Lead Adoption Counselor at Santa Fe Animal Shelter Inc – Santa Fe, New Mexico

SUMMARY OF ROLE

The Lead Onsite Adoption Counselor is responsible for all duties of an adoption

counselor with additional supervisory responsibilities over the front desk staff as

outlined below.

PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Management Support

? Communicate with the Manager of Adoptions of any ongoing positive or

negative situations within the adoptions team.

? Participate in on-going education/training when required, developing programs

with the Manager of Adoptions

? Participate in Employee Evaluations, commendations and discipline as needed for

the adoption team.

? Contribute to development of training materials as required.

? Work with the Manager of Adoptions to ensure budget targets are met on both

income and expenses and help to establish these goals on an annual basis.

? Help recruit, train, and retain volunteers in the adoptions area

? Participate in regular FLOW meetings.

? Provide constructive feedback to leadership to help improve shelter policies and

protocols.

Direct Supervision

? Model our Guiding Principles and Rules of Engagement at all times, including

holding all team members accountable to them.

? Initial and ongoing training of new adoptions counselors.

? Conduct daily huddles with the team at the start of the day.

? Provide encouragement and motivation to the team to keep a positive

atmosphere within the organization.

? Team delegation according to interest, skills, and departmental needs

? Ensure that the team is staying on task and completing all tasks in a timely

manner on a daily basis.

? Ensure that end of day cash handling tasks are understood and completed

accurately by adoption staff.

? Communicate information accurately, compassionately and professionally from

the Flow, HART, or other operational meetings.

Operational Responsibilities

? Provide excellent customer service at all times.

? Ensure adoptions work areas are welcoming and safe

? Independent decision making and problem solving for difficult animals,

customers, and situations faced by the Adoptions Department

? Schedule flexibility and reliability

? Regular attendance is a requirement of this job including weekends.

? Support the offsite program including but not limited to; prepping animals and

adoption paperwork, transporting animals to and from offsites including kennel

location in town, maintaining in town kennels as needed.

? Monitor, maintain and develop the stock at the retail store in the adoptions

building.

? Other duties assigned.

? Knowledge of shelter policies, procedures and programs

? An understanding that SFAS is a managed admissions facility and the

euthanasia and cremation of animals are regular functions of the Shelter.

Education, Skills and Work Experience

? High School Diploma or GED

? Prior supervisory skills preferred

? Spanish language skills a plus

? Ability to use common software platforms, including but not limited to,

Google Suites, Excel, Word, and Canva.

? Competence in Chameleon kennel management software (training provided).

? High tolerance for emotional interactions.

? Able to thrive in a fast paced work environment.

? Excellent self-care and boundary-setting skills.

Physical Demands

? Energetic, flexible, approachable, curious, collaborative, courteous.

? Ability to perform multiple tasks and manage several projects simultaneously.

? Strong sense of professional judgement and ability to maintain confidentiality.

? Potential for exposure to zoonotic diseases, dangerous and fractious animals,

hazardous chemicals, anesthetics, and sharp objects.

? The employee should be comfortable interacting with animals of various size,

breeds, and temperament.

? A valid New Mexico Driver’s license is required.

? Ability to lift 50 pounds, stand, walk, reach and bend.

? Tolerate odor, noise, allergens, cleaning chemicals

? Be on your feet more than 4 hours a day.