The Humane Society for Southwest Washington is currently seeking a Feline Care Team Lead to join our team. This is a full-time, FLSA nonexempt opportunity on our Animal Care Team.

Since 1897, The Humane Society for Southwest Washington (HSSW) has been caring for the animals of Southwest Washington and the surrounding area. We are a donor-supported non-profit with public contracts. Our mission is to rescue, return, restore, rehome, and reconnect one animal at a time. We also own and operate ReTails Thrift Store - the premiere Southwest Washington thrifting experience. Proceeds from ReTails support animal care and shelter operations.

Path Forward 2025 is an exciting and ambitious strategic plan focused on five strategic pillars: lifesaving pathways for animals, keeping people and pets together, thriving workforce, mission expansion and leveraging technology. Through these efforts we will build a community low-cost veterinary clinic, behavior and education center and improve animal spaces. We will expand programs and resources for the community allowing people and pets to stay together. People bring our mission to life each day. We are committed to a diverse, healthy, and engaged team of employees and volunteers who strive for excellence, treat one another with kindness, and provide quality and compassionate care for the pets and people we serve.

Position Summary

The Feline Care Team Lead, under direction of the Animal Care Supervisor, coordinates the daily work of Animal Care Technicians, volunteers, workforce partners and community work crews to ensure that all team areas are clean, animals are cared for, and processes are on track according to protocol. The Feline Care Team Lead is the teams primary subject matter expert regarding these tasks and is the primary trainer for new staff, volunteers, workforce partners and community work crews. The Feline Care Team Lead is expected to participate in HSSW professional development coursework and activities and will assist the Animal Care Supervisor in the professional development of the team.

Essential Duties and Primary Responsibilities

Team Lead

• Provide training & coaching to team of staff, volunteers, and workforce partners to perform their essential duties according to Standard Operating Procedures efficiently and effectively. Promoting the development of tactical skills needed for promoting the advancement of HSSW’s strategic goals and mission.
• Assist supervisors in delegation, implementation, and oversight of the daily workflow of assigned staff, volunteers, and workforce partners. Open/close facility as necessary.
• Assist supervisor with hiring new department personnel and provide feedback for staff evaluations, coaching/support & goal setting opportunities.
• Communicate effectively and empathetically with visitors, staff & volunteers. Make decisions and solves issues that are within the team lead scope of authority, actively seeks guidance from leadership when appropriate.
• Promote communication and cooperation between departments. Recognize the need of other departments and work to adjust personnel to help when applicable. Actively support volunteer programs by attending appropriate meetings and trainings.
• Takes immediate action to remedy safety issues, incidents, or equipment failures. Responsible for addressing safety concerns or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, workforce partner, client, animal, or the organization at risk.
• Follow all safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment.

Animal Care

• Perform euthanasia of selected animals with compassion and assist in Euthanasia Technician training.
• Recognize symptoms and provide supportive care for animals suffering from common diseases.
• Perform animal care technician duties as needed, including cleaning, and sanitizing of kennels, cages, and public areas, following shelter protocols to ensure a safe, healthy environment.

Always

• Actively support staff, volunteers, and workforce partners to promote the development of skills related to the advancement of our goals and mission.
• Always represent HSSW in a professional and courteous manner. Providing quality service to customers, volunteers, and staff recognizing their individual contribution to the success of our organization.
• Maintain a positive, cooperative relationship with all departments and staff, volunteers, and workforce partners to promote a team effort in evaluating and managing each animal’s health and behavior.
• Follow all safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment. Takes immediate action to address any safety concern or noncompliance of safety rules that could put an employee, volunteer, workforce partner, client, animal, or the organization at risk.
• Perform other duties as you see the need for.

