to Illinois law.
• Administer initial vaccines and preventatives to incoming foster and owner guardian surrendered animals. 
• Manage reception; schedule intake appointments, take payments, answer calls and emails in a timely manner, and receive animals.
• Obtain accurate and detailed information on animals during counseling and intake while imparting Anti-Cruelty's policies to clients. 
• Engage in ongoing behavior training and continued education. 
• Provide counseling and resources to those in need of assistance to retain their pets. 
• Review return to owner requests and work with owners to connect to programs for assistance when necessary. 
• Follow microchip research protocols and laws and ensure all paperwork and tracking is completed.
• Be familiar with and follow all applicable standard operating procedures to provide best care to our animals.
• Accurately input information into Anti-Cruelty’s shelter management software.  
• Have adequate understanding of Anti-Cruelty's adoption and disposition policies and be able to communicate them to the public.
• Assist in maintaining a clean and orderly workspace. 
• Respect the physical plant and equipment; report all building, caging and environmental problems to management or maintenance staff members as soon as possible.
• Ensure that all equipment is in good repair, adequately stocked and kept neatly in its appropriate place.  Stocking can be accomplished using wheeled carts.  
• Operate and carefully maintain all records necessary to ensure accurate cash and credit handling.  
• Attend all scheduled meetings.
• Assume other duties as assigned. 
• Maintain a professional and clean work area

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES 

• Must have customer service experience and a passion for working with people. 
• Must be experienced in Microsoft Office.
• Communicates proactively, empathetically, and professionally
• Dependable, punctual, and follows through on commitments
• Embraces the organization's commitment to be an open door to all  
• Embraces the organization’s commitment to keep owners and pets together. 
• Exceptional interpersonal and written communication skills
• Able to remain calm, composed, and empathetic in high stress situations
• Works well in a team environment while motivating and supporting peers
• Present a neat and professional appearance to the public as well as a polite and friendly demeanor.
• Ability to manage emotional aspect of work in an animal welfare environment in a positive, professional manner.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS 

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Become EBI Certified within the first year of employment. 

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS 

Minimum of one year of experience working in this field or related field preferred. 1+ years experience working in customer service. 

Note: A comparable combination of education, experience or training that would provide the level of knowledge, skills and ability required may qualify individuals 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Ability to handle work around companion animals.
• Ability to remain on feet for long periods of time.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to frequently bend, stoop and reach.
• Ability to work in an open-office environment.
• Ability to be comfortable working with cats, dogs, small animals, reptiles, fish and wildlife. 
• Due to nature of shelter work, may be exposed to deceased, fractious, or aggressive animals; hostile or irate persons; zoonotic or other diseases; unpleasant noises, odors, or sights; and extreme temperatures.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

Available to work an extended schedule, including weekends, early mornings, evenings and holidays according to demands of the role. Respect for animals and belief in the mission of The Anti-Cruelty Society.  

The job description is a guide to the essential functions of the job, not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities, qualifications, physical demands, and work environment conditions. Job descriptions are reviewed and revised to meet the changing needs of the organization at the sole discretion of management. 

Anti-Cruelty is an equal opportunity employer. 

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