The Adoption Counselor is responsible for helping potential adopters find a companion animal, create creative marketing material for individual animals to decrease length of stay and to create and maintain a welcoming and professional environment for patrons of the Santa Fe Animal Shelter. 

PRIMARY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY / ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Always provide professional customer service to the public. Knowledge of SFAS operations policies and procedures to answer questions as they arise. 
• Ability to handle challenging customers, and have the skills to discern conversations professionally. 
• Perform all opening duties prior to kennel viewing hours including sweeping mopping window washing and other duties as needed. 
• Perform daily kennel management, data entry for animal placement, moving animals as needed. 
• Compose animal profiles, website updates, photographing animals, creating marketing videos and submitting advertisements to local publications. 
• Assist potential adopters in the selection of appropriate animals; conduct “Meet n’ Greets” as needed. Counsel potential adopters on responsible pet ownership, explain adoption procedures and guidelines, objectively interview all potential adopters. 
• Efficiently and accurately process adoption paperwork and enter databases on a daily basis.
• Maintain an accurate and organized filing system, receive adoption fees, perform transactions and reconcile monies daily. 
• On a regular basis promote the Shelter and programs; solicit donations and sell pet supplies. 
• Assist volunteers with challenges as they arise. 
• Clean kennels, public areas, and kitten nursery as needed. Duties may include all kennel cleaning tasks. 
• Report and track animal health and behavior issues; immediately reporting any concerns to the clinic and supervisor. 
• Assist at mobile adoption events including kennel setup, animal care, and counseling and tear down. 
• Participate in on-going education/training when required. 
• Other duties as assigned. 
• Competency in the above functions must be demonstrated by the end of the first 90 days of employment. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

Education, Skills and Work Experience 

• High School diploma or GED required, college degree or equivalent preferred · Some knowledge of animal behavior and handling. 
• People with general customer service experience, ability to handle a multi-line phone system and a willingness and ability to learn our software system, and basic office computer functions. 
• Must be able to be around and handle many species of animals to include (but not limited to) cats, dogs and rabbits. 
• Must be able to work well in a changing, busy environment. Team player who can also work independently. 
• Work schedule flexibility, weekends are required. 
• Ability to read and write English, but Spanish speaking is a preference.
•  Able to talk, listen and speak clearly on telephone 

Physical Demands 

• The physical demands noted are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with physical limitations to perform the essential functions: 
• Consistently required to transition from seated to standing; moving, and kneeling or crouching. 
• Constantly required to speak and hear. 
• Requires use of hands for grasping, reaching and other operative tasks. 
• Required to lift and/or carry an animate or stationary object of up to 50 pounds. 
• The work environment exposes the employee to a noise level that is moderate to loud. The employee must be able to handle exposure to working conditions such as poor ventilation, heat, cold, sudden temperature changes, wet quarters, noise, medical and surgical odors as well as animal odors and dander. 
• An understanding that SFAS is a managed admissions facility and the euthanasia and cremation of animals are regular functions of the Shelter. 
• 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, breed, and temperament. 
• A valid New Mexico Driver’s license is required.