Required Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Licenses and Certifications

• Safely perform physical work for duration of 8-10-hour shift.
• Demonstrated ability to safely handle a variety of companion animals
• Minimum one year of animal handling experience
• Minimum one year of customer service experience
• Minimum one year experience with data entry administration.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that may include some weekends, on-call status.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment with diverse populations.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize Microsoft suite of products.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a high degree of social and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrated ability to teaching, train, coaching &/or mentoring staff, volunteers, and workforce partners to complete tasks to standards in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures.
• The ability to work in an emotional field where a positive attitude, sense of humor and understanding how to recognize and address compassion fatigue are essential.
• Certification in Euthanasia by Injection within 3 months of accepting position (In-house training provided)

General Expectations

• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills.
• Create, promote, and follow safety guidelines to ensure a safe work environment. Promotes integration and utilization of volunteers and workforce partners.
• Is visible to staff, volunteers, and workforce partners; communicates with supervisor and directors on significant developments within the department.
• Promotes communication and cooperation between HSSW departments.
• Exercises good judgment when working with the public, volunteers, workforce partners and staff.
• Committed to maintaining the integrity of the HSSW’s mission and adoption program.
• Knowledge and practical experience in reward-based training.
• Committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
• Adheres to organizational policies and procedures.
• Acts as a positive role model for other employees.
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude.
• Demonstrates flexible and efficient time management and ability to prioritize workload.
• Consistently reports to work on time prepared to perform duties of position.
• Meets department productivity standards

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

This position requires you to be comfortable speaking with people and to groups of people. Work duties and tasks may require walking, standing, sitting, stooping, squatting, bending, typing, speaking, seeing, listening, utilizing arms, hands & fingers for grasping, lifting, operating computers, answering telephone, and in working with animals. Position may call for repetitive use of hands to perform tasks in addition to operate computers, telephone, and cell phone; use computer keyboard for extensive periods of time. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Additional physical requirements may include occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds with assistance. This position will require some work on weekends, evenings, and on-call. The successful candidate must have and maintain a valid local driver license.

Work is performed in an animal shelter that operates seven days per week, with exposure to environmental conditions that include working with and/or near animals, with exposure to animals with questionable temperaments and potential exposure to fractious animals, high noise levels, zoonotic diseases, animal bites and scratches, cleaning chemicals, allergens, and potential exposure of infectious diseases to personally owned animals.  All HSSW campuses utilize nut-based products, such as peanut butter and walnut-based litter. 

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related duties required by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract implied or otherwise, other than an “at-will” relationship. Some positions may require a criminal background check and Driving Record Release or Motor Vehicle Records Search. HSSW participates in E-Verify.

Compensation

The hourly pay range for this position is $20.24 to $24.50 per hour. The starting pay within that range is dependent upon experience.

Full Time Employee Benefits

In addition to serving in an organization with a compassionate and strategic purpose; full-time employees currently enjoy the following benefits and employee perks.

• Health, dental, and vision insurance benefits that become effective the first of the month after hire.
• Matching percentage 401 (k) retirement plan that begins the first month after hire, has a 3-year graded vestment schedule and a ROTH contribution option.
• Employee assistance program for all household member access.
• Section 125 FSA Cafeteria Plan for out-of-pocket health and/or dependent day care expenses.
• Numerous employee discounts and discounts with partner organizations.
• Access to affordable life, disability, and accidental supplemental insurance.
• As a 501c3 non-profit organization, full-time employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness with the potential to eliminate student loans within 10 years!

Paid Time Off (PTO)

This position accrues PTO at a rate of 1.84 hours for every 40 hours worked. Additional Paid time includes:

• Floating Holidays.
• Bereavement leave.
• Pet bereavement leave.
• Jury duty pay.
• The ability to build a long-term sick-leave bank.

Culture

Vision: A community where everyone loves and cares for animals.

Mission: Rescue. Return. Restore. Rehome. Reconnect. One animal at a time

Values: Compassion. Collaboration. Excellence. Service. Integrity.

The ultimate team player:

• Displays interest, enthusiasm, and an affinity for working with people.
• Demonstrates an attitude in being of-service, using good judgment, maintaining a positive outlook, and ideally, a sense of humor.
• Works well in teams and demonstrates an attitude and commitment to collaboration with a sincere interest in helping others succeed.
• Is committed to achieving excellence individually and as a part of the team.
• Exhibits adaptability, curiosity, flexibility to change, open to new ideas, and encourages others to recognize changes in work tasks, situations, and environment as an opportunity for transformation.
• Is committed to personal and professional development through life-long learning.

How to Apply

Does HSSW sound like the right place for you? Does this job sound like a great fit? Do you feel a dedication to HSSW’s mission, vision, and values? Then, if you meet the qualifications for this position, click the Apply button to begin your journey today. HSSW participates in E-Verify.

For more information visit https://HSSW.org/careers/.

Application Deadline: Open until filled